Bankruptcy Leads To Closing of Popeyes

A Popeyes franchisee that owns more than 130 locations in Florida and Georgia has filed for bankruptcy. Last week, the Popeyes restaurant in Hazlehurst closed as a result of the bankruptcy filing.
According to an article in USA Today, Sailormen, Inc., a Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen franchisee based in Miami, Fla., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Jan. 15, in the Southern District of Florida. At the time of filing, the company was in debt by nearly $130 million, according to court documents obtained by USA Today. The lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation and an “increasingly limited qualified labor force” drove the company to bankruptcy, as outlined in the documents.
Additionally, Sailormen, Inc. sold 16 of its Popeyes locations in 2023; however, the deal fell through, leaving the franchisee responsible for the restaurant leases, according to court documents.
As of Jan. 15, Sailormen employed 3,272 hourly workers in its Popeyes restaurants.
Per the bankruptcy documents, Sailormen currently operates 136 Popeyes restaurants in Florida and Georgia.