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Large Popeyes Franchisee Sailormen Seeks Section 363 Auction After About 20 Closures

A court-run auction will allow a credit bid from the secured lender.

Overview

  • On March 13, Sailormen asked the bankruptcy court to approve sale procedures for a Section 363 auction, including a stalking-horse bid and credit-bid rights for its secured lender.
  • The Miami-based operator filed for Chapter 11 protection on January 15 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida.
  • Court filings show roughly 20 restaurants have closed, with a March 10 motion adding three Georgia sites and seeking rejection of their leases.
  • The company is moving to reject unexpired leases tied to shuttered stores and is removing equipment for redeployment or sale, projecting more than $1 million in annual SG&A savings.
  • Filings cite inflation, softer traffic for this operator, labor challenges, higher interest rates, legal disputes and about $130 million in debt, while more than 100 remaining locations continue operating with their future uncertain.