Carrols Restaurant (TAST) 10-Q 5 Nov 20 2020 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Cover Page

Cover Page - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020	Nov. 04, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 27, 2020
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-33174
Entity Registrant Name	CARROLS RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	83-3804854
Entity Address, Address Line One	968 James Street
Entity Address, City or Town	Syracuse,
Entity Address, State or Province	NY
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	13203
City Area Code	315
Local Phone Number	424-0513
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
Trading Symbol	TAST
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		52,091,534
Entity Central Index Key	0000809248
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-03
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false

Consolidated Balance Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 27, 2020	Dec. 29, 2019
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 67,762	$ 2,974
Trade and other receivables	17,570	13,445
Inventories	11,466	13,334
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	9,543	9,748
Refundable income taxes	279	284
Total current assets	106,620	39,785
Property and equipment, net	355,225	385,578
Franchise rights, net	338,229	348,941
Goodwill	122,619	122,619
Franchise agreements, net	32,130	32,690
Operating leases	810,560	811,016
Other assets	10,782	10,831
Total assets	1,776,165	1,751,460
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current portion of long-term debt and finance lease liabilities	4,795	5,866
Less: current portion	41,258	40,805
Accounts payable	27,022	45,780
Accrued payroll, related taxes and benefits	33,699	31,314
Accrued real estate taxes	9,250	8,139
Other liabilities	31,991	17,421
Total current liabilities	148,015	149,325
Long-term debt and finance lease liabilities, net of current portion	477,450	455,565
Lease financing obligations	1,192	1,194
Operating lease liabilities	818,514	808,292
Deferred income taxes, net	0	6,983
Accrued postretirement benefits	2,424	2,555
Other liabilities	33,672	18,084
Total liabilities	1,481,267	1,441,998
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, par value $.01	0	0
Voting common stock, par value $.01	515	510
Additional paid-in capital	304,790	301,251
Accumulated deficit	260	11,096
Accumulated other comprehensive income	(6,596)	622
Treasury stock, at cost	(4,071)	(4,017)
Total stockholders' equity	294,898	309,462
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 1,776,165	$ 1,751,460
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	20,000,000	20,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	100	100
Voting common stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Voting common stock, shares authorized	100,000,000	100,000,000

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 27, 2020	Dec. 29, 2019
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Property and equipment, accumulated depreciation	$ 424,344	$ 377,810
Franchise rights, accumulated amortization	130,001	119,288
Franchise agreements, accumulated amortization	$ 14,275	$ 13,365
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	20,000,000	20,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	100	100
Voting common stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Voting common stock, shares authorized	100,000,000	100,000,000
Voting common stock, shares issued	52,653,964	51,840,200
Common stock, shares, outstanding	50,923,686	50,496,265

Consolidated Statements Of Comp

Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020	Sep. 29, 2019	Sep. 27, 2020	Sep. 29, 2019
Revenues:
Revenue	$ 407,036,000	$ 402,345,000	$ 1,126,972,000	$ 1,061,693,000
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales	121,228,000	121,283,000	328,858,000	313,015,000
Restaurant wages and related expenses	126,040,000	131,070,000	362,503,000	352,402,000
Restaurant rent expense	30,536,000	29,300,000	88,974,000	77,906,000
Other restaurant operating expenses	60,486,000	62,710,000	172,774,000	164,623,000
Advertising expense	15,989,000	16,052,000	44,281,000	42,601,000
General and administrative (including stock-based compensation expense of $1,303, $1,707, $3,543 and $4,515 respectively)	20,440,000	21,365,000	59,808,000	61,709,000
Depreciation and amortization	19,620,000	21,200,000	60,947,000	53,613,000
Impairment and other lease charges	1,954,000	500,000	7,776,000	1,777,000
Other expense (income), net (Note 14)		(20,000)
Total operating expenses	396,808,000	403,460,000	1,124,489,000	1,065,873,000
Income (loss) from operations	10,228,000	(1,115,000)	2,483,000	(4,180,000)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	0	0	7,443,000
Interest expense	6,649,000	7,578,000	20,159,000	20,425,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	3,579,000	(8,693,000)	(17,676,000)	(32,048,000)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	48,000	(1,881,000)	(6,840,000)	(10,035,000)
Net income (loss)	$ 3,531,000	$ (6,812,000)	$ (10,836,000)	$ (22,013,000)
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share	$ 0.06	$ (0.15)	$ (0.21)	$ (0.54)
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	50,923,686	45,947,413	50,887,182	41,014,635
Shares used in computing diluted net income (loss) per share (in shares)	60,542,580	45,947,413	50,887,182	41,014,635
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Net income (loss)	$ 3,531,000	$ (6,812,000)	$ (10,836,000)	$ (22,013,000)
Change in valuation of interest rate swap (Note 7)	169,000	0	(7,218,000)	0
Comprehensive income (loss)	3,700,000	(6,812,000)	(18,054,000)	(22,013,000)
Restaurant Sales [Member]
Revenues:
Revenue	407,036,000	398,414,000	1,126,972,000	1,054,877,000
Other Revenue [Member]
Revenues:
Revenue	$ 0	$ 3,931,000	$ 0	$ 6,816,000

