Romano’s Macaroni Grill has contracted to nine U.S. restaurants by January 2026 after years of financial strain, underscoring the pressure on legacy casual dining brands. Bankruptcy filings detail weak profitability, heavy debt, and operational challenges behind Romano’s Macaroni Grill closures. The Romano’s Macaroni Grill bankruptcy followed a peak of 219 locations and $711 million in revenue in 2004. Rising menu prices between 2020 and 2025, higher labor, food, and rent costs, and shifting demand toward fast-casual alternatives pressured performance. Texas shrank to a single McAllen restaurant, and an estimated 3,000–5,000 workers were displaced as 210 sites closed. Leadership is testing licensing and limited reopenings, but experts cite value perception and relevance as ongoing challenges.
