Additional Coverage:
- Oprah-Backed Restaurant Chain Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, Abruptly Closes 12 Locations (parade.com)
Oprah Winfrey, widely celebrated for her influence in the literary world, once extended her endorsement to the culinary scene as well. In 2018, after being introduced to the health-conscious restaurant chain True Food Kitchen by her longtime friend and trainer Bob Greene, Winfrey became a minority investor and joined the company’s board of directors.
Now, eight years later, True Food Kitchen is facing significant changes. The restaurant chain has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, aiming to restructure its finances, streamline operations, and pursue a court-supervised sale.
As part of this restructuring, 12 of the chain’s 46 locations closed permanently on October 4. Among the closures are three California restaurants-Century City in Los Angeles, El Segundo, and San Diego UTC-along with locations in Miami; Chicago; New Orleans; Bethesda, Maryland; Edison and Hackensack, New Jersey; Garden City, New York; Columbus, Ohio; and Reston, Virginia. Notably, the San Diego Fashion Valley location remains open.
This leaves 34 True Food Kitchen restaurants across 14 states continuing to serve customers throughout the bankruptcy process. Founded in Phoenix in 2008, the chain earned a reputation for health-focused dining and expanded nationally over the years.
Jeff Chandler, CEO of True Food Kitchen, emphasized that bankruptcy is part of the company’s plan to refocus on its core mission. “This process is the best path forward to simplify the business and focus on what we do best: delivering craveable, health-forward food and genuine hospitality,” he said.
While True Food Kitchen is not closing its doors entirely, the recent closures mark the end of the line for diners at a dozen locations. The company now looks to stabilize and move forward with a renewed focus on its signature approach to healthy dining.