Consolidated Statements Of Co_2

Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020	Sep. 29, 2019	Sep. 27, 2020	Sep. 29, 2019
Stock-based compensation	$ 1,303	$ 1,707	$ 3,543	$ 4,515

Consolidated Statements of Chan

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholder's Equity Statement - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Preferred Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 30, 2018		35,742,427	100				0
Beginning balance at Dec. 30, 2018	$ 185,540	$ 357	$ 0	$ 150,459	$ 35,511	$ (646)	$ (141)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock-based compensation	1,526			1,526
Vesting of non-vested shares (in shares)		371,824
Net loss	0	$ 4		(4)
Net income (loss)	(11,469)
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019		36,114,251	100				0
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2019	183,101	$ 361	$ 0	151,981	31,546	(646)	$ (141)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 30, 2018		35,742,427	100				0
Beginning balance at Dec. 30, 2018	185,540	$ 357	$ 0	150,459	35,511	(646)	$ (141)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(22,013)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 29, 2019		51,049,376	100				(283,069)
Ending balance at Sep. 29, 2019	318,871	$ 510	$ 0	300,013	21,002	(646)	$ (2,008)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Adoption of ASC 842, net of taxes | Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member]	7,504				7,504
Beginning balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019		36,114,251	100				0
Beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2019	183,101	$ 361	$ 0	151,981	31,546	(646)	$ (141)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock-based compensation	1,282			1,282
Vesting of non-vested shares (in shares)		2,478
Net loss	0	$ 0		0
Issuance of common and preferred stock (in shares)		7,364,413	10,000
Issuance of common and preferred stock	145,333	$ 74		145,259
Net income (loss)	(3,732)				(3,732)
Repurchase of treasury stock				(141)			$ 141
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019		43,481,142	10,100				0
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2019	325,984	$ 435	$ 0	298,381	27,814	(646)	$ 0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock-based compensation	1,707			1,707
Vesting of non-vested shares (in shares)		117,832
Net loss	0	$ 0		0
Net income (loss)	$ (6,812)				(6,812)
Repurchase of treasury stock (in shares)	(283,069)
Repurchase of treasury stock	$ (2,008)						$ (2,008)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Conversion of Convertible Securities	0	$ 75		(75)
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Conversion of Convertible Securities		7,450,402	(10,000)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 29, 2019		51,049,376	100				(283,069)
Ending balance at Sep. 29, 2019	$ 318,871	$ 510	$ 0	300,013	21,002	(646)	$ (2,008)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 29, 2019	50,496,265	51,049,377	100				(553,112)
Beginning balance at Dec. 29, 2019	$ 309,462	$ 510	$ 0	301,251	11,096	622	$ (4,017)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock-based compensation	1,132
Vesting of non-vested shares (in shares)		424,963
Net loss	0	$ 5		(5)
Net income (loss)	$ (22,209)
Repurchase of treasury stock (in shares)	(9,318)
Repurchase of treasury stock	$ (54)						$ (54)
Change in valuation of interest rate swap	(5,209)					(5,209)
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 29, 2020		51,474,340	100				(562,430)
Ending balance at Mar. 29, 2020	$ 283,122	$ 515	$ 0	302,378	(11,113)	(4,587)	$ (4,071)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 29, 2019	50,496,265	51,049,377	100				(553,112)
Beginning balance at Dec. 29, 2019	$ 309,462	$ 510	$ 0	301,251	11,096	622	$ (4,017)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	$ (10,836)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 27, 2020	50,923,686	51,486,116	100				(562,430)
Ending balance at Sep. 27, 2020	$ 294,898	$ 515	$ 0	304,790	260	(6,596)	$ (4,071)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Mar. 29, 2020		51,474,340	100				(562,430)
Beginning balance at Mar. 29, 2020	283,122	$ 515	$ 0	302,378	(11,113)	(4,587)	$ (4,071)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock-based compensation	1,109			1,109
Vesting of non-vested shares (in shares)		11,776
Net loss	0
Net income (loss)	7,842
Change in valuation of interest rate swap	(2,178)					(2,178)
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 28, 2020		51,486,116	100				(562,430)
Ending balance at Jun. 28, 2020	289,895	$ 515	$ 0	303,487	(3,271)	(6,765)	$ (4,071)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock-based compensation	1,303			1,303
Net income (loss)	3,531
Change in valuation of interest rate swap	$ 169					169
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 27, 2020	50,923,686	51,486,116	100				(562,430)
Ending balance at Sep. 27, 2020	$ 294,898	$ 515	$ 0	$ 304,790	$ 260	$ (6,596)	$ (4,071)

