Smoker Friendly (The Cigarette Store LLC) Acquires Tobacco Superstores

Main Street Provides $50M to Smoker Friendly (Bolder Panther) to Support Acquisition of 79 Tobacco Superstores

August 3, 2022

Retail

Main Street Capital Corporation made a $50.0 million first-lien, senior secured follow-on debt investment in Bolder Panther Group, LLC (operating as Smoker Friendly) to support the company's acquisition of a 79-store tobacco retailer operating across Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Missouri and Kentucky. Smoker Friendly (headquartered in Boulder, Colorado) operates 259 retail stores across 12 states and owns private-label tobacco products sold through its stores and a dealer network of over 750 locations.

Main Street Capital Provides $51.7M Minority Recapitalization to Bolder Panther Group (Smoker Friendly)

January 7, 2021

Retail

Main Street Capital Corporation invested $51.7 million to facilitate a minority recapitalization of Bolder Panther Group, LLC (doing business as Smoker Friendly). The financing package included first‑lien senior secured term debt, a preferred equity investment, a revolving credit facility and a delayed‑draw term loan to support working capital and the company’s acquisition growth strategy. Smoker Friendly operates over 160 retail locations across seven states and sells a private‑label tobacco line through an additional 700+ stores.

Switchback Capital Acquires Smokey Mo's TX BBQ

January 13, 2022

Restaurants & Hospitality

Austin-based private equity firm Switchback Capital LLC acquired Smokey Mo's TX BBQ, a 16-unit Central Texas barbecue chain. Switchback plans to modernize the concept, roll out a new store prototype and expand franchising following the retirement of the founding family.

FAT Brands Acquires Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill

September 25, 2023

Restaurants & Hospitality

FAT Brands Inc. has acquired the Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill restaurant chain from an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners for $30 million. The purchase adds 61 corporate Smokey Bones locations across 16 states, is expected to increase adjusted EBITDA by about $10 million, and expands FAT Brands' polished dining portfolio.

Western's Smokehouse Acquires Thrushwood Farms

January 20, 2020

Food & Beverage

Family-owned Western's Smokehouse of Greentop, Missouri has entered a definitive agreement to acquire Thrushwood Farms of Galesburg, Illinois. Both companies are backed by investor group Charis Consumer Partners; the deal consolidates manufacturing capacity and capabilities (Thrushwood's retail store will close to focus on expansion) and the Hankes family becomes a shareholder in Western's.

Integrity Marketing Group Acquires The Insurance Superstore

May 16, 2023

Insurance

Integrity Marketing Group has acquired The Insurance Superstore, an independent Medicare-focused insurance agency led by Brad Keating and headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The agency will join Integrity’s partner network and gain access to the firm's shared services, insurtech platform, and marketing and operational resources to scale distribution and improve agent support; financial terms were not disclosed.