Bankrupt operator of Mexican fast-food restaurant Moe’s looks to close more than a dozen spots

Moe’s Southwest Grill’s operator, Quality Fresca LLC, is seeking to close 16 locations across Florida, Virginia and Georgia - (Moe's Southwest Grill)

One of Moe’s Southwest Grill’s largest franchisees has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and plans to close 16 locations across three states.

Quality Fresca LLC, which operates 38 Moe’s restaurants throughout the Southeast, said it is facing financial challenges caused by rising operating costs, declining sales and broader pressures affecting the restaurant industry. The company currently has Moe’s locations across Florida, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington, D.C., but plans to shut down several restaurants that are no longer financially sustainable.