A major Popeyes operator based in Miami is working through a rocky Chapter 11 case that has already taken a bite out of its footprint, leaving roughly 20 restaurants closed across Florida and Georgia. Sailormen Inc., which runs more than 130 Popeyes locations, filed for bankruptcy in mid-January and has been shedding leases and shutting underperforming stores while the case winds through court. The closures have scrambled employee schedules and left several smaller communities without a nearby source for fried chicken and biscuits.
March filing shows fresh closures
A court filing on Tuesday obtained by PEOPLE revealed three more Georgia locations have gone dark, pushing the total number of stores tied to the bankruptcy to about 20. The motion asks the court to formally reject the leases on those properties while Sailormen continues its restructuring effort.
What the bankruptcy filing says
Sailormen filed for Chapter 11 protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida on Jan. 15, and the case is listed as 26-10451-RAM. BKAlerts and other industry reporting indicate the company operated roughly 136 Popeyes restaurants across Florida and Georgia and reported about $233.5 million in sales in 2025 while still posting an $18.8 million net operating loss. Restaurant Dive notes that heavy secured debt and delinquent loans helped push the operator into Chapter 11…