In recent times, eateries have had to balance on a very delicate edge. For broad popularity, franchises must provide a specific level of trendiness, alongside reasonable pricing.
That's a quality that Chili's has successfully achieved. There's nothing exceptionally trendy about the chain, but it has embraced affordability, which has somewhat solidified the entire brand.
Applebee's also experienced a surge, fueled by Walker Hayes' song "Fancy Like," which targeted the chain. This track, combined with solid value, contributed to reviving a brand that had been facing difficulties.
Restaurants experienced a varied summer, according to data from theNational Restaurant Association.
Forty-six percent of restaurant operators reported an increase in same-store sales between August 2024 and August 2025. This marked a slight decrease from the 48% of operators who noted higher sales in July, according to the trade association.
Nearly the same number of restaurants reported unfavorable outcomes.
43% of operators reported a decrease in sales during August, while 42% experienced this in July.
National Restaurant Associaiton
It's a tough environment that has resulted in several restaurant chains going out of business. This list has now expanded to include CPG Restaurant Group.
CPG Restaurant Group files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection
The CPG Restaurant group might not be widely recognized, but it manages several concepts that many people are familiar with.
- Cheesie's Pub & Grub (two locations)
- Whiskey Business (bar/whiskey-focused concept)
- Lost Reef Lounge
- Broke, High, and Hungry (cloud kitchen/ghost kitchen concept)
- Bob's Bomb A** Burgers (cloud kitchen concept)
The large corporation has a minimal online presence other than its job board, but Cheesie's Pub & Grub maintains a website that outlines its operations.
It all began with a lunch date with a close friend one day. She had a hankering for a grilled cheese, but there wasn't a nearby spot to get one. Chris's friend expressed a desire for a place that only sold grilled cheese. That evening, he went home and created the menu, drafted the business plan, ate a grilled cheese, and within three weeks left his job," the company revealed.
The menu features dishes "inspired by his poor eating habits and fondness for the foods he grew up with: macaroni and cheese, chicken strips, French fries, and grilled cheese," but presented in a bar setting.
The CPG Restaurant Group has initiated Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings but continues to function as usual. The company's legal submission mentioned a debtor-in-possession strategy, although the specific information regarding this plan has not been disclosed yet.
CPG Restaurant Group files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
- CPG Restaurant Corporation submitted a filing forChapter 11 bankruptcy on October 15, 2025in the United States Bankruptcy Court located in the Eastern District of New York.
- The case number is 1-25-44958.
- The organization presents both assets and liabilities within the range of$1,000,000 to $10,000,000.
- CPG Restaurant Group listed between 1 and 49 creditors.
- The submission puts CPG intodebtor in possessionstatus, indicating its intention to maintain operations while undergoing restructuring.
- No public information is available at this time regarding the total debt, assets, intended restructuring plans, or potential recoveries for creditors (these details are usually outlined in future filings).
Source:PacerMonitor
"A company that has initiated Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings but remains operational and manages its assets under the oversight of the bankruptcy court is referred to as a debtor in possession (DIP). The DIP maintains control over daily operations, can secure additional funding, and might present a restructuring plan while safeguarding the rights of creditors," as stated by theU.S. Courts, Basic Information on Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.
Several restaurant and sit-down chain businesses have submitted for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
- Red LobsterSubmitted in May 2024; shut down 99 locations and exited bankruptcy in 2025.
- TGI FridaysSubmitted in November 2024; shut down 50 locations and kept running after the submission.
- Buca di BeppoSubmitted in August 2024; reorganized to concentrate on 44 key locations.
- Rubio’s Coastal Grill– Submitted in June 2024; shut down 48 locations and was purchased by its creditor.Wikipedia
- On The Border Mexican Grill & CantinaSubmitted in 2024; experienced a reorganization to tackle financial issues. Acquired by Pappas Restaurant Group.
- Bar LouieSubmitted in March 2025; reported assets ranging from $1 million to $10 million and debts from $50 million to $100 million.
- Melt Bar and GrilledSubmitted in June 2024; referenced financial challenges and shop shutdowns as factors in the submission.
Pinstripes– Submitted in September 2025; shut down multiple underperforming sites and reorganized business activities.Wikipedia