Below is a list of franchisor bankruptcies that have been filed just prior and subsequent to the COVID-19 pandemic. The bankruptcy filings appear in chronological order, with the most recent bankruptcies at the top of the list. This list can be useful to those looking to acquire equity and assets (such as real estate, leases, equipment, trademarks, franchise agreements, and more) from the bankrupt estate. The list contains information concerning the initial bankruptcy filing. Since the time of that filing, there may have been other major developments in the bankruptcy case, such as a sale of certain assets, a closing of stores, a conversion from Chapter 11 (reorganization) to Chapter 7 (liquidation), or even a discharge of the bankruptcy. The list, including the links provided within it, provides a useful starting point for the needed inquiries and investigations.
Franchisor: Alamo Drafthouse
Debtor: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema’s Holdings
See: https://cases.stretto.com/Rubios
Bankruptcy Court: United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware
Filing Date: March 3, 2021
Chapter: 11
Franchisor: Cici’s
Debtor: Cici’s Holdings
See: https://cases.stretto.com/Rubios
Bankruptcy Court: United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas
Filing Date: January 25, 2021
Chapter: 11
Franchisor: Rubio’s Restaurants
Debtor: Rubios’s Restaurants Inc. et. al
See: https://cases.stretto.com/Rubios
Bankruptcy Court: United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware Case Number: 20-12688 (MFW)
Filing Date: October 26, 2020
Chapter: 11
Franchisor: Friendly’s
Debtor: FIC Restuarants
See: https://businessbankruptcies.com/cases/fic-restaurants-inc
Bankruptcy Court: United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware
Filing Date: November 1, 2020
Chapter: 11
Franchisor: Rubio’s Restaurants
Debtor: Rubios’s Restaurants Inc. et. al
See: https://cases.stretto.com/Rubios
Bankruptcy Court: United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware Case Number: 20-12688 (MFW)
Filing Date: October 26, 2020
Chapter: 11
Franchisor: Ruby Tuesdays
Debtor: RTI Holding Company
See: https://businessbankruptcies.com/cases/rti-holding-company-llc
Bankruptcy Court: United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware
Filing Date: October 7, 2020
Chapter: 11
Franchisor: Sizzler
Debtor:Sizzler USA, Inc. and affiliates
See: https://businessbankruptcies.com/cases/sizzler-usa-inc
Bankruptcy Court: United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California (Case No. 20 – 30748)
Filing Date: September 21, 2020
Chapter: 11
Franchisor: Garbanzo
Debtor:Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh and affiliates
See: https://www.inforuptcy.com/browse-filings/missouri-eastern-bankruptcy-court/4:20-bk-43963/bankruptcy-case-garbanzo-mediterranean-grill-llc
Bankruptcy Court: United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri (Case No. 20 – 43965)
Filing Date: August 12, 2020
Chapter: 11
Franchisor: California Pizza Kitchen
Debtor: California Pizza Kitchen, Inc.
See: https://cases.primeclerk.com/CPK/
Bankruptcy Court: United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas Case No. 20-33752
Filing Date: July 29, 2020
Chapter: 11
Franchisor: GNC
Debtor: GNC Holdings and affiliates
See: https://cases.primeclerk.com/GNC/
Bankruptcy Court: United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Case No. 20 -11662).
Filing Date: June 23, 2020
Chapter: 11
Franchisor: Chuck E. Cheese and Peter Piper Pizza
Debtor: CEC Entertainment, Inc. and affiliates
See: https://apnews.com/839d52775b855ab826216fa4f30023fe
Bankruptcy Court: United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (Case No. 20 – 33163).
Filing Date: June 23, 2020
Chapter: 11
Franchisor: Pied de Cochon
Debtor: PQ New York, Inc. and affiliates
See: https://www.donlinrecano.com/Clients/pqny/Index
Bankruptcy Court: United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Case No. 20 -11266).
Filing Date: May 27, 2020
Chapter: 11
Franchisor: Hertz, Dollar, Thrifty
Debtor: The Hertz Corporation and affiliates
See: https://restructuring.primeclerk.com/hertz/
Bankruptcy Court: United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Case No. 20 -11218).
Filing Date: May 22, 2020
Chapter: 11
Franchisor: Souplantation/Sweet Tomatoes
Debtor: Garden Fresh Restaurants LLC
See: https://www.inforuptcy.com/browse-filings/california-southern-bankruptcy-court/3:20-bk-02477/bankruptcy-case-garden-fresh-restaurants-llc
Bankruptcy Court: California Southern Bankruptcy Court (Case No. 20-02477-LA7)
Filing Date: May 14, 2020
Chapter: 7
Franchisor: Golds Gym
Debtor: GGI Holdings, Inc. and affiliates
See: https://www.goldsgym.com/blog/restructure-official-company-statement/
Bankruptcy Court: United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas (Case No. 20 – 31319).
Filing Date: May 4, 2020
Chapter: 11
Franchisor: Brio and Bravo
Debtor: FoodFirst Global Restaurants, Inc. and affiliates
See: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/bankruptcy-law/owner-of-brio-bravo-restaurants-files-chapter-11-amid-virus
Bankruptcy Court: United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida (Case No. 20 – 02159).
Filing Date: April 10, 2020
Chapter: 11
Franchisors: Logan’s Roadhouse, Old Chicago, Rock Bottom, Gordon Biersch
Bankrupt: CraftWorks Parent, LLC and affiliates
See: https://cases.primeclerk.com/CraftWorks/
Bankruptcy Court: United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Case No. 20 – 10473).
Filing Date: March 3, 2020
Chapter: 11
Franchisor: Cosi
Debtor: Cosi, Inc. and affiliates
See: https://cases.omniagentsolutions.com/?clientId=CsgAAncz%252b6bUsr%252fn6KsVt0ykBSY2DEXhGshannAgrNpVzG0z%252bea5k9oQHDl2uuBu6%252fuMr2vrEX0%253d
Bankruptcy Court: United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Case No. 20 -10417).
Filing Date: February 24, 2020
Chapter: 11
Franchisor: Pier 1
Debtor: Pier 1 Imports, Inc. and affiliates
See: https://dm.epiq11.com/case/pier1/info
Bankruptcy Court: United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (Case No. 20 – 30805).
Filing Date: February 17, 2020
Chapter: 11
Franchisor: Village Inns
Debtor: American Blue Ribbon Holdings, LLC and affiliates
See: https://dm.epiq11.com/case/abrholdings/info
Bankruptcy Court: United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Case No. 20 -10161).
Filing Date: January 27, 2020
Chapter: 11
Franchisor: Bar Louie
Debtor: BL Restaurants Holding, LLC and affiliates
See: https://dm.epiq11.com/case/barlouie/info
Bankruptcy Court: United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Case No. 20 -10156).
Filing Date: January 27, 2020
Chapter: 11
Franchisor: Papayrus
Debtor: SFP Franchise Corporation and affiliate
See: https://cases.omniagentsolutions.com/?clientId=CsgAAncz%252b6b0if32hk8iwH0F%252fgID6lDGYqJ6Kgf8yJMPU0eGf1aJdXwsDjb0z9opxifQo3uwwJI%253d
Bankruptcy Court: United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Case No. 20 -10134).
Filing Date: January 23, 2020
Chapter: 11
Franchisor: Krystal
Debtor: The Krystal Company and affiliates
See: http://www.kccllc.net/krystal/document/2061065200119000000000008
Bankruptcy Court: United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia (Case No. 20 – 61065).
Filing Date: January 19, 2020
Chapter: 11