They say that if you want things to get done the right way, you must do them yourself, and that’s precisely what this company decided to do after a failed merger, a bankruptcy filing, multiple lawsuits by former employees, and a five-month hiatus.
Most business owners would find it nearly impossible to return to business after so many unfortunate events. Still, this restaurant chain defied all odds and refused to let any major setbacks hinder its comeback.
Related: Popular bankrupt restaurant chain reopens first store
Only six months after bankruptcy, this beloved neighborhood café chain has quickly returned from the dead, reopening multiple store locations. But now, it wants to expand its footprint, and its two upcoming reopenings will make its fans in Texas very happy.
A shopper looks at food items at Foxtrot in Chicago.
Chicago Tribune/Getty Images
The tragic downfall of a company merger gone wrong
In November 2023, Foxtrot and Dom’s Kitchen & Market joined forces to form Outfox Hospitality. This partnership aimed to develop multiple stores that would feature both the classic convenience store and a neighborhood café spanning major cities in the U.S., such as urban areas of Chicago, Texas, and Washington D.C.
Related: Bankrupt restaurant chain gets sued by angry employees
However, this dream partnership quickly became a nightmare when, only five months later, the newly formed company was forced to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy to pay off its massive debt.
The sudden bankruptcy filing left approximately 100 corporate employees and 1,000 service employees jobless without prior warning, as Outfox failed to inform its workforce of the closures beforehand.
Former Outfox employees retaliate against the company and refuse to give up
In April 2024, Outfox’s former employees filed a class-action lawsuit against the company for violating the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN), which requires companies to give employees a minimum of 60 days’ notice before any planned closures or mass layoffs.
The initial lawsuit didn’t accomplish much since the former employees have yet to receive a single penny in restitution. Yet, The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) and Outfox’s former employees refused to give up so easily.
On Oct. 30, IDOL filed three separate federal bankruptcy claims against Outfox Hospitality, seeking the payment of wages and benefits the company owed its employees after the WARN law violation.
IDOL slammed Outfox once again by filing another lawsuit last month on behalf of 350 Illinois-based former Foxtrot and Dom’s Kitchen and Market employees for infringing labor laws. It seeks $3.8 million in wages from the bankrupt company created after the merger.
Foxtrot reopens multiple locations in Chicago, Dallas fans want their turn
In early September of 2024, Foxtrot began reopening stores under the name Foxtrot Café & Market, no longer affiliated with Outfox Hospitality and without its previous partner, Dom’s Kitchen & Market.
Foxtrot currently has five fully reopened locations, all in Chicago. However, after much pleating from Dallas fans for locations in their area to be reopened, 2025 may just be their lucky year since Foxtrot finally decided to fulfill their wishes.
More Foxtrot News:
Formerly bankrupt restaurant chain reopens stores and deliveryNew owners of formerly bankrupt restaurant chain reopen locationsPopular bankrupt restaurant chain reopens first store
Foxtrot announced it will reopen two restaurant locations in Dallas, Texas. Both reopenings will happen this month at 3130 Knox Street in Knox-Henderson and 6565 Hillcrest Avenue in University Park.
Foxtrot will expand its footprint to another state as the new year rings in. It will also collaborate with partners in the Dallas area to increase its list of local businesses. The restaurant chain will also add new items to its café menu, which includes tacos, a Texas favorite.
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