Consolidated Statements Of Cash

Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020	Sep. 29, 2019
Cash flows provided from (used for) operating activities:
Net income	$ (10,836)	$ (22,013)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
(Gain) loss on disposals of property and equipment	(1,316)	615
Stock-based compensation	3,543	4,515
Gain on settlement agreement (Note 11)	0	(1,913)
Impairment and other lease charges	7,776	1,777
Depreciation and amortization	60,947	53,613
Amortization of deferred financing costs	1,600	1,209
Amortization of bond premium and discount on debt	342	(175)
Deferred income taxes	(6,983)	(10,052)
Change in refundable income taxes	6	(176)
Loss on extinguishment of debt non-cash	0	129
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities	25,699	7,487
Net cash provided by operating activities	80,778	35,016
Cash flows used for investing activities:
New restaurant development	(15,694)	(37,259)
Restaurant remodeling	(11,615)	(37,826)
Other restaurant capital expenditures	(8,798)	(15,643)
Corporate and restaurant information systems	(6,714)	(6,670)
Total capital expenditures	(42,821)	(97,398)
Acquisition of restaurants, net of cash acquired (Note 2)	0	(131,545)
Properties purchased for sale-leaseback	(13,399)	0
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions	20,342	7,018
Proceeds from insurance recoveries	1,833	123
Net cash used for investing activities	(34,045)	(221,802)
Cash flows provided by financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of Term Loan B Facility	71,250	422,875
Repayments of Term Loan B Facility	(3,188)	(1,063)
Retirement of 8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes, premium and fees	0	(280,500)
Borrowings under prior revolving credit facility	0	312,500
Repayments under prior revolving credit facility	0	(253,000)
Borrowings under revolving credit facility	150,000	0
Repayments under revolving credit facility	(195,750)	0
Payments on finance lease liabilities	(1,464)	(1,555)
Costs associated with financing long-term debt	(2,793)	(11,516)
Purchase of treasury shares	0	(2,008)
Net cash provided by financing activities	18,055	185,733
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	64,788	(1,053)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	2,974	4,014
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	67,762	2,961
Supplemental disclosures:
Interest paid on long-term debt	18,431	22,159
Interest paid on lease financing obligations	78	78
Accruals for capital expenditures	2,736	13,156
Income taxes paid	$ 139	$ 193

Basis Of Presentation (Notes)

