All NewsDecember 10, 2025

Pioneering national pizza chain files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Back in the 1980s, Pizza Hut used to host birthday parties where the birthday person, not their entire party, got to make their own pizza. That was a popular activity that likely helped inspire the current wave of make-your-own pizza chains.

The Pizza Hut party actually allowed the birthday boy or girl to handle the dough, sauce, cheese, and add their own toppings.

Today’s make-your-own pizza chains, led by Blaze Pizza, with over 350 locations nationwide, and Mod Pizza, which has about double that, don’t let guests handle the ingredients. Instead, customers order on their phone, via a kiosk, or from an actual person to create a personalized pizza.

Pieology, one of the pioneers in the space, has gone from being one of the fastest-growing restaurant chains in the world to a struggling brand. Now, the chain’s parent company, The Little Brown Box Pizza, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Little Brown Box Pizza is Pieology

  • The 2019 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) for Pieology lists “Pieology Franchise, LLC” (organized 2012) as the franchising entity, and names Little Brown Box Pizza, LLC as its parent company, according to The FDD Exchange.
  • Little Brown Box Pizza, LLC owns the trademarks for “PIEOLOGY” and related marks under U.S. registration, according to Justia Trademarks.
  • Business‑directory and franchising‑profile sources identify Little Brown Box Pizza, LLC as the principal entity behind Pieology, confirming its role as the franchisor, reported franchiserankings.com.

Pieology makes personal pizzas.

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Pieology: Store‑count timeline

  • 2014:  55 locations nationwide, according to Restaurant News Resource.
  • Early 2015: Still growing; at the time, there was an expectation of opening 180 locations by the end of 2015, Restaurant News Resource reported.
  • End of 2015: The chain had more than 100 U.S. stores, according to Money Inc.
  • 2016: By mid‑year, Pieology listed “nearly 130” restaurants in operation as they rolled out a new POS system, according to a press release.
  • End of 2017: 135 stores, shared Restaurant Business Online.
  • 2020: The chain reportedly had “more than 130 restaurants” in 22 states and internationally, while undergoing some refranchising,” according to Pizza Marketplace.
  • July 2025: 68 U.S. locations remain, ScrapeHero reported.

Pieology’s parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

California-based pizza chain Pieology, operated by The Little Brown Box Pizza LLC, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy amid financial challenges. The filing allows the pizzeria to restructure its operations while continuing to serve customers, according to a U.S. bankruptcy court filing.

RK Consultants shared more details on X, the former Twitter.

“The Little Brown Box Pizza, LLC, an Irvine, California-based operator of Pieology pizza restaurants, filed for chapter 11 protection on December 8, 2025, in the Central District of California. A bankruptcy case for an affiliate, Kustom Partner, LLC, is also pending in the same district,” RK Consultants posted.

More Bankruptcy:

The company reported between $1 million and $10 million in both assets and liabilities. The filing lists a $125,946 priority tax claim owed to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration and over $360,000 in unsecured claims to two Sysco entities.

Since the chain’s stores are franchised, it’s unclear how the filing will impact individual locations. At the moment, it appears that normal operations are continuing.

A brief history of Pieology

Pieology bankruptcy facts:

  • The Little Brown Box Pizza, LLC filed a voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition on December 8, 2025, according to the Bankruptcy Observer.
  • The filing was made in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court – Central District of California, case number 8:25-bk-13452, Bankruptcy Observer reported.
  • The company doing business as Pieology is the named debtor, shared WhatNow.
  • Legal representation: The bankruptcy filing lists attorney Belinda M. Vega of Venable LLP, according to Bankruptcy Observer.
  • As of the most recent public update, the bankruptcy is “active” (i.e., not dismissed or converted), and no final reorganization plan has yet been publicly confirmed, reported Bankruptcy Observer.

Update 12/9 5:05 p.m.

The formal filing now appears on PacerMonitor.

  • Reported financials: the company listed assets between $100,000 and $500,000, and liabilities between $1 million and $10 million, meaning liabilities substantially exceed assets.
  • More than 200 creditors are involved, including landlords, vendors, and tax authorities from various states
  • Alongside The Little Brown Box Pizza, an affiliated entity named Kustom Partner (apparently the administrative arm for Pieology) also filed for bankruptcy, and the cases are being considered for joint administration to streamline proceedings. Source: PacerMonitor

What a Chapter 11 filing for Pieology means

A bankruptcy at the parent company level could have a greater impact on franchise operators.

“At the heart of any franchisor bankruptcy is the question of whether the agreement is going to stay in place and continue in force. The franchisee must be prepared for the possibility that the agreement will be rejected in bankruptcy. It can be confusing what it means when a franchise agreement is rejected,” Half Price Lawyers shared.

That could lead to more court cases.

“A franchisee may have an unsecured claim for damages. However, as an unsecured debtor, they have a low priority to recoup their losses,” the website added.

Pieology is not the only player in this space that has struggled.

“The wave of 2024 restaurant bankruptcies may not be breaking anytime soon. A report surfaced earlier this week from Bloomberg that Seattle-based MOD Pizza is the latest chain to consider such a move. That report was followed by a Wall Street Journal report that MOD hired legal and financial advisers to work on a ‘potential bankruptcy filing’ while searching for a buyer,” Nation’s Restaurant News reported.

Related: Leading kid’s entertainment, play brand files Chapter 11 bankruptcy