Fast food chicken chain nearly gone after 1,000 stores close

Rotisserie chicken may have been available in the 1980s, but it wasn’t a staple like it is today.

costcoFor example, the company known for selling an entire steakhouse for $4.99 didn’t actually start selling this popular product until 1994.

“The famous $4.99 chicken was first officially introduced at Costco in 1994. Aside from a brief dollar boom during the Great Recession of 2008, Costco remained committed to keeping the price of chicken steady despite the ongoing economic crisis. inflation,” accordingly Eat This, Not That.

warehouse club he is actually losing money selling his popular chicken. But Rose Sioson, founder of Deliciously Rushed and an avid Costco shopper, thinks Costco more than makes up for it just by getting customers in the door for that prized chicken.

“Costco may technically lose money on every rotisserie chicken they sell, but trust me, they’re not losing money when it comes to the product I buy,” Sioson said. “That chicken usually ends up in a basket with salad sets, instant mashed potatoes, a bottle of wine, maybe a dessert, and some random item I have no intention of buying. It’s classic Costco strategy.”

It’s never good for business when a major retailer sells your main product as a loss leader, but it’s just one reason why Boston Market is on the brink of complete extinction.

When I was a kid growing up outside of Boston in the 1980s, my aunt would visit and often bring me a chicken from what was then known as the Boston Chicken. At the time, the company was essentially a small local chain based in a suburb of Boston.

This was my first exposure to rotisserie chicken, and the concept spread quickly. McDonald’s was even an investor for a short time.

• Peak footprint: There once was a Boston Market More than 1,200 US restaurants It reached its national peak in the 1990s.
  The decline from 1,200 to 300 occurred from the late 90s to 2023.

• 2023-2024 decline: The chain shrank rapidly We will decrease from 300 locations to less than 30 by the beginning of 2023 by early 2024 Online Restaurant Management.

• Footprint at the beginning of 2025: Predictions show Less 20 locations will remain open nationwide in early 2025With many stores disappearing without notice, there was a serious collapse compared to the old scale. Lezzet365.

• Fluid numbers: Official company listings on websites and apps significantly exaggerate open stores; most of the listed units have been confirmed to be closed, reported Online Restaurant Management.

Technically the chain still exists, but its owner has tried to file for bankruptcy twice.

“Facing hundreds of lawsuits from vendors, franchisors, and employees over unpaid invoices, Boston Market owner Jay Pandya filed for personal bankruptcy with the Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on December 8, 2023. In his bankruptcy paperwork, Pandya listed debts of $10-$50 million and the same range for assets.” Country’s Restaurant News reported.

This application and subsequent applications were rejected by the courts.

The company’s headquarters in Denver was seized by local authorities in 2023 over $300,000 in unpaid taxes, and multiple vendors sued Boston Market over unpaid invoices. In addition, many locations were forced to close because vendor contracts had expired or been canceled or employees were stocking their stores with foods purchased from the supermarket, according to NRN.

The chain also faces a court order ordering it to pay $15 million to its main supplier, US Foods. PacerMonitor.

Multiple locations were affected by the US Foods case, highlighting how unpaid supplier invoices contributed to store closures. Online Restaurant Management.

• Chapter 11 trials: Owner of Boston Market (Jay Pandya) applied Chapter 11 Bankruptcy double protection on behalf of the companybut the courts rejected both applications due to procedural and documentation issues RetailTel.

• Boston Market owner Jay Pandya files lawsuit personal Chapter 11 bankruptcy Listing $10-$50 million in liabilities and assets as of December 8, 2023. (Source:Country’s Restaurant News)
  Restaurant Business Online added that this application was terminated early due to procedural deficiencies.

• Unpaid liabilities: Brand faces legal action unpaid rent, supplier arrears (for example, US Foods claims), and unpaid wagesforced to close Lezzet365.

• Evacuations and closures: Multiple locations were evacuated or ordered closed by authorities due to unpaid obligations.

• The brand still exists, but is on life support: A handful of Boston Market restaurants are technically still open, but The footprint of the chain is very small Compared to its previous scale, reports Lezzet365.

• New openings amidst collapse: Despite the closures, the company has filed post-bankruptcy for at least one new location; This points to comeback attempts. RetailTel.

Related: 90-year-old party supply retailer files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

In 2024, Pandaya released a new franchise plan to expand Boston Market to non-traditional locations. He licenses the brand because it is not legally established to offer traditional franchises.

“Boston Market’s name represents itself and is well known across the country,” Pandya said. Statement to Nation’s Restaurant News In that case. “Now, with everyone’s support, we will be able to offer our famous rotisserie chicken, delicious, homemade appetizers, and family meals to everyone. We encourage anyone with the location and desire to add Boston Market virtually to reach out and partner with us.”

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Many were skeptical of the plan.

“At this point it’s just a way for him to defraud someone,” said Gina Busby, former regional operations manager for Boston Market. RetailTel. “He owes his employees, including me, millions in unpaid wages. He didn’t report earned wages so people wouldn’t get paid.” unemployment. With that fraud [reported] Auditors as 1099 employees. He did not pay the expenses he owed. “More lawsuits and class actions are coming your way.”

Related: Forget the Steakhouse Whopper, Burger King is introducing a Breakfast Whopper

Restaurant analyst Aaron Allen said: FCNews that the chain caused its own downfall.

“After establishing itself as a cut above fast food in the 1990s, it attempted to compete with these brands by driving down its costs, a move that ultimately led to a decline in quality and further reduced quality,” he shared.

“If you go after a consumer with a lower price point, you could run yourself into bankruptcy,” Allen said.

Grocery stores have also begun adding rotisserie chicken to their expanding prepared food sections, as well as Boston Market’s lunch offering.

“In effect, Boston Market became a victim of its own success. After helping popularize roasted whole chickens — in some cases introducing the concept to consumers — the chain eventually found companies like Costco offering the same things for much less,” wrote retail and restaurant expert Steve Feldman.

Josh Taylor, a former employee, shared a post about the decline of the brand. LinkedIn.

“Oversaturation, competition, and food spending killed Boston Market. Maybe you could argue the food expense was due to the expanded menu, but people loved all the items on the menu,” he wrote.

Jorge FranchiThe president of business research firm Franchi Business Enterprises shared his thoughts on the chain’s decline.

“The cuisine became cluttered, quality declined, and service slowed. Customers became confused about what Boston Market really stood for. The shift toward sandwiches put them in direct competition with the market.” McDonald’s and Metro price. “Running two businesses under one roof blurred the brand’s identity and took away its advantage,” he shared.

Related: Walmart adds exclusive new Coca-Cola product

This story was first published by . Street It first appeared in Restaurants on January 11, 2026. Add TheStreet at: Preferred Source by clicking here.