Restaurant bankruptcies have continued to pile up across the U.S. as operators deal with debt, uneven traffic, and higher costs. Now that pressure has reached Yardbird Southern Table & Bar, the Florida-born fried chicken chain known for its Southern menu. The company has already closed several restaurants, including its original Miami Beach location, and is now trying to sell the business through Chapter 11.
Yardbird files Chapter 11 with about $50 million in debt
Yardbird Group LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on September 21 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, according to court filings. The company and 10 affiliated entities filed separate petitions that are being jointly administered in the same case. Court records list about $25 million in secured debt and another $25 million in unsecured debt, for roughly $50 million total.
The bankruptcy filing came after a stretch of restaurant closures across the brand’s footprint. Yardbird said it is pursuing a sale of the business through the Chapter 11 process. A company representative also stated that the restaurants still operating remain open and continue serving customers during the case.
What the Florida impact looks like right now
For Florida, the biggest confirmed change is the loss of Yardbird’s original Miami Beach restaurant, which closed in summer 2024 after 15 years in business. That location helped establish the brand’s identity in the state before the company expanded to other cities. The closure means the chain’s home state no longer has the same role in the company’s shrinking footprint.
What is not yet known is whether any additional Florida locations could be affected as the bankruptcy moves forward. The company has not released a comprehensive list of all affected Florida sites beyond the Miami Beach closure. According to the company’s current operating footprint, the four remaining U.S. locations are in Las Vegas, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Dallas.
Why the company says it ended up here
Yardbird has tied its financial troubles to several specific pressures, according to bankruptcy reporting and company statements. Those factors include expansion costs, the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and operating challenges tied to certain locations. The company said the Chapter 11 filing is meant to address legacy debt and strengthen its balance sheet…