‘We’ve done everything’ | Owner of Biscuit Bar shares why they were forced to close

The family has started a GoFundMe where 100% of the donations go directly to the employees.

PLANO, Texas — For years, The Biscuit Bar wasn’t just a place to eat, it was a place to gather.

From its comfort-food menu to its welcoming atmosphere, the North Texas restaurant chain built a loyal following across Plano, Deep Ellum, Fort Worth and beyond. For founder Janie Burkett, it was deeply personal.

“Our mission statement was to provide comfort and inspire people to come together,” Burkett said.

The idea for The Biscuit Bar was born out of tragedy. After the death of a child in 2016, the Burkett family poured their grief, and their creativity, into building something meaningful. What started as a single restaurant in Plano eventually grew into multiple locations across the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

“We really all as a family came up with that together,” Burkett said.

But nearly nine years later, almost to the date, that dream has come to an end.

This week, the family announced on Facebook that all Biscuit Bar locations have permanently closed after a planned sale of the business fell through.

Buckett said rising costs and ongoing supply chain challenges made continuing operations impossible.

“We’ve done everything we can to keep this business going,” she said.

According to Burkett, expenses have continued to climb while restaurant revenue has dropped.

“Everything’s up, up, up, and revenue for restaurants across the board is down,” she said. “That just makes an untenable situation.”

The announcement struck a nerve with customers, prompting an outpouring of emotional responses on social media.

“I saw one person comment that when he saw the news, he fell to his knees at H-E-B,” Burkett said. “If that ain’t Texas.”

Industry leaders say The Biscuit Bar’s closure reflects a broader struggle facing restaurants across DFW.

Kelsey Erickson Streufert with the Texas Restaurant Association says operators are being squeezed from every direction.

“Wages are up significantly, credit card processing fees, utilities, rent,” she said.

She said higher food and labor costs, paired with fewer customers, are creating an industry slowdown that’s putting intense pressure on local restaurant owners.

“When we can lean in and support a local restaurant, that really does uplift the whole community,” Erickson Streufert said.

For Burkett, the most painful part of closing the doors isn’t the end of the brand, it’s the impact on her employees.

More than 100 workers are now out of a job just days before Christmas.

The family has started a GoFundMe campaign to support them, with all donations going directly to employees.

“One hundred percent of those donations go to our employees,” Burkett said.

While The Biscuit Bar’s doors may be closed for good, Burkett says the connections formed inside them, the comfort, the community and the shared moments are something she hopes will live on.