Smokey Bones Closure In Manchester Part Of National Trend

MANCHESTER, CT — The shuttering of the Smokey Bones location in Manchester seems to be part of not only financial woes, but a national strategy.

Signs first showed up at the 350 Buckland Hills Drive location on March 28 and the closing trend seems to have continued into April. For example, five locations in Pennsylvania closed abruptly this week.

FAT Brands, the parent company of not only Smokey Bones, but the Twin Peaks, Fatburger and Johnny Rockets chains was wekk, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January as it sought to restructure more than $1 billion in debt accumulated through years of acquisitions, the company said. The company said the filing was intended to reduce leverage, preserve operations and maximize value for stakeholders while restaurants continued normal operations during the court process.

Smokey Bones, a barbecue-focused casual dining chain acquired by FAT Brands in 2023 for $30 million, had already been shrinking before the bankruptcy, records show. In 2025, management said it would close underperforming units and convert some locations into Twin Peaks sports bars, another brand in the portfolio.

In December 2025, shortly before the Chapter 11 filing, Twin Peaks announced that it had signed a new area development agreement to bring its "sports lodge experience" to Connecticut.

The agreement marks Twin Peaks' debut in the state and includes development rights for three future lodges across "key markets" including Waterbury, New Haven, Hartford, Danbury and a territory called "Stamford/Bridgeport."

The new lodges will be developed by New London Hospitality, led by business partners Deepak Verma and Kam Singh, both billed as "seasoned entrepreneurs with extensive experience in the hospitality space and multi-unit operations."

Founded in 2005 in the Dallas suburb of Lewisville, Twin Peaks operates 114 locations in the U.S. and Mexico. The restaurants are "surrounded by scenic views and wall-to-wall TVs," and, "At every Twin Peaks, guests are immediately welcomed by a friendly Twin Peaks Girl and served up a menu made for MVPs," according to the company description.