A major Popeyes operator based in Miami is working through a rocky Chapter 11 case that has already taken a bite out of its footprint, leaving roughly 20 restaurants closed across Florida and Georgia. Sailormen Inc., which runs more than 130 Popeyes locations, filed for bankruptcy in mid-January and has been shedding leases and shutting underperforming stores while the case winds through court. The closures have scrambled employee schedules and left several smaller communities without a nearby source for fried chicken and biscuits.
March filing shows fresh closures
A court filing on Tuesday obtained by PEOPLE revealed three more Georgia locations have gone dark, pushing the total number of stores tied to the bankruptcy to about 20. The motion asks the court to formally reject the leases on those properties while Sailormen continues its restructuring effort.
What the bankruptcy filing says
Sailormen filed for Chapter 11 protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida on Jan. 15, and the case is listed as 26-10451-RAM. BKAlerts and other industry reporting indicate the company operated roughly 136 Popeyes restaurants across Florida and Georgia and reported about $233.5 million in sales in 2025 while still posting an $18.8 million net operating loss. Restaurant Dive notes that heavy secured debt and delinquent loans helped push the operator into Chapter 11.
How it unraveled
Reporting traces the collapse to a failed deal to sell 16 Georgia restaurants and growing lender pressure, including a December complaint by BMO Bank that sought a receiver and sped up Sailormen’s decision to file. Nation's Restaurant News and court summaries say lease guarantees and related lawsuits left the company on the hook for closed units and escalating costs.
Which locations were shuttered
Industry lists show Sailormen closed 17 locations in January across Florida and Georgia, with reported sites in North Live Oak, Jacksonville, Melbourne and Tampa, along with several southeastern Georgia towns including Brunswick, Jesup and Waycross. TheStreet published a detailed list of addresses tied to the closures, many of which Sailormen has already asked the court to reject.
Impact and response
An internal memo to franchisees, obtained and reported by Fast Company, says the majority of Sailormen’s remaining restaurants are still profitable, a point Popeyes has highlighted to frame the situation as a franchisee-specific problem rather than a broader brand crisis. PEOPLE notes that both the company and Popeyes had not responded to requests for comment as of publication.
Legal fallout and next steps
Creditors and landlords are already active in the bankruptcy. Lenders pushed for receivership, and several objections from utilities and landlords have landed on the docket, leaving it to the court to decide which leases survive and which are rejected as part of the Chapter 11 process. Restaurant Dive and docket summaries indicate that Sailormen intends to use the case to steady operations while it markets assets and negotiates with lenders, with hearings and claims deadlines set over the coming weeks.
For now, the case serves as a reminder that even large franchise portfolios can be vulnerable when margins tighten. Operators, landlords and customers across Florida and Georgia will be watching the Miami proceedings for signs of sales, transfers or broader fallout. Nation's Restaurant News notes that Sailormen’s filing is part of a recent wave of franchisee restructurings that has been reshaping local restaurant footprints this year.
