Trending this week: Bankrupt Popeyes franchisee is selling most of its restaurants

This week on Nation's Restaurant News, the top story was “Bankrupt Popeyes franchisee is selling most of its restaurants.” Popeyes franchisee Sailormen Inc. has found buyers for 97 of its restaurants across Florida, according to a bankruptcy filing in the Southern District of Florida. The franchisee filed for bankruptcy in January, impacting a total of 136 locations across Florida and Georgia. Fifty of those restaurants — in Tampa, Tallahassee, Pensacola, and Jacksonville — will be acquired by Pulse Restaurant Group for $2.69 million.

In other news, Raising Cane’s is spreading its wings. The fast-growing, fast-casual chicken tenders chain has opened its first airport restaurant, located at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport's Gate B19 in Terminal B.

Also, Red Lobster’s former controlling stakeholder steered the restaurant to buy more of its shrimp in order to line its own pockets, according to a lawsuit from creditors of the restaurant chain.