Florida Popeyes franchisee, Sailormen Inc., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Jan. 15, according to a petition in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida.
The Miami-based franchisee, founded in 1987, operates 136 locations in Florida and Georgia. According to Restaurant Business, they are about $130 million in debt.
According to the filing, they intend to use the Chapter 11 process to “stabilize its business and conduct an orderly marketing and sale process under court supervision, rather than ceding control to a lender-appointed receiver.”
What does this mean for its Florida fast food locations? Here’s what we know so far.
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.”
Why is Florida Popeyes franchisee filing for bankruptcy?
According to Restaurant Business, the Florida franchisee in court filings blamed a host of factors, including the impact of the pandemic, inflation, rising borrowing rates and labor challenges, for the filing. It also began falling behind on rent and faced legal challenges from landlords, vendors, and its lender.
The outlet further explains that the franchisee, owned by Interfoods of America, has faced financial challenges over the last few years. Its 2023 deal to sell 16 restaurants in Georgia as part of a restructuring plan fell through, prompting Sailormen to stop covering the locations’ rent in April 2024.
Sailormen filed a breach-of-contract lawsuit but remained liable for the leases on those locations.
The Street also reported that the debtor defaulted on credit facilities totaling about $130 million, held by BMO Bank N.A. They further explained that the lender filed a complaint against the debtor in December 2025 and sought to appoint a receiver in early January 2026, which prompted the bankruptcy filing.
Will Florida Popeyes be closing?
As of Jan. 16, Sailormen has not announced whether any of its Florida locations will be closing.
Restaurant Business says Peter Perdue, president of Popeyes in the U.S. and Canada, included a note to the filing that said a “large majority” of the restaurants operated by Sailormen will remain open.
“While no one wants to find themselves in a process like this, we certainly believe that a large majority of their restaurants will continue to operate in the Popeyes system,” he wrote. “We are supporting them in every way we can through this process and believe in them as brand and operational leaders in our system.”
The USA TODAY Network Florida has reached out to Sailerman, Inc. for further information.
How many Popeyes are in Florida?
According to data company ScrapeHero, the Sunshine State has roughly 218 Popeyes restaurants as of December 2025.
Megan Thee Stallion opens new Popeyes in Miami
This news comes as Grammy-winning rapper Megan Thee Stallion opened a new Popeyes restaurant in Florida earlier in January.
According to the Patch, she announced that she is now the franchise owner of a Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen location in the South Beach area of Miami Beach. She has been collaborating with the fast-food chain over the past few years.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Popeyes franchisee in Florida files for bankruptcy. Are any closing?
Reporting by Samantha Neely, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
