Comfort food chain closes all restaurants, files bankruptcy | Official Website of Louis Velazquez, entrepreneur, finance guy and tech innovator

Comfort food means something different to every person.

For some, it might be a favorite dish from childhood that they rarely eat anymore, while for others, it’s something indulgent that serves as a reward.

“Looking at comfort foods, pizza tops America’s list of favorites. With a 15% slice of Americans hailing it as their number one, it gets more than twice as many votes as any other food choice. Chocolate and ice cream tie for second, at 7% each, while mac & cheese and chips round out the top five (5% and 4%, respectively),” according to a Harris Poll.

That study also showed that Americans have different reasons for breaking out the comfort food.

When do Americans turn to their favorite comfort food?

Over four in ten say they need an edible pick-me-up when they’re stressed (45%) or after a really bad day (43%).
One third (33%) indicate they turn to a comfort food when they’re depressed.
Nearly four in ten indicate they’ll turn to their tried and true dish after a really good day (38%) or on their birthday (37%).
More distantly, 13% indicate they eat it after a break-up and, among those 21 or older, 9% each say they need that special dish either the day after or during a night of heavy drinking.

On a personal level, I want my mother’s chicken soup if I don’t feel well, and old favorites like Kraft Macaroni and Cheese when feeling a little down. Neither comes that often, but the urge for comfort food does happen.

One restaurant chain built around comfort food, biscuits, plans to close its doors after a failed attempt to sell the chain during bankruptcy.

Biscuits are a classic comfort food.

Shutterstock

The Biscuit Bar was built from tragedy

Sometimes, terrible pain can lead to inspiration. At least that seems to be what happened for Jake and Janie Burkett.

In late 2016, the couple welcomed twin girls, Brycee Jo and Blake, into their family and began planning their lives as new parents.

“Their joy quickly turned to sorrow with the unexpected passing of Brycee Jo due to a severe infection. Needless to say, their world came crashing down around them,” The Biscuit Bar shares on its website.

That tragedy, however, led to a discovery.

“Throughout the following weeks, family and friends gathered around the Burketts to help them navigate their grief. As is often the case, food played a pivotal role in their journey towards healing. Though simple comfort foods were a staple, one item kept recurring on the menu: Biscuits,” according to the company.

More Bankruptcy:

It took about two years for the first Biscuit Bar location to open in 2018, but the Burketts had begun hashing out the concept well before that.

“On New Year’s Eve 2016, side-by-side with Janie’s brother, an entire spread was created around the idea of custom-made, do-it-yourself biscuit sandwiches. They whipped up a ‘biscuit bar’ in their kitchen, featuring fluffy, scratch-made biscuits with mouth-watering toppings like scrambled eggs, bacon, fried chicken, sausage gravy, and maple syrup,” they shared.

Biscuit Bar filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Chapter 11 Filing Confirmed: The Biscuit Bar LLC filed a voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas on October 2, 2025, according to BKalerts. Case Details & Docket: The case is assigned No. 25‑33848 in the Northern District of Texas, showing ongoing proceedings and scheduled deadlines for creditor claims,
Nature of Filing: This is a Chapter 11 reorganization, meaning the company is seeking to restructure its debts while continuing operations, rather than liquidating immediately, BKalerts shared.
Assets and Liabilities: The bankruptcy petition lists assets in the range of $0–$100,000 and liabilities between $1 million and $10 million, reflecting financial distress relative to obligations, according to Bankruptcy Observer.
Small Chain Impact: The Biscuit Bar operates a small network of six locations featuring biscuit‑based breakfast and brunch sandwiches before the filing, primarily in the Dallas–Fort Worth area (Abilene, Coppell, Dallas, Fort Worth, North Arlington, Plano). TheStreet‘s Kirk O’Neil reported. Reason for Filing: The filing comes amid broader restaurant industry financial pressures, with many small and mid‑sized chains restructuring due to rising costs and shifting consumer demand.
Official Case Monitoring: Detailed docket and case updates can be followed via bankruptcy court monitoring services that pull records directly from PACER (the federal court system) or Bankruptcy Observer.

Biscuit Bar closing all locations

Biscuit Bar has decided to close all six of its Texas locations, according to Culture Map.

All of the restaurants have already been closed, although the chain’s website remains up and does not mention the shutdown.

“This is not the outcome we fought for. This is not the ending we imagined. And it is not for lack of trying,” founders Jack and Janie Burkett shared on Facebook.

The couple blamed the shutdown on market conditions.

“The past few years have tested independent restaurants more than any period in modern memory. Rising costs, supply chain instability, and a commercial environment increasingly shaped by large institutional interests created pressures no small business was prepared to endure. Still, in 2025, we fought harder than ever to stabilize operations, preserve jobs, and protect the brand we built with you,” they shared.

Closing was never the plan, but a proposed sale did not work out.

“While many partners supported a workable plan, several key financial stakeholders did not,” the Burketts Facebook post shared. “This included a few landlords whose participation was essential. Their refusal to compromise or support a path forward ultimately made the sale impossible, leaving us with no legal or financial ability continue operating. And so just days before Christmas, we were forced into the most painful decision of our lives.”