Mission Viejo steakhouse chain Sizzler USA Finance Inc. had been looking to regain relevance among a younger customer base for the past several years and is now looking to reorganize under Chapter 11.
The chain’s President and Chief Services Officer Christopher Perkins cited the prolonged indoor dining closures and lack of rent relief as the reason for the bankruptcy filing.
Sizzler, like its peers, attempted to offset in-restaurant dining losses due to stay-at-home orders with to-go services.
The company listed in its filing assets and liabilities each in the range of $1 million to $10 million.
Sizzler, founded in 1958, had sought firmer footing among a younger customer base for the past several years at one point pushing food trucks, testing a pay-by-weight program and a carryout concept called Sizzler Express. The efforts were all targeted at the Millennial consumer.
Sizzler ranked No. 10 on the Business Journal’s list of the largest restaurant chains based in Orange County. The company reported 2019 sales of $259.1 million, down 3%, across 122 locations.
