Joe’s Crab Shack has permanently closed several dozen restaurants without warning, according to several reports.

Consumerist reports that more than 40 Joe's Crab Shack locations have shut down this month. Ignite Restaurant Group, the restaurant chain's owner, filed for bankruptcy in June.

Joe’s Crab Shack closes 40+ restaurants

Landry's Inc. won a bankruptcy auction in August to acquire Joe's Crab Shack and Brick House Tavern + Tap for $57 million, according to the Wall Street Journal. A final hearing on the sale is scheduled for this week.

Multiple local media outlets say the restaurant closings were abrupt and caught both employees and guests by surprise.

Nation's Restaurant News reports that Landry's founder Tilman Fertitta, who was the original owner of Joe's Crab Shack, plans to shrink the concept to 60 locations.

This is exactly why money expert Clark Howard says you should avoid buying restaurant or retail gift cards.

If you buy a gift card for someone (or yourself) and the restaurant suddenly closes, you may have to take a road trip to be able to redeem it. Give cash instead!

These Joe's Crab Shack locations are closed and no longer show up on the restaurant's website: