If you thought 2025 was a rollercoaster of going-out-of-business sales and restaurant failures, buckle up for 2026, because it’s already off to an inauspicious start. A number of big businesses have already filed for bankruptcy this year, and that trend is expected to continue throughout the year. Here’s a running list of companies that have already declared bankruptcy in 2026, and what it might mean for you.
Saks Global
Saks Global — the parent company of Saks 5th Avenue, the discount chain Saks Off 5th, and Neiman Marcus — filed for bankruptcy in mid January after missing payments and letting debt stack up for a while. The company announced that it was closing almost all Saks Off 5th locations in order to focus on its full-price luxury brands. Many locations are already closed, but some may still be holding store-closing sales if you want to grab some cheap designer goods.
Fat Brands
Fat Brands and related company Twin Hospitality both filed for bankruptcy at the end of January. Combined, the companies own 17 different restaurant chains across the country, including Fatburger, Round Table Pizza, Twin Peaks, Ponderosa, Johnny Rockets, and Fazoli’s. The company has been in trouble for a while, including a years-long federal investigation into the current CEO for tax fraud and money laundering. While the company is continuing to operate the chains during the bankruptcy process, we wouldn’t be surprised if some of them end up closing all together.
Sailormen Inc., Popeyes Franchisee
One large Popeyes franchisee filed for bankruptcy at the end of January, signaling that things might not be so great for the fast-food giant as a whole. Sailormen is based in Miami, and operates over 130 Popeyes restaurants, mostly in Florida and Georgia. The company cited inflation and changing customer habits after the pandemic as reasons for its debt. So far, none of the Sailormen-owned locations have announced closures.
Francesca’s
Longtime mall staple Francesca’s is doing things in a different order than usual: The company announced that it was holding liquidation sales and closing stores in January, and then it filed for bankruptcy in February. In court filings, the chain revealed that the majority of its sales come from physical stores, and well, we all know that malls are dying (or already dead). If you have one nearby, you should be able to score some good deals during the store-closing sales right now.
Catalyst Brands, Operator of Eddie Bauer Stores
The company that runs Eddie Bauer stores and outlets in the U.S. filed for bankruptcy in February, citing declining sales as the main reason for its problems. The company is hoping to find a buyer for the business during the bankruptcy process, but if that doesn’t happen, then all of the U.S. stores will be closed.
