Italian Eatery Chain Buca di Beppo Files Bankruptcy to Cut Debt

Italian restaurant chain Buca di Beppo filed for bankruptcy with plans to reorganize by canceling leases on at least a dozen locations the company has closed.

The company blamed its troubles on lower sales, rising costs and the difficulty of hiring, according to court papers filed Monday in US Bankruptcy Court in Dallas. Buca said it owed creditors as much as $50 million in its Chapter 11 petition.

The same problems were cited by several dining chains that sought bankruptcy protection this year, including fish taco chain Rubio’s Coastal Grill, Red Lobster and casual Mexican restaurant chain Tijuana Flats.

Buca ...