"It was chef Johnny Carino himself who developed the original idea for the chain that would come to be known for its family-style meals and traditional Italian fare. He inherited a 15-unit Italian concept from Brinker International in 1994 and was tasked with revamping the menu to fit his own Italian heritage. Later, in 1997, the restaurant company Fired Up - founded by former Brinker executives Norman Abdallah and Creed Ford III - acquired Johnny Carino's and helped in growing its footprint."
"Unfortunately, less than a decade later, the chain was no longer twirling in success. It was drowning in debt. In 2014, its parent company, Fired Up, was forced to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, citing the recession, a decline in gas and oil prices, and costs related to the Affordable Care Act as main reasons. Then, despite closing stores and liquidating assets, the company filed for bankruptcy again in 2016."
"Johnny Carino's is now a part of the Bluestone Hospitality Group - a company that owns franchises for other fast-food chains like Popeyes and Burger King, and is operating a total of 24 locations as of 2025. These span across 10 states (California, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas), with California and Texas leading the pack with 8"
Chef Johnny Carino developed the concept after inheriting a 15-unit Italian concept from Brinker International in 1994 and revamped the menu to reflect his heritage. Fired Up acquired the brand in 1997 and expanded it from its Fort Collins origins to 173 locations across 30 states by 2006. The chain later accumulated heavy debt and its parent filed for Chapter 11 in 2014, citing the recession, lower gas and oil prices, and Affordable Care Act-related costs; the company filed again in 2016 after closing stores and liquidating assets. As of 2025, Bluestone Hospitality Group operates 24 Johnny Carino's locations across ten states.
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