Popular National Restaurant Chain Closes Last MI Location

A national restaurant chain has shuttered its last Michigan location.

While no official announcement has been made, Smokey Bones barbecue has closed its last remaining Michigan restaurant at 2401 Lake Lansing Road in Lansing Township.

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A staff member told Patch the restaurant has closed for good when reached by phone Wednesday morning.

The restaurant was known for its barbecue platters, ribs and steak.

Smokey Bones locations in Utica and Grand Rapids closed last September.

Those closures came when company officials announced plans to rebrand 19 Smokey Bones locations as Twin Peaks restaurants while closing 15 underperforming sites.

FAT Brands Inc., which oversees the franchise-based chain, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January to restructure more than $1 billion in debt.

"The Chapter 11 process will provide us with the opportunity to strengthen our capital structure to support our concepts and ensure they remain at the forefront of their sectors," Andy Wiederhorn, CEO of FAT Brands, said in a statement at the time. "Our focus in this process remains providing quality service to our customers and supporting our franchise partners and the over 45,000 corporate and franchise employees."

Though there are no more Smokey Bones locations in Michigan, FAT Brands Inc. has three Twin Peaks restaurants in the state, including in Livonia, Auburn Hills and Madison Heights.