And this is not the first bankruptcy go-around for Bravo Brio. The restaurant group behind Bravo! Italian Kitchen and Brio Italian Grille, known for their authentic yet accessible Italian classics like creamy seafood risotto and hearty pasta dishes, has changed hands multiple times, most recently in 2020, when the restaurant group last filed for bankruptcy and was bought by Earl Enterprises.
Chick 'n' Sours' co-founder, David Wolanksi, expressed the struggle of independent operators, stating, 'It feels like the whole system is stacked against independent operators as we are being squeezed from every angle - food inflation, rising wages, relentless rent increases, service charges, and soaring utilities without the deep pockets to ride it out. It's an exhausting, never-ending battle to keep the lights on.'