When it comes to lunch, it’s hard to find a healthier option than a salad. However, recently, eating salad became a huge risk due to the cyclosporiasis outbreak. This latest disease was the death toll for Salad And Go, a popular drive-through chain of salad restaurants in Arizona and Nevada. Salad And Go filed for bankruptcy in August 2026, announcing the closure of all of its locations. As is often the case in chapter 11 bankruptcy, the company filed with a plan to address liabilities already in the works. That plan is for Dutch Bros Coffee to acquire all of Salad And Go’s locations, an advantageous acquisition for a company which relies upon a drive-thru format. So, salad lovers across Arizona will be sad to hear this news, but coffee lovers may rejoice. But cyclosporiasis wasn’t the only cause of Salad And Go’s bankruptcy filing, which could be viewed as reflective of the larger economic situation in Arizona. If you’re facing your own debt problems, it may be time to start learning more about chapter 7 and chapter 13 bankruptcy. Discuss your situation with a seasoned Arizona bankruptcy professional today by calling 480-405-1010.
Salad And Go’s Bankruptcy Filing
Fast casual dining has been a brutal industry ever since the pandemic. Some of these eateries were forced to close during quarantine, and diners were hesitant to come back once those restrictions were lifted. As pandemic-era restrictions faded away, inflation increased the cost of living at an out-of-control rate. That means that customers have less disposable income available for things like takeout for lunch. So while cyclosporiasis was undoubtedly harmful for Salad And Go, it is a relatively recent outbreak, and most companies don’t file for bankruptcy due to one bad month. A bankruptcy filing typically originates from more pervasive issues that have been going on for a significant period of time.
In 2022, Salad And Go had a valuation of more than $1 billion. But the chain may have expended too many resources with a rapid 2021 expansion into Texas and Oklahoma. Salad And Go eventually took steps to consolidate underperforming locations and focus on stores that performed well. However, rising gas and operating prices as well as decreased consumer spending caused the chain to struggle before the cyclospora outbreak. This outbreak caused sales to drop by more than 1%, which can be a death blow to a fast-casual restaurant with tight margins. This led to the restaurant eventually filing a chapter 11 bankruptcy petition on August 4, 2026, and closing all of its locations on August 5, 2026.
Arizona Salad And Go Locations
Whenever a business closes its doors for good, it means several people will be out of a job. When a chain shuts down through bankruptcy, hundreds or thousands of employees will end up unemployed. This can cause a ripple effect to other businesses throughout the area, as former customers may stop reduce or stop their spending while looking for new work. There are 63 locations in Arizona. Assuming there are 15-20 employees at each restaurant, that could mean approximately 945-1,260 people back on the job market in our state. Arizona’s Salad And Go locations in Phoenix alone are as follows:
- Phoenix: 7480 South 59th Avenue, Phoenix AZ 85339
- Phoenix: 10017 West Camelback Road, Phoenix AZ 85037
- Phoenix: 7560 West Lower Buckeye Road, Phoenix AZ 85043
- Phoenix: 3505 West Baseline Road, Phoenix AZ 85339
- Phoenix: 2301 North 44th Street, Phoenix AZ 85008
- Phoenix: 17155 North Tatum Boulevard, Phoenix AZ 85032
- Phoenix: 4716 East Ray Road, Phoenix AZ 85044
- Phoenix: 3337 West Peoria Avenue, Phoenix AZ 85029
- Phoenix: 777 West Indian School Road, Phoenix AZ 85013
- Phoenix: 3425 West Greenway Road, Phoenix AZ 85053
- Phoenix: 3233 East Indian School Road, Phoenix AZ 85018
- Phoenix: 1902 West Northern Avenue, Phoenix AZ 85021
- Phoenix: 710 East Dunlap Avenue, Phoenix AZ 85020
- Phoenix: 12602 North Paradise Valley Village Parkway West, Phoenix AZ 85032
- Phoenix: 21060 North Cave Creek Road, Phoenix AZ 85024
- Phoenix: 719 East Bethany Home Road, Phoenix AZ 85014
- Phoenix: 2006 West Pinnacle Peak Road, Phoenix AZ 85027
Starting a Bankruptcy Case
While chapter 11 bankruptcy looks far different from the more common forms of consumer bankruptcy throughout the process, there are some common steps that most bankruptcy debtors will need to complete.
If you file for bankruptcy, one of the first things you will need to do is confirm your eligibility. For many debtors, household income level is the top factor in this determination. But it’s also important to make sure that your chosen chapter of bankruptcy will clear the types of debt that you have. If you wish to file for chapter 7 bankruptcy, know that it will only clear unsecured debts, leaving secured and priority debts behind. But if that’s the bulk of your debt, you can qualify by showing your household income falls below Arizona’s median household income. If you don’t meet this standard, you can still qualify by showing your disposable monthly income is within a certain range using the means test. If you can’t qualify or you are concerned about secured and priority debts, the means test results show how much you can afford to pay into a chapter 13 bankruptcy payment plan each month.
Another important step of every bankruptcy filing is completing the creditor matrix. This is a list of every single one of your creditors, along with their mailing addresses. This needs to be completed thoroughly so that your creditors can be notified that they need to comply with the automatic stay. But a step that will result in your case being dismissed if you miss it is the first debtor education course. All debtors must complete this online course prior to filing so that the course completion certificate can be included with the bankruptcy petition. It should take somewhere between 1-2 hours to complete, and requires a nominal fee. Your attorney should provide you with a link to their preferred course provider so that you don’t have to forward them your completion certificate. Debtors will also need to complete a second course through the same provider, which should be finished within 60 days of the 341 Meeting of Creditors.
The specific steps required to file for bankruptcy will vary from individual to individual. You can discuss what will be required of you, risk-free, by calling 480-405-1010.
Take the First Step Toward Your Own Bankruptcy Filing Today
Large companies like Salad And Go have to file for bankruptcy when their regular people, otherwise known as their customers, struggle financially. But when regular people have to file for bankruptcy, chapter 11 isn’t usually the most effective option. Most Arizona households will have a much more straightforward bankruptcy case if they either file chapter 7 or chapter 13, although your circumstances may be different, especially if you own your own business. The best way to decide is to have your situation assessed by a dedicated bankruptcy professional. We offer this service with no risk or obligation on your part. Schedule your free consultation with Chapter Bankruptcy Lawyers today at 480-405-1010 for more information.
