By a collective voice of Florida restaurant and hotel owners
We built our businesses from scratch. For some of us, it started with a single family-
owned taco shop or a modest seaside inn. Others took a leap of faith with franchise
investments, confident in the strength of well-known brands. But in 2025, many of us in
Florida’s hospitality sector are confronting a truth we never imagined: bankruptcy.
We’re not alone. Across the state, the industry is hurting. Restaurants, once full of
laughter and clinking glasses, are shuttering. Hotels that once buzzed with tourists now
echo with silence. The reasons are complex, rising food and labor costs, inflation,
changing consumer habits, and the long tail of the pandemic. But the outcome is the
same: we’re fighting for survival.
Take Tijuana Flats, a Tex-Mex staple that’s been part of Florida’s culinary landscape for
decades. In early 2024, they filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and closed 11 locations.
Many of us watched that news unfold with dread. “If it could happen to them,” we said,
“what chance do we have?”
Then came BurgerFi International, managing both BurgerFi and Anthony’s Coal Fired
Pizza. Their Chapter 11 filing in September 2024 hit especially hard. The plan to close
19 underperforming stores, some in our own neighborhoods that feels like a warning
bell. For those of us operating on the margins, it was a sure sign of things to come.
And then came 2025…
Hooters of America, yes, that Hooters, filed for Chapter 11 in January. They cited
falling traffic and financial strain, and announced plans to sell all 151 company owned
locations. We felt that one deeply. Hooters isn’t just a brand; it’s a cultural icon. When
giants start to fall, the rest of us brace for impact.
Another upscale bistro on Orlando’s famed Restaurant Row, Vines Grille & Wine Bar
faced bankruptcy. For years, it was part of the city's thriving culinary scene. But by late
2024, with costs skyrocketing and customer traffic dwindling, they had no choice. Filing
Chapter 11 was the hardest thing the owners had ever done. It was an opportunity to
reset.
Hotels are facing the same storm. The Holiday Inn Port of Miami-Downtown filed for
bankruptcy in December 2024, with owners eyeing redevelopment into condos and an
upscale hotel. In March 2025, the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne closed for a $100 million
renovation, laying off over 400 employees temporarily. Even luxury properties are
rethinking their future.
It’s easy to feel lost in the numbers. But behind every filing is a family. A dream.
Employees who become like kin. Bankruptcy is not just a legal process, it’s an
emotional one. Many of us don’t know where to turn when the bills pile up and the
future seems uncertain.
That’s where we found hope
We reached out to Dellutri Law Group, and it changed everything.
Dellutri isn’t just another law firm. They understand the hospitality industry. They know
what it’s like to have payroll due and not enough in the account. They know how to
navigate Chapter 13 and Chapter 7 with clarity and compassion. With over 1,300 five-
star reviews, they’ve earned the trust of business owners across Florida, people like us
who just needed someone in their corner.
They didn’t sugarcoat it. They were honest, thorough, and strategic. We were able to
keep our doors open during the restructuring process, and most importantly retain most
of our staff. They walked us through every step, helping us understand what we could
keep, what we had to let go of, and how we could rebuild.
If you’re reading this and feeling that same pit in your stomach, please know you’re not
alone. The Florida hospitality industry is going through a reckoning, yes, but you don’t
have to face it in silence or shame. There are tools. There is help.
Bankruptcy isn’t the end of the story. For many of us, it’s the beginning of something
new. A second chance. A smarter way to operate.
And with the right help like Dellutri Law Group you can get through it.
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Contact The Dellutri Law Group today for a complimentary consultation. Protect
your family, your future, and your peace of mind.
Call Dellutri. Ask the hard questions. Start the conversation. You owe it to yourself,
your staff, and your future.
239-939-0900