Fans of Moe’s Southwest Grill may soon have fewer places to grab a burrito or chips and queso.
The restaurant chain is closing 14 Florida locations, affecting communities statewide. The closures come after Quality Fresca I L.L.C., headquartered in Palm Beach, filed for Chapter 11 protection on Aug. 4 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida.
In addition to the Florida closures, two other locations are closing in Georgia and Virginia. Quality Fresca had about $44 million in assets while liabilities totaled about $52 million as of Dec. 31, 2025, according to documents included in its Chapter 11 court filing.
Is your local Moe’s closing soon? See the list.
What is Chapter 11 bankruptcy?
According to the United States Courts, Chapter 11 bankruptcy is frequently referred to as a “reorganization” bankruptcy.
“Usually, the debtor remains ‘in possession,’ has the powers and duties of a trustee, may continue to operate its business, and may, with court approval, borrow new money,” the website states. “A plan of reorganization is proposed, creditors whose rights are affected may vote on the plan, and the plan may be confirmed by the court if it gets the required votes and satisfies certain legal requirements.”
See 14 Florida Moe’s closing down
Why is Quality Fresca filing for bankruptcy?
Multiple factors contributed to the decision to seek bankruptcy protection, G. Michael Verdisco, chief restructuring officer, said in a First Day Declaration accompanying the Quality Fresca filing.
Verdisco said Quality Fresca “has faced significant hurdles resulting from industry headwinds, increased costs, and declining revenue, which have challenged the Debtor’s business and depleted its liquidity.”
“Over the past several years, and particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic, the Debtor’s business suffered significantly from loss of foot traffic, resulting in declining revenue without proportionate decreases in rental obligations, debt service, and other liabilities,” Verdisco wrote in the declaration.
“Additionally, recent increases in costs of shipping and food, decreased availability of labor, and inflation generally have exacerbated the Debtor’s cash flow issues,” he added. “As a result, although several of the Restaurants have remained profitable, others have been operating at a loss, resulting in the Debtor’s inability to meet its obligations and achieve the financial metrics required under various agreements.”
Samantha Neely is a trending reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida, covering pop culture, theme parks, breaking news and more. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Moe’s Southwest Grill closes 14 Florida restaurants after bankruptcy
Reporting by Samantha Neely and Teresa Stepzinski, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Samantha Neely and Teresa Stepzinski, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida | USA TODAY Network
