Two FL Restaurant Chains File For Bankruptcy & One Restaurant Group Sells FL Headquarters In 1 Week

Photo byPurple Slog from West Allis Wisconsin, USA, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

It hasn't been an easy couple of weeks for retail in Florida. I've written about Florida Big Lots and Badcock stores closing their doors. It has been a busy week for restaurants as well, as two Florida restaurant chains - World of Beer and Buca di Beppo - filed for bankruptcy. And Ciccio Restaurant Group sold its Florida headquarters. All of these stories broke during the first week of August 2024.

About World Of Beer And Its Bankruptcy: This Tampa-based chain recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in an attempt to eliminate debt and leases at underperforming locations. The company cited a slow recovery from the pandemic and higher operating costs as contributing factors.

Despite the bankruptcy and closing of 14 restaurants over the last year, the company recently added new stores in Jacksonville and Odessa.

About Buca di Beppo and Its Bankruptcy: This eatery is based in Orlando. It's a family-style restaurant chain that offers an atmosphere like Little Italy in the 1950s. Diners are encouraged to share family-style classics like chicken parmesan, pizza, and lasagna. (One of its pizzas is pictured at the top of this article.)

This chain also filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with more than $10 million in debt and cited issues relating to the pandemic. The company has also been closing underperforming stores, including one in Maitland.

Ciccio Restaurant Group Sells Its Tampa Headquarters: This company, probably best known for its Fresh Kitchen brand, sold its Florida headquarters on Kennedy Boulevard for $3 million to Chabad Lubavitch of South Tampa Inc.

CEO Tyler Azzarelli, who lives in California, told the Tampa Bay Business Journal that "Tampa is still hub and headquarters."