Back Yard Burgers didn’t completely close, but the chain shrank dramatically from 160 locations to just seven after two bankruptcies.
The Kansas City area lost nearly all its locations, including Independence and Blue Springs.
Under new ownership since December 2024, the remaining restaurants operate seasonally to survive.
So they’re still around, though much smaller than in their earlier years.
Read on for the full story of how they got here.
Which Back Yard Burgers Locations Are Open Right Now?
Want to know if there’s still a Back Yard Burgers near you? The chain operates just 7 locations across the country following bankruptcy restructuring in 2024. Most are concentrated in Southern states and Illinois.
The Kansas City area locations have closed, including Independence and Blue Springs. The brand’s footprint has decreased significantly since 2012, with additional closures occurring around 2023-2024.
For the most current list of open locations, contact Axum Capital Partners, the current parent company. A complete nationwide directory isn’t available, but those seven locations represent the current operating stores.
The 2025 Season Status: Supply-Based Closing Timeline
While those seven remaining locations represent the chain’s current footprint, one particular detail has been drawing attention lately—how Backyard Burger’s managing its 2025 operating season.
Here’s what I’ve learned: management planned an October 3 wrap-up, but they’re being direct about reality. The Backyard Burger season closure depends on when supplies run out. That last weekend? Stock dropped faster than expected. They’ve said the season could end before Friday if inventory gets depleted completely.
On September 30, they posted on Facebook about this supply depletion situation. No vague promises—just straightforward communication that updates would keep coming through their page. Their honesty was appreciated. They’re expressing gratitude for customer support while staying optimistic about firing up the grill again next season.
How Two Bankruptcies Reshaped the Chain
How does a restaurant chain bounce back from not just one, but two major financial collapses? Backyard Burger’s story demonstrates real resilience. The first bankruptcy hit in 2012 when debt reached $62 million. They closed 22 stores and restructured everything.
Then came 2023—another bankruptcy filing with only 20 locations remaining. That situation was serious, but here’s what happened next: private equity firm Axum Capital Partners stepped in with a clear vision. They weren’t trying to save everything; they were being strategic about it.
The restructuring focused on core markets. They renegotiated debt, rebuilt store economics, and emerged in December 2024 with stronger operations. These bankruptcies forced difficult decisions, but they ultimately stabilized the business. Sometimes you need to reduce operations to build a stable foundation. That’s exactly what Backyard Burger did.
From 160 Locations to 7: The Decline Explained
I’ve watched Backyard Burger’s journey from a 160-location powerhouse to just 7 remaining restaurants, and it’s a cautionary tale worth understanding. The chain faced two brutal bankruptcies—first in 2012 when 22 stores closed overnight, then again in 2023—that forced painful restructuring and left the brand fragmented across the South and Illinois. What’s significant is how ownership shifts, franchise closures in key markets like Missouri, and leadership changes piled on top of those financial crises, basically dismantling what used to be a regional favorite.
Bankruptcy And Restructuring Challenges
What happens when a restaurant chain that once dotted neighborhoods across America stumbles financially? Backyard Burger faced this exact challenge. In October 2012, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, carrying roughly $62 million in debt against just $13 million in assets. During restructuring, 22 locations closed immediately. The chain emerged in December 2014, but struggles continued. Then in July 2023, another bankruptcy filing hit—this time with only 20 operating locations remaining, down 15 from the previous year. These consecutive filings revealed deeper problems beyond temporary setbacks. Finally, in December 2024, Backyard Burger emerged again under new ownership. The multiple bankruptcies and ongoing closures demonstrated how restructuring challenges can reshape a company’s future, changing it from a neighborhood staple into something entirely different.
Franchise Closures Across States
Why’d a burger chain that once had 160 restaurants across America end up with just 7?
