A Popeyes franchisee which began in the Birmingham metro area filed for bankruptcy Tuesday following the death of its owner last year.

Premier Cajun Kings, which listed a Peachtree Corners, Ga., address, filed for bankruptcy in the Northern District of Alabama. The company has $10 million in assets, with $20.1 million in liabilities and $8.2 million in secured debt.

QSR reported the franchise company owned stores in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee, beginning in 2018, and at its height employed nearly 500 workers.

Its founder, Manraj “Patrick” Sidhu, died last year.

The company then reported “great operational instability,” according to court documents, due to high inflation, interest rates, and labor difficulties.

According to the magazine, Premier Cajun Kings has closed 10 stores in Alabama and Tennessee, and an 11th was closed by a landlord. It still operates 19 stores.

The company has worked out a limited license agreement with Popeyes to initiate a sales process. The buyer will enter into a new franchise agreement.