O'Charley's restaurant chain shuts down all remaining locations
The Nashville-based O'Charley's Bar and Restaurant closed its 44 remaining outlets across 13 states on Sept. 9, ending a 55-year presence in the southern United States.
The O'Charley's Bar and Restaurant chain announced the closure of all its remaining locations on Sept. 9, ending a 55-year operation that began in 1971. The Nashville-based company, which was owned by Cannae Holdings through Restaurant Growth Services, had 44 restaurants in 13 states at the time of the shutdown.
Reports from the Tennessean and local TV station WKRN confirmed that employees at multiple sites in Tennessee and Ohio were notified of the closures. Managers at six of the eight Middle Tennessee locations said staff were informed that the restaurants would close.
The chain’s social-media accounts on Facebook and Instagram have been removed, and no company spokesperson was available for comment, according to a When representative cited by Nation’s Restaurant News.
O'Charley's, known for Southern-style comfort food such as barbecue, hand-breaded chicken tenders, steaks and seafood, once operated nearly 250 restaurants. Underperformance led to gradual closures in recent years, and some franchised outlets may continue operating independently. The brand was founded by Charlie Watkins, acquired by Fidelity National Financial in 2012, became part of American Blue Ribbon Holdings, and later joined Cannae Holdings in 2018.