The answer’s honestly pretty heartbreaking. Back Yard Burgers faced brutal franchise closures across multiple states during their restructuring. I watched as beloved locations shuttered—Independence and Blue Springs in Kansas City disappeared. These weren’t random closures either. The 2023 bankruptcy filing showed 20 operating locations dropped to just 5 the following year. That’s serious contraction.
Franchise owners faced ownership changes and uncertainty. Some couldn’t survive the state-level economic pressures. Others simply couldn’t compete anymore. What started as a nationwide dream collapsed into a regional operation, mostly clinging to the Southern U.S. and Illinois. The chain learned that surviving meant ruthlessly trimming locations. It’s tough, but sometimes that’s what restructuring demands.
Corporate Ownership And Leadership Shifts
When private equity firms started steering Back Yard Burgers’ ship, things got complicated fast. I’ll be honest—the ownership changes didn’t help the company’s situation. After Axum Capital Partners took control in 2017, leadership rotated through multiple CEOs like David McDougal, Scott Shotter, and Dennis Pfaff. Each transition brought new strategies, but the results kept disappointing. The bankruptcy filing in July 2023 showed how unstable things had become. Despite emerging from Chapter 11 in December 2024, the damage was done. New ownership structures and constant leadership changes created confusion throughout the organization. These corporate shifts meant less focus on what customers actually wanted. By March 2026, only seven restaurants remained. Sometimes I wonder if consistent, stable leadership could’ve changed everything.
Back Yard Burgers Under New Ownership: What Axum Changed
How’d Axum Capital Partners manage to steer Back Yard Burgers through one of the toughest chapters in the chain’s history? Here’s what I’ve learned about their approach.
When Axum took control during the bankruptcy reboot in December 2024, they didn’t try fixing everything at once. Instead, they focused on store consolidation—trimming the 20 locations down to seven strategically placed restaurants across the South and Illinois. A practical decision, given the circumstances.
Axum ownership meant getting back to basics. They kept emphasizing what made Back Yard Burgers special: 100% Black Angus beef and flame-grilled burgers. No gimmicks. Just quality.
Where the 7 Remaining Back Yard Burgers Are Located
So where can you actually find a Back Yard Burgers now? The remaining restaurants are scattered across a modest regional footprint. You’ve got seven Back Yard Burgers locations spread throughout the Southern United States and Illinois. That’s a significant shrink from their heyday.
These remaining restaurants concentrate mainly in the South, which aligns with the chain’s roots. The drive-thru-centric setup lets you grab those flame-grilled Black Angus burgers quickly. Limited dine-in options keep operations efficient. Finding one requires some effort nowadays, but the scarcity does mean that scoring a burger feels like discovering something most people don’t know about anymore.
Kansas City Closures: The End of an Era
After twenty-seven years of flipping burgers in the Kansas City area, Gene Scassellati made the tough call to close both the Independence and Blue Springs locations, marking the end of local Back Yard Burgers operations. Watching a long-running business shut down carries weight when you’ve seen it serve your community for nearly three decades, particularly as the chain’s nationwide bankruptcy forced corporate to abandon the KC market entirely. His decision to retire and sell the buildings reflects the larger collapse that reduced Back Yard Burgers from roughly 160 locations down to just a handful across the country by 2024.
Gene Scassellati’s Final Decision
What happens when a local business owner decides it’s time to step away?
Gene Scassellati faced that exact moment. He’d built something real with Back Yard Burgers in Kansas City. But pressures mounted. Corporate wouldn’t fight to keep the KC locations. Pricing challenges stacked up. Support dwindled.
| Location | Address | Status | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independence | 15908 E. 23rd St. | Closed | Community loss |
| Blue Springs | 1900 N.W. Hwy 7 | Closing soon | Final exit |
| KC Market | Multiple sites | Diminished | Era ending |
| National | ~10 locations | Downsizing | Industry shift |
His announcement meant something bigger than just closures. It marked the end of an era we’d all grown familiar with. Sometimes stepping back takes more strength than pushing forward. Scassellati chose what made sense.
