A Mountain Mike’s Pizza franchisee operating five restaurants in Oregon has entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy, listing liabilities of up to $10 million in a filing that shows how local restaurant operators remain under pressure even as some national brands continue to grow.
The filing involves Rogue Fare LLC, a Medford-based franchise operator, not Mountain Mike’s Pizza as a corporate chain. That distinction matters for customers and readers because a franchisee bankruptcy does not automatically mean the entire brand is in financial trouble.
What Happened in the Oregon Bankruptcy Filing
Rogue Fare LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on July 1, 2026, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon. The company reported assets of up to $50,000 and debts between $1 million and $10 million.
Chapter 11 is a reorganization process that can allow a business to keep operating while it works through a court-supervised repayment or restructuring plan. The U.S. Courts bankruptcy guide explains how business bankruptcy cases are handled under federal law.
Creditors Listed in the Case
The filing shows several lenders and business creditors connected to the franchisee. The largest listed debts are tied to financial institutions, while other amounts are owed to government and vendor-related creditors.
| Creditor | Amount Listed |
|---|---|
| First Bank of the Lake | More than $2.9 million |
| First Internet Bank of Indiana | More than $1.5 million |
| U.S. Small Business Administration | More than $120,000 |
| Credit Associates Inc. | More than $63,000 |
| Parafin-DoorDash | More than $13,000 |
| Performance Food Group | More than $10,000 |
The bankruptcy petition does not provide a detailed explanation for why Rogue Fare sought protection, so it would be premature to point to one single cause.
Which Restaurants Are Connected to Rogue Fare?
Rogue Fare is linked to five Mountain Mike’s Pizza restaurants in southern Oregon. The affected cities include Klamath Falls, Grants Pass, Roseburg and Medford, where the franchisee operates two locations.
No confirmed permanent closure notice was included in the details provided. For customers, the key point is that Chapter 11 often gives a business room to reorganize rather than forcing an immediate shutdown.
Why This Matters for the Pizza Industry
The filing comes as pizza operators face a difficult mix of higher costs and more cautious consumers. Food costs, wages, delivery expenses, rent and financing costs have all placed pressure on restaurant margins.
Industry research cited in the report showed the average pizza price at $17.61, up 3% from the previous year and more than 15% over five years. The same research found that 35% of consumers were ordering restaurant pizza less often because prices had become too high.
That trend can hit franchise operators hard. Even when a restaurant brand is popular, an individual operator may struggle if sales slow while debt, leases and supplier bills remain high.
Mountain Mike’s Is Still Expanding
The Rogue Fare filing is notable because Mountain Mike’s Pizza has been expanding while several competitors have been trimming weaker locations. The chain opened 24 restaurants in 2025, reached its 300th companywide location in Las Vegas and has outlined plans for 25 additional openings in 2026.
The brand has also described a development pipeline of about 100 restaurants across 16 states. Its current footprint includes states such as Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin, with planned growth in several additional markets.
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How the Filing Compares With Other Restaurant Struggles
The wider restaurant sector has seen more restructuring and location reviews in 2026. Pizza Hut has been closing underperforming restaurants under its Hut Forward plan, while Papa John’s has also announced major closure plans.
Outside the pizza sector, hospitality operators have also faced pressure from rising costs and softer demand, similar to the challenges seen when a hospitality group entered voluntary administration while working through financial stress.
Background on Mountain Mike’s Pizza
Mountain Mike’s Pizza began in 1978 near Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. The chain later expanded through franchising and has grown into a multi-state pizza brand.
The company was acquired in 2022 by Chris Britt and Ed St. Geme after previously being owned by Levine Leichtman Capital Partners. At the time of that deal, Mountain Mike’s had about 245 units. It has since grown beyond 300 restaurants.
For Rogue Fare, the next stage will depend on the bankruptcy process and whether the franchisee can restructure its obligations. For readers, the case is a reminder that franchise businesses can face local financial strain even when the national brand continues to add new restaurants.
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