WARWICK, R.I. — The Smokey Bones restaurant in Warwick has abruptly closed as part of a nationwide shutdown tied to the chain’s bankruptcy, leaving customers and employees caught off guard.
A notice posted at the Universal Boulevard location said the restaurant closed April 28. The Warwick site was among several locations across the country that shut down with little warning.
The closures come after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this year. At the time, officials said restaurants would remain open during restructuring, but the sudden shutdowns suggest the chain’s financial struggles have deepened.
Smokey Bones has been downsizing for years. In September 2025, the company said it closed 15 underperforming locations in an effort to focus on stronger stores and streamline operations.
Founded in 1999 by Darden Restaurants, the brand began as a barbecue-focused sports bar in Orlando before expanding into a national casual dining chain known for hickory-smoked meats and fire-grilled dishes.
At its peak, Smokey Bones operated around 130 locations nationwide. That number had dropped to about 60 in recent years, and by 2025, the chain was down to just 26 restaurants. The latest closures signal a rapid decline as the company works through bankruptcy.
he Warwick restaurant had been one of the chain’s remaining locations in the region. With its closure, it remains unclear whether Smokey Bones will return in any form following the bankruptcy process.
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