Twenty-Seven Years Of Operations
Gene’s decision to close those Kansas City locations wasn’t made in a vacuum—it represented the final chapter of a 27-year story that’d become woven into the fabric of how folks in the area ate burgers. Back Yard Burgers had grown from a handful of spots to nearly a dozen locations across KC. The Independence and Blue Springs restaurants, along with others, served generations of hungry families.
That’s a long run in the restaurant business, honestly. Over nearly three decades, these spots became neighborhood staples where people celebrated birthdays and grabbed quick lunches. The closures of Independence and Blue Springs marked the beginning of the end. Gene watched as the national bankruptcy reshaped everything. After 27 years of serving the community, he’d earned the right to step back. The buildings sold. The era ended.
Corporate Bankruptcy’s Local Ripple Effects
How does one company’s financial collapse reshape an entire community’s dining scene? When Back Yard Burgers filed for bankruptcy last year, Kansas City felt the impact hard. Our beloved Independence and Blue Springs locations shuttered. Owner Gene Scassellati announced his retirement, and those buildings got sold—no corporate rescue came.
The footprint reduction tells the story. Back Yard Burgers shrank from roughly 160 locations nationally to just about 10 today. We’d enjoyed nearly a dozen KC spots at the chain’s peak. That decade-plus presence vanished almost overnight.
| Location | Status |
|---|---|
| Independence | Closed |
| Blue Springs | Closed |
| KC Area Total | Gone |
| National Remaining | ~10 |
| Former Peak | 160 |
The closures hit differently when it’s your neighborhood burger joint disappearing.
Why One Location Closes and Reopens Each Season
You’ve probably noticed that one KC-area Back Yard Burgers location seems to play a game of seasonal hide-and-seek with its customers. The Blue Springs site at 1900 N.W. Highway 7 follows this pattern, closing and reopening with the seasons. Here’s what’s happening behind the scenes.
After Back Yard Burgers’ bankruptcy filing last year, the chain shrank dramatically from 160 locations to roughly 10 nationwide. The remaining spots operate differently now. Seasonal closures help owners manage costs during slower months. It’s a survival strategy. Rather than staying open year-round and losing money, these locations shut down temporarily, then reopen when customer traffic picks up. It’s not ideal, but it keeps these beloved burger joints alive in our community.
Customer Reviews: Loyalty vs. Quality Concerns Post-Bankruptcy
What happens when a beloved burger chain bounces back from bankruptcy? You get mixed reactions. I’ve noticed Backyard Burger customers split into two camps. Some folks genuinely love the burgers, calling them “the best” they’ve ever had. They cherish those nostalgia-filled backyard cookout vibes and rave about the 100% Black Angus meat.
But here’s where loyalty vs. quality gets tricky. Other customers question whether the meat quality matches the price anymore. They compare it unfavorably to budget options. Service concerns pop up too.
The post-bankruptcy feedback reveals something real: passionate fans remain devoted despite store closures and uncertainty. Yet new or skeptical customers wonder if Backyard Burger’s value holds up today. That tension shapes how people perceive the brand moving forward.
Will Back Yard Burgers Return in 2026?
Can we really expect Backyard Burger to make a full comeback next year?
There’s no guaranteed 2026 revival yet. Back Yard Burgers emerged from bankruptcy in December 2024 under new ownership through Axum Capital Partners, which is a positive development. However, the company has declined from roughly 160 locations to just seven today. That’s a significant reduction.
Here’s what we know: bankruptcy restructuring is still ongoing. Corporate leadership hasn’t announced confirmed plans for nationwide expansion in 2026. Any comeback depends on market conditions and corporate decisions that remain uncertain.
What should you do? Monitor official Back Yard Burgers announcements. Check their social media and website regularly. Stay connected with your local community—if demand exists where you live, that information matters to corporate planners. Revival takes time, but it’s not impossible.
