A regional restaurant chain abruptly closed all its locations on Wednesday, including one in Lexington.

The Fatz Cafe at 942 E. Main St. in Lexington was closed and its parking lot empty Wednesday evening when a reporter stopped by. A sign hanging on its front door indicated the closure was for good.

“We are sorry to announce that after proudly serving this and many other communities for years Fatz Cafe will be closed permanently,” the sign read. “All existing locations closed effective 8/23/23. We thank you for your support throughout our years in business. — Fatz Management.”

The Index-Journal in Greenwood reported Wednesday afternoon that the Fatz Cafe in that town also was shuttered, with an identical closure sign hanging on its front door. The Orangeburg Times and Democrat also reported the closure of the Fatz Cafe there on Wednesday.

Fatz had 19 restaurants across the Southeast in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia and Tennessee. The restaurant was known for its Southern fare, perhaps most notably its Calabash chicken fingers and baby back ribs.