In recent days and months, Bravo Italian Kitchen and Brio Italian Grille have closed a number of locations. Local media reports indicate at least four Bravo spots have shut down in West Chester and Dayton, Ohio; Mount Lebanon, Pennsylvania; and West Des Moines, Iowa.
Three of the four restaurants had their lines answered by an automated message stating they were closed. The status of the Pennsylvania location was not independently confirmed.
The Chains’ Current Numbers
A number of Brio closures came first this year before the Bravo closures followed. Local media outlets reported that stores in Cherry Hill, Freehold, and Marlton, New Jersey; Naples and Orlando, Florida; and Allen, Texas had shut down. Phone calls to all six locations confirmed they are closed.
The Bravo’s website now lists 14 units, down from 20 at the end of last year, per Technomic. Brio’s website now shows a smaller number of locations than what Technomic counted at the close of 2025, with the site listing just 16 spots instead of the 22 that Technomic tallied.
As of the time this piece went live, representatives for the brands had not answered a request for comment.
The Bankruptcy Background
Bravo Brio Restaurant Group’s parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August 2025, citing macroeconomic pressures and a drop in demand for casual dining as the reasons behind the move. The company also stated that it intended to shut down underperforming locations.
The brands had already filed for bankruptcy once before, with that earlier case brought on by then-owner FoodFirst Corp. in 2020, and this was their second such filing.
Last October, R&R Brands invested in Bravo and Brio. The group is new, and it runs several brands. Its leader is Scott Taylor, who formerly ran Walk-On’s. Along with the money, R&R also took over management of the two brands from Earl Enterprises. The plan is to bring the brands back to life.
The Founders and the Chain’s History
Chris and Rick Doody started Bravo in 1992, in Columbus, Ohio. Later on, they created Brio as a more upscale sister concept. The company became public in 2010, reaching a peak of 115 locations total in 2015, according to Technomic data.
Since then, the chains have been shrinking. Systemwide sales have declined 22% at Bravo and 26% at Brio since 2020, according to Technomic, with much of the decline driven by unit closures.
A Tough Year for Casual Dining
Top 500 chain restaurant sales slowed again in 2025 as consumers cut back on dining, but sectors like coffee, beverages and snacks and chicken thrived, according to Technomic’s Top 500 report.
This year has seen several full-service chains shut down locations, with Bravo and Brio joining a list that includes On the Border, O’Charley’s, and Red Lobster.
What This Means for the Brands
Both chains have shrunk considerably over many years of cutbacks, and the bankruptcy filing from last year represents the most recent stage in that process.
“It was the brands’ second bankruptcy.”
According to the latest count, there are still 14 Bravo units and 16 Brio units left on hand.
A Difficult Road Ahead
Both chains are experiencing falling sales, and their futures remain unclear. The situation continues to unfold as the decline in revenue persists.
The trend is unmistakable: a decline in restaurants, a fall in sales, and a parent company navigating through bankruptcy.
| Brand | Units Now | Units at End of Last Year | Peak Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bravo | 14 | 20 | 115 (2015) |
| Brio | 16 | 22 | 115 (2015) |
Bravo has shut down at least four of its stores and a number of Brio outlets over the past few months. The total count will not be settled until the status of the Pennsylvania Bravo location comes through.
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