Rhode Island has officially lost the last remaining location of a longtime national barbecue chain after the company abruptly shut down its final restaurant in the state, marking a complete exit from the market.
The closure was part of a broader nationwide shutdown on April 28, when parent company FAT Brands confirmed that all remaining restaurants had ceased operations. The move follows the company’s January 2026 Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing and ends the brand’s years-long presence in Rhode Island.
Smokey Bones leaves Rhode Island market
The chain was Smokey Bones, a casual dining barbecue brand that once operated more than 100 restaurants across the country.
Rhode Island’s final Smokey Bones location was in Warwick, which had remained one of the company’s last operating restaurants before the nationwide shutdown. Employees were left scrambling after the final reported abrupt closures nationwide, including in Warwick.
End of a once-growing chain
Founded in 1999, Smokey Bones became known for smoked meats, ribs, burgers and a sports-bar dining atmosphere. The company expanded rapidly during the 2000s before entering a long period of contraction…