Bankruptcy filings, no matter the industry, are the result of a thousand cuts.
This month has produced filings and rumors of more to come in the pandemic-shaken restaurant industry.
Maitland, Fla.-based Tijuana Flats Restaurants filed for Chapter 11 protection in the Florida Middle District Bankruptcy Court after closing a total of 40 restaurants this year, 11 of them last week.
And, while Tijuana Flats is in the fast-casual segment, North Aurora, Ill.-based Oberweis Dairy filed April 12 for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization at the 43-unit dairy and retail concept.
And Bloomberg reported April 16 that Orlando, Fla.-based Red Lobster, a stalwart in the casual-dining segment, was talking with experts about a possible bankruptcy filing. The company named Jonathan Tibus, known for his restructuring expertise, as CEO in late March.
Senior editor Ron Ruggless helps us make sense of it all.