Eight years after hitting a peak of nearly 150 locations nationwide, fast-casual pizza chain Pieology filed for bankruptcy this week. The California-based Little Brown Box Pizza LLC, Pieology’s parent company, filed for Chapter 11 protection in federal court claiming liabilities in the range of $1 million to $10 million, according to National Restaurant News.
The move comes as the company struggled in recent years with declining sales and rising costs. Last year, the company reported year-over-year sales were down 10% and it appears that trend continued in 2025.
Pieology says it owes money to more than 200 creditors, which includes landlords and vendors. The company plans to restructure during the process while it continues to serve customers.
Pieology was founded in 2011 during the rise of other build-your-own pizza chains like Blaze Pizza, MOD Pizza and PizzaRev. Pieology peaked in 2017 when it hit roughly 150 locations nationwide. That number dwindled over the last few years and is now down to about 40, according to QSR Magazine. Most remaining locations are in California, with a handful remaining in Texas, Nevada, Hawaii and Florida.
The brand expanded to Michigan in 2015, opening five locations. However, by October 2018, four of the five locations were closed, with the Grand Rapids restaurant following suit a short time later.
While it’s struggling now, at one point, Pieology appeared to be a rising brand, drawing investments from NBA superstar Kevin Durant and the founders of the Panda Express restaurant chain.
