It's the third time this year that a major Burger King operator has taken such a step, while several others closed restaurants around the country in the aftermath of the chain's sales and profit challenges.

In this case, Premier Kings' Chapter 11 filing follows the untimely death of its owner, Patrick Sidhu, whose Popeyes stores were placed into bankruptcy earlier this year for the same reason.

The company put the restaurants up for sale and hired the investment banker Raymond James & Associates to market the restaurants. The company closed several restaurants to "avoid further losses" and stabilize the business to prepare a sale.

But those cost cutting measures didn't work. The company said that it faced pressure from landlords, vendors and with secured lenders.