Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is closing dozens of locations in multiple states. The company began the closures after its major franchisee, Sailormen Inc., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this month in Florida, Fast Company reported. Court documents reveal that Sailormen has now closed 17 Popeyes locations in Georgia and Florida.
While some of the locations closed this week, it’s not clear if more closures will follow. According to an internal memo obtained by Fast Company, Popeyes president Peter Perdue said most of Sailormen’s locations are still profitable.
What are some of the reasons for Sailormen’s bankruptcy?
Sailormen cited high inflation and borrowing rates as some of the factors that led to bankruptcy. The company struggled to recover after the pandemic, per Fast Company.
Restaurant Brands International (RBI), which owns Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and other major chains, is also struggling to keep up with the competition. In recent years, the company has seen more fans flocking to competitors such as Raising Cane’s and Dave’s Hot Chicken. Some RBI stores reported a decline in sales for three consecutive quarters in 2025.
Still, Popeyes remains one of the largest fast-food chains in the world, with more than 5,000 global locations.
Where are the Popeyes locations that are closed?
Popeyes closed eight locations on Jan. 19, then five more the next day. Four other locations also closed on Jan. 22, as the company said the stores are underperforming.
The closures include 12 locations in Florida. Those closures are in the cities of North Live Oak, Pierce, Tampa, Arcadia, East Palatka, Jacksonville, Chiefland, Leesburg, Keystone Heights, Macclenny, and Melbourne. Five more stores are closed in the Georgia cities of Jesup, Waycross, Hazlehurst, and Brunswick.
Popeyes became a global sensation in 2019 after introducing its highly coveted chicken sandwich. People all over the country stood in long lines for hours at that time, waiting for a chance to grab the mouth-watering sandwich. Since then, however, rivals such as Chick-fil-A have been attracting more fans with their own chicken sandwich options, The Street reported.
The post Popeyes Sees 17 Stores Close For Fried Chicken Restaurant After A Franchisee Filed For Bankruptcy Protection appeared first on Blavity.
