The ongoing troubles for Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen continue as Sailormen Inc., a major franchisee based in Miami, Florida, has permanently closed three additional restaurant locations, bringing its total number of closures to at least 20, reports Baltimore Chronicle via FastCompany.
Earlier this year, Sailormen sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, citing declining customer traffic, high inflation, and financial liabilities stemming from a failed 2024 attempt to sell 16 restaurants. In December 2025, the company was sued by its lender, BMO Bank, which requested the appointment of a federal receiver to take control of Sailormen’s assets and operations.
In January 2026, Sailormen closed 17 Popeyes restaurants across Florida and Georgia as part of the bankruptcy proceedings, Fast Company previously reported. The three newly disclosed closures, all located in Georgia, were already shuttered prior to the January filing. Sailormen is now seeking court approval to reject the leases on these properties.
Prior to filing for bankruptcy, Sailormen operated over 130 Popeyes restaurants. At the time of its petition, the company employed slightly more than 3,300 workers, the majority of whom were hourly employees. The precise number of jobs lost due to these 20 closures has not been confirmed. It remains uncertain whether further restaurant closures will occur, as Sailormen has not responded to requests for comment.
The three newly closed Popeyes locations in Georgia are:
- 1817 Glynn Ave, Brunswick, GA 31520
- 628 W Parker St, Baxley, GA 31513
- 419 S Church St, Homerville, GA 31634
These closures are in addition to the 17 restaurants that were shuttered in Florida and Georgia in January 2026.
Restaurant Brands International (RBI), the parent company of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, has downplayed the impact of Sailormen’s bankruptcy, noting that the underperforming locations do not reflect the overall brand performance or the chain’s popularity in the broader fast food market.
Nevertheless, Popeyes has faced stiff competition from rapidly expanding chicken-focused chains such as Wingstop and Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, which have gained significant popularity among younger demographics. In its latest earnings report, RBI disclosed a nearly 5% decline in U.S. sales, marking the chain’s fourth consecutive quarterly drop. CEO Josh Kobza has outlined plans to revitalize Popeyes through enhanced marketing strategies and targeted in-store coaching aimed at low-performing outlets.
As of December 2025, Popeyes operated just under 3,200 restaurants in the United States and more than 5,400 locations worldwide.
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