Last Call? Bar Louie’s Second Bankruptcy Shakes Up the Gastropub Scene

Delaware, USA

Bar Louie, the self-proclaimed “original gastropub,” has once again hit rock bottom—filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time in just five years. Once a buzzing nightlife staple, the Texas-based chain is now down to just 48 locations, a stark contrast to its peak of 130 in 2018. The latest financial meltdown follows a wave of recent closures in Tennessee, Colorado, New Jersey, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, and even its home state of Texas.

So what went wrong? According to court filings, Bar Louie is drowning in liabilities between $50 million and $100 million, while its assets barely scrape together a meager $1 million to $10 million. Rising food and labor costs, shifting consumer habits, and an industry that’s increasingly brutal for mid-tier dining brands have turned this once-thriving hangout into another casualty of the modern restaurant apocalypse.

This latest bankruptcy filing lands Bar Louie in the same sinking boat as Red Lobster, Tijuana Flats, and Buca di Beppo—other beloved names that have recently been forced to rethink their survival strategies. But the real question remains: is this the last call for Bar Louie, or will it rise from the ashes once again?

Either way, nostalgia just got served with a side of uncertainty.