Yardbird Files for Bankruptcy Protection
Yardbird Southern Bar and Table, a fried chicken chain with five locations across the U.S., has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company closed three units in Denver, Los Angeles, and Miami before filing, citing expansion costs, capital structure issues, location-specific challenges, and post-pandemic industry shifts as key factors contributing to its financial distress. Founded in 2011, Yardbird expanded significantly after securing investment from private equity firm TriSpan in 2017. The brand accumulated approximately $25 million in debt during this period. Post-COVID-19 changes affected traffic patterns and consumer behavior across different locations, leading to uneven performance. Yardbird is currently seeking a buyer for its assets through an auction process under bankruptcy protection. A spokesperson stated that the chain's operating restaurants remain open while it works to address legacy debt.
Topics: bankruptcy chapter_11 covid-impact restaurants