The fast food franchise rivalry is heating up - and one Florida Popeyes franchise operator is getting cooked. A Miami-based Popeyes franchise owner, Sailormen Inc, announced it would shutter locations as part of its Chapter 11 restructuring. Now, after a recent bankruptcy auction failed to attract buyers for dozens of restaurants, even more stores could close their doors. Sailormen attempted to offload 136 Popeyes restaurants at the time of its Chapter 11 petition in January. According to Fast Company, up to 52 locations didn't find a bidder during an auction last week, leaving the company scrambling to figure out what comes next. 'Those stores now constitute a burden on the Debtor’s estate, and, as of July 1, 2026, the Debtor will no longer have the authority to use cash collateral to operate those stores,' Sailormen's lawyers said in a bankruptcy filing. The failed auction marks another setback for the operator, who already filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this year to cut costs and sell off underperforming locations.

And while the initial proposal involved 52 locations, a judge has only approved lease rejections for 18 restaurants in Florida and Georgia, with the company sharing those locations are expected to be closed by the end of June. The impacted stores are spread across Jacksonville, Pensacola, Bradenton, St. Petersburg, Gulf Breeze, Neptune Beach, Brunswick, Cairo and Hinesville. If new buyers don't come forward for the remaining restaurants, additional franchises could close in the coming months as the company continues restructuring under Chapter 11 protection. The company said inflation, combined with weaker customer traffic since the pandemic, has hurt business.

But not all of the restaurants are disappearing - Popeyes has agreed to buy 16 of the 136 locations, and another company, Pulse Restaurant Group, has purchased 50 more. It’s unclear how many employees will be impacted by the impending closures. The closure announcement didn't come as a shock for former customers on social media, some of whom claimed the chain has 'consistently' bad service. 'Dirty locations, sky high prices and declining quality,' one Reddit user wrote. 'Wow, what a shock it's starting to shut down.' 'The Popeyes by me is great, but it suddenly became comically overpriced around the same time all the other fast food places did and now it seems like a bad deal,' another Reddit user wrote.

For some customers, the quality of the food and service depends on the location, with one claiming they have the 'best' restaurant near their home. 'Super clean, fast and with a lot of staff,' they said. 'Chicken is always spot on and I usually get extra pieces for free.' 'I know Popeye's corporate leadership is trying to fix the issues with a lot of their franchisees, but honestly it feels like it might be too late,' another social media user added. 'My local franchise has been on report for over six months and it is still terribly inconsistent.' Despite the recent closures, Popeyes remains a large chain with nearly 3,600 locations across the US and Canada.

Best known for its chicken-based menu, the fast food giant offers spicy chicken sandwiches, wings, tenders and everything in between. The chain also earns praise for its side dishes, including the buttermilk biscuits, cajun fries, mashed potatoes with gravy and the recently added fried pickles. Popeyes told the Daily Mail: 'The auction process has concluded, and 97 of the original 136 restaurants will now be in the hands of great, local operators who are well suited to reinvest in their businesses and deliver excellent service for guests in their communities.' 'We're proud of the strong franchisees stepping up here, and this outcome reflects the strength of the Popeyes brand throughout Florida and Georgia,' the statement continues.