Bravo Brio Restaurants LLC, the parent of Bravo! Italian Kitchen and Brio Italian Grille, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the second time in five years, citing the "acute financial distress" facing the industry.

The company filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida on Aug. 18, aiming to restructure its debt, streamline and reduce operational expenses, shed underperforming leases, close underperforming locations and attract a new investor.

Prior to filing for bankruptcy protection, the company closed seven locations. In total, there are 48 locations operating across the nation under both brands with about 4,000 employees. Forty-seven locations are leased.

In the filing, the company said that while the immediate impact of COVID-19 subsided, the

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