Popular Southern Chicken Chain Closes Only MI Spot After Less Than 1 Year

WYOMING, MI — Bojangles has closed its only Michigan location.

A sign posted outside the restaurant, located at 1730 28th Street in Wyoming, told customers, "Sorry, we are permanently closed," WOODTV reports.

A Bojangles spokesperson told the outlet the closure is due to its parent company, Meritage's, financial struggles.

"We are disappointed that our Grand Rapids restaurant has closed as a result of financial challenges facing Meritage Hospitality Group, the parent company of our franchisee, Chicken Ventures. These challenges are related to Meritage’s broader restaurant operations and are not a reflection of the strength of the Bojangles brand or this location," the Bojangles statement said. "While we are saddened by this closure, we continue to believe in the long-term potential of the Michigan market."

The restaurant’s listings on Google and Facebook describe the location as being "permanently closed." It opened in February.

The southern fast food restaurant is best known for its fried chicken, biscuits and sweet tea. Popular menu items include Bo’s chicken sandwich, which is a fried chicken breast hand-breaded with a crispy buttermilk coating and topped with two thick-cut dill pickles and a creamy mayo.

The restaurant was founded in 1977 in Charlotte. Since then, it has grown to more than 850 locations across 17 states, according to its website.