Biscuit Bar shutters all six Texas locations days before Christmas after bankruptcy filing

A Texas restaurant chain known for its biscuit sandwiches and all-day comfort-food menu abruptly shut down all six locations, just days before Christmas. Biscuit Bar operated five restaurants in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex and a sixth in Abilene. In a statement posted on social media, the owners described the closures as 'incredibly painful' and said the decision was made after months of financial strain. The move affects more than 100 employees, according to disclosures and the bankruptcy filings. Customers reacted with shock and disappointment, with some saying Biscuit Bar was a neighborhood staple and others praising its biscuits as among the best.

The shutdown has left former patrons searching for explanations and workers facing sudden unemployment as the company winds down its operations. A GoFundMe campaign was launched to provide financial help to displaced workers, underscoring the human impact of the closures even as the business departures ripple through the local dining scene.

Biscuit Bar had been operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after filing earlier this year in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas. Owners Jake and Janie Burkett said they had hoped to restructure the business and avoid shutting down, pointing to rising costs, supply-chain disruptions and what they described as 'a commercial environment increasingly shaped by large institutional interests.' The company had announced a tentative deal to be acquired by an unnamed restaurant group, with terms structured and a closing set for December. But the sale collapsed after several financial stakeholders did not cooperate, leaving the business with 'no legal or financial ability to continue operating.'

The filings also show Biscuit Bar had almost no cash on hand and debts running into the millions of dollars as the company moved to end its reorganization and formally wind down. The chain had been open since 2018 and marketed itself as a family-friendly spot for breakfast, lunch, dinner or drinks, offering biscuits, loaded tots and cocktails. A GoFundMe campaign has been created to assist displaced workers as the chain’s closure takes effect.

The Biscuit Bar closures come amid a broader wave of restaurant downturns this year, ranging from regional favorites to national chains. Analysts point to a punishing mix of weaker customer demand, rising food and labor costs, and high interest rates, leaving little room for error for both independent restaurants and established chains alike. The industry already saw a string of closures and consolidations across the country, from small family-run concepts to large operators.

Other restaurant groups have trimmed footprints or shuttered entirely in 2025. Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, Opa Restaurant Group and Oath Pizza are among operators that closed locations or dramatically scaled back. In single-location stories, Jenkins Quality Barbecue in Florida, Piggy's Restaurant and Lounge in Wisconsin, and Hector's Café and Diner in New York also closed this year. K&W Cafeteria, an 88-year-old fixture across North Carolina and Virginia, closed its final eight locations this month. Larger chains have also pulled back: Pizza Hut and Denny’s sold off their businesses in recent months after sustained sales declines, while Red Robin has announced store closures. Maple Street Biscuit Company, owned by Cracker Barrel, shuttered 14 locations, Bahama Breeze closed 15 restaurants, and Wendy’s signaled wind-downs of roughly 300 underperforming stores. Industry observers say the pressures facing Biscuit Bar reflect a broader industry reality, where rising costs and interest rates squeeze margins even for established brands.

For the Burkett family, the decision marks the end of an expansion that began in 2018, when they opened a single concept that grew into six Texan outposts. The founders have not indicated plans to revive the concept under a new model, and the wind-down process is expected to continue as creditors and lenders sort through remaining obligations. In the meantime, communities that relied on Biscuit Bar for breakfast, lunch and casual dinners will need to adjust to new neighborhood footprints without the beloved biscuit sandwiches that helped define the brand.