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Corrections and Description: This story has been updated to clarify which companies own Smokey Bone.
Restaurant and bar Smokey Bones welcomes new leadership due to poor performance, closing more stores, bringing the company’s total number of recent closures to 15.
The FAT brand, which has subsidiaries such as Fatburger, Johnny Rockets, Great American Cookies, Fazoli and Twin Peaks, purchased Smoky Bone in 2023.
Twin Peaks announced changes to its press release on Tuesday, September 2nd. Known for its barbecues, cocktails and other specialty drinks, Smokey Bones has already closed 10 locations. The remaining five closures will occur by the end of the third quarter at the end of the year, the company said.
Twin Hospitality was previously announced in March, according to a report by the Springfield State Journal-Register, part of the USA Today Network.
USA Today contacted Twin Hospitality to find out which Smokey Bones locations have been closed recently and which five have not yet closed their doors forever.
The new leader previously worked at California Pizza Kitchen, Texas Road House and more.
The Smokey Bones once had more than 100 locations nationwide, the Springfield State Journal Register reported. Once the upcoming closures come into effect, just 26 Smokey Bones locations will remain standing, Twin Hospitality said. According to a press release, these remaining restaurants are on track to bring about “positive cash flow” for twin hospitality.
Smokey Bones’ new leader, Kane Brende Mir, will soon be working, Twin Hospitality said in a press release.
He has over 25 years of restaurant leadership experience and most recently served as Chief Operating Officer of Alamo Drafthouse, a cinema chain with locations in Texas, Massachusetts, Chicago and Virginia. He also works at Velvet Tacos at California Pizza Kitchen at Texas Roadhouse and works at the border, the company said.
Kim Bolema, CEO of Twin Hospitality, said in a press release that the restaurant closure and new leadership are part of the company’s plan to “eliminate inefficiency.” The Smokey Bones location, which brings less money, will be converted to other brands owned by the company, such as Twin Peaks Lodge and a sports bar, Boerema said.
“Ken will bring his deep operational expertise and proven track record to guide the Smokey Bones to the next chapter,” Boerema said in the release.
Two Smokey Bones locations have already undergone conversion to Twin Peaks Lodge
According to Twin Hospitality, the company has identified 19 restaurants and converted them into “better performance Twin Peaks Lodges.” The sports bar serves beer, burgers, hot chicken, fried pickles and has a wall-to-wall television.
Mexico has states such as Florida, Oklahoma and Ohio, according to the Twin Peaks website.
Some have seen Twin Peaks Sports Bar as an alternative to the Hooters, which has been reported by the Springfield State Journal-Register, which has resulted in a recent string of closures, including at least 12 state locations.
Regarding the conversion from Smokey Bones to Twin Peaks, Twin Hospitality said two conversions had already been made, one of which took place in Lakeland, Florida in late 2024, according to National Restaurant News. Twin Hospitality said the third conversion should be made later in 2025.
According to the company, the data shows that if it was operated as a smoky bone, the converted location generated $7.8 million per location.
Smokey Bones’ new president, Brendemihl, said in a press release that the chain is undergoing a transitional phase. This period “sets the basis for the long-term success of the Smokey Bones,” he said.
Contributors: Mary Walrath Holdridge and James Powell, USA Today. Clare Grant, Springfield State Journal Register
Saleen Martin is a reporter for the USA Today Now team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – 757. Email her to sdmartin@usatoday.com.
