More than a month after abruptly shuttering two of its Tallahassee locations, the parent company of Moe’s Southwest Grill has closed more Florida stores as it files for bankruptcy protection..
More than a month ago, the company closed its stores on Apalachee Parkway and Thomasville Road, as reported by the Democrat at the time.
At least two Jacksonville locations have joined the list of nationwide closures after the fast-casual Tex-Mex restaurant chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Moe’s specializes in fully customizable burritos, bowls and tacos with over 20 fresh ingredients to choose from. The restaurant still operates on 1444 W. Tennessee St., 3122 Mahan Drive and 3437 Bannerman Road in Florida’s capital city.
The closures come in the wake of Quality Fresca I L.L.C, headquartered in Palm Beach, filing for Chapter 11 protection Aug. 4 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida.
The Jacksonville and Tallahassee restaurants were among 14 Moe’s locations in Florida, as well as single locations in Georgia and Virginia, closed as Quality Fresca seeks to restructure its finances.
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.
Quality Fresca officials couldn’t be reached immediately for comment.
Multiple factors cited in bankruptcy filing
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.
Economic conditions also presented challenges.
“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 also wrote. “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.”
Who is Quality Fresca I LLC?
Quality Fresca, headquartered in Atlanta, currently operates 38 Moe’s Southwest Grill restaurants spread across Florida, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.
In its heyday, Quality Fresca once operated 69 Moe’s locations nationwide in March 2020 then added two more in 2021. It’s downsized since then, QSR magazine reported on Aug. 10.
Since then, the company has downsized steadily — closing 31 underperforming restaurants. Nineteen locations closed between May 2021 and the end of 2025. A dozen more closed this year, leaving 38 operating restaurants when the company filed for bankruptcy protection, QSR also reported.
Moe’s Southwest Grill restaurant closures
So far, 16 Moe’s locations from Virginia south to Florida have closed following the bankruptcy filing, according to news and social media reports.
Moe’s shutting their doors:
Other Moe’s locations reported as closed were 10205 Canal Crossing in Brunswick, Ga. and 7869 Heneska Loop in Alexandria, Va.
Teresa Stepzinski is the dining reporter for the Times-Union. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @TeresaStepz or reach her via email at tstepzinski@jacksonville.com.
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Last updated 08/16/2026 02:10pm EDT by Teresa Stepzinski
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Moe’s Southwest Grill abruptly closes 2 Jacksonville restaurants
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Two Moe’s Southwest Grill restaurants abruptly close in Jacksonville
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Two Moe’s Southwest Grill restaurant in Jacksonville shut their doors
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A nationwide Tex-Mex restaurant chain abruptly closed two Jacksonille restaurants after a major franchisee filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
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Two Moe’s Southwest Grill locations in Jacksonville have permanently closed.
The closures follow a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by a major franchisee, Quality Fresca I L.L.C.
At least 16 Moe’s locations across Florida, Georgia, and Virginia have been shuttered by the franchisee.
The franchisee cited pandemic after-effects, rising costs, and declining revenue as reasons for the filing.
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Two Moe’s Southwest Grill locations in Jacksonville are among 16 statewide abruptly closed after a major franchisees files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy projections
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Moe’s Southwest Grill closes 16 stores after bankruptcy
Reporting by William L. Hatfield, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By William L. Hatfield, Tallahassee Democrat | USA TODAY Network
