Major Popeyes Franchise Declares Bankruptcy, Sells Final Restaurants

Sailormen Inc., one of the largest Popeyes franchise operators in the United States, has officially ended its operations following a bankruptcy process. The company has sold its final 23 Popeyes locations in the Orlando area to SBH Foods PLK LLC for $2.67 million, as approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida.

This sale follows a previous plan to sell the restaurants to RFI Ventures LLC, which fell through when the buyer failed to meet their financial obligations on time. The court's approval of the sale to SBH Foods marks the final step in Sailormen Inc.'s efforts to liquidate its assets and conclude its business activities.

As part of its bankruptcy proceedings, Sailormen Inc. had already divested 97 other restaurants in June. These were sold to various entities, including Pulse Restaurant Group LLC (50 restaurants), Popeyes' parent company Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Inc. (16 restaurants), SBH Foods PLK LLC (5 restaurants), and 61 Biscuits LLC (3 restaurants). Additionally, 39 branches that could not find buyers or were reporting significant losses were permanently closed.

These closures were projected to save over $1 million annually in costs. The bankruptcy filing only affects the franchise operator, Sailormen Inc.; the main Popeyes brand continues its operations as usual. Founded in 1987 with just 10 restaurants, Sailormen Inc. once operated 136 Popeyes locations across Florida and Georgia, employing approximately 2,900 people at its peak. However, mounting debt, defaulted obligations, and operational losses led the company to seek Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January 2026.