bravo bankruptcy

Fourth Italian Restaurant Chain This Year Files for Bankruptcy

Bravo Brio Restaurants, the parent company of Bravo! Italian Kitchen and Brio Italian Grille, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday, marking the latest in a string of Italian dining chains struggling under industry pressures. The company pointed to weak consumer demand and soaring costs as the main reasons behind the decision.

This isn’t Bravo Brio’s first bankruptcy. The company previously filed in 2020 before being acquired by Earl Enterprises. But this time, management said that inflation, rising food and labor expenses, and declining discretionary spending had created “insurmountable” challenges that left restructuring the only path forward.

In its filing, the company listed between 200 and 999 creditors, with both assets and liabilities estimated between $50 million and $100 million. As part of the reorganization, Bravo Brio intends to close underperforming restaurants, streamline operations, and pursue new investors to stabilize its future.

The company emphasized that the process would be as seamless as possible for guests, employees, and vendors, noting that food court operations and service are expected to continue during restructuring. Still, some locations will close, mirroring moves by other struggling Italian chains.

The bankruptcy highlights a broader trend across the casual dining sector. Bertucci’s filed for bankruptcy in April, People First Pizza followed in March, and Red Door Pizza did so just last month. Bertucci’s, in particular, has already begun closing restaurants. These filings underscore how inflation, competition from fast-casual brands, and weakened consumer confidence are pressuring legacy sit-down dining models.

Industry experts warn the wave of closures is far from over. With rising vacancies in shopping centers and declining foot traffic, many legacy chains face the same headwinds. Bravo Brio, like its peers, sees Chapter 11 as a tool to reorganize and emerge leaner, but whether that will be enough to weather the storm remains to be seen.