A national chain restaurant that started in New England has filed for bankruptcy for the third time in seven years.
Bertucci’s has filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with the goal of “promptly reorganizing its business for a sustainable and successful future,” the company said in a statement sent to MassLive.
Bertucci’s has between $10 million and $50 million in debt, according to documents filed in bankruptcy court for the Middle District of Florida. The company also has between $10 million and $50 million in assets.
Bertucci’s is hopeful that shifting to a new fast-casual concept, called Bertucci’s readywill help the company rebound. The first-ever Bertucci’s Pronto opened in Boston this month. Bertucci’s plans on opening more Bertucci’s Pronto locations in the future.
“Consistent with numerous other recent restaurant brand bankruptcies, consumer demand has shifted away from legacy casual-dining brands,” the statement reads. “For Bertucci’s longstanding and loyal patrons, the Bertucci’s you know and love is here to stay as well, just with a few less locations for now.”
Bertucci’s opened its first restaurant in Davis Square in Somerville in 1981, according to the company’s website. By the turn of the century, Bertucci’s had opened locations from Florida to New Hampshire and as far west as Illinois. However, the chain has been struggling in recent history.
In 2018, Bertucci’s filed for bankruptcy and closed 15 restaurants in the process, including six in Massachusetts: Amherst, Longmeadow, West Springfield, Randolph, Taunton and Wayland.
The company sought bankruptcy protection again in a December 2022 Chapter 11 filing, citing challenges from the Covid-19 pandemic and inflation at the time. Bertucci’s also closed seven New England locations then.
The chain is down to 10 locations in Massachusetts and 16 locations nationwide. Overall, Bertucci’s sales declined 62% from 2019 to 2024, Restaurant Business reportedciting Technomic data.
Bertucci’s CEO and owner Robert Earl previously told MassLive that he believes that the company’s shortcomings are the result of “a plethora of problems” in the casual dining setting, from surmounting debt to changes in dining habits.
“There’s so many factors, but unfortunately, the casual-dining space is in a bad way,” Earl said.
Bertucci’s is one of several casual-dining chains to file for bankruptcy within the past year. Other companies include Hooters, On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, TGI Fridays, Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza and Red Lobster.