Basis Of Presentation (Notes)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis Of Presentation	Basis of Presentation Business Description. At September 27, 2020 Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. ("Carrols Restaurant Group") operated as franchisee 1,023 Burger King ® restaurants in 23 Northeastern, Midwestern and Southeastern states and 65 Popeyes ® restaurants in seven Southeastern states. In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak to be a global pandemic, which continues to spread throughout the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the communities the Company's restaurants operate in as federal, state and local governments have taken a series of actions to contain its spread. In March 2020, the Company closed its dining rooms in all restaurants and modified operating hours in line with local ordinances and day-part sales trends, and over the course of March and April of 2020, temporarily closed 46 restaurants that were geographically close to one of its other restaurants. These closures were in effect for most of the second quarter of 2020. Each restaurant operated according to their respective local governmental guidelines as well as safety procedures developed by Burger King and Popeyes. As individual states and local governments have allowed reopenings, the Company has evaluated the opportunity to re-open dining rooms. By the end of the third quarter of 2020, approximately 35% of dining rooms have reopened, however, eat-in sales represented approximately 1% of our total restaurant sales during the third quarter of 2020 as guests continue to rely on our drive-thru, carry-out and delivery service modes. Given sales improvements after the initial months of the pandemic, 40 of the temporarily closed restaurants had reopened by the end of the third quarter of 2020. Two of the restaurants temporarily closed in March will not be reopened. Basis of Consolidation. Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. is a holding company and conducts all of its operations through its direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries Carrols Corporation and New CFH, LLC and their wholly-owned subsidiaries. Carrols Corporation's material direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, "Carrols") include its wholly-owned subsidiary Carrols LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Carrols LLC's wholly-owned subsidiary Republic Foods, Inc., a Maryland corporation ("Republic Foods"). New CFH LLC's material direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries include Alabama Quality, LLC, Carolina Quality, LLC, Frayser Quality, LLC, Nashville Quality, LLC, Frayser Holdings, LLC, Louisiana Quality, LLC, CFH Real Estate, LLC, Tennessee Quality, LLC, TQ Real Estate, LLC and Mirabile Investment Corporation (and together with New CFH, LLC's immaterial direct and indirect subsidiaries, collectively, "New CFH"). Unless the context otherwise requires, Carrols Restaurant Group and its direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries are collectively referred to as the “Company.” All intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Fiscal Year. The Company uses a 52-53 week fiscal year ending on the Sunday closest to December 31. The three and nine months ended September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019 each contained thirteen and thirty-nine weeks, respectively. The 2020 fiscal year will end January 3, 2021 and will contain 53 weeks. Basis of Presentation. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of and for the three and nine months ended September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019 have been prepared without an audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and do not include certain of the information and the footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all normal and recurring adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of such unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been included. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2019. The December 29, 2019 consolidated balance sheet data is derived from those audited consolidated financial statements. Use of Estimates. The preparation of the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Significant items subject to such estimates include: accrued occupancy costs, insurance liabilities, evaluation for impairment of long-lived assets and franchise rights, lease accounting matters, the valuation of acquired assets and liabilities, valuation of interest rate swap, and the valuation of deferred income tax assets. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Segment Information. Operating segments are components of an entity for which separate financial information is available and is regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker in order to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company's chief operating decision maker currently evaluates the Company's operations from a number of different operational perspectives; however, resource allocation decisions are determined based on the chief operating decision maker's evaluation of the total Company operations. The Company derives all significant revenues from a single operating segment. Accordingly, the Company views the operating results of its restaurants as one reportable segment. Business Combinations. In accordance with ASC 805, the Company allocates the purchase price of an acquired business to its net identifiable assets and liabilities based on the estimated fair values. The excess of the purchase price over the amount allocated to the assets and liabilities, if any, is recorded as goodwill. The excess value of the net identifiable assets and liabilities acquired over the purchase price, if any, is recorded as a bargain purchase gain. The Company uses all available information to estimate fair values of identifiable intangible assets and property acquired. In making these determinations, the Company sometimes engages an independent third party valuation specialist to assist with the valuation of certain leasehold improvements, franchise rights and favorable and unfavorable leases. The Company estimates that the seller's carrying value of acquired restaurant equipment, subject to certain adjustments, is equivalent to fair value of this equipment at the date of the acquisition. The fair values of assumed franchise agreements are valued as if the remaining term of the agreement is at the market rate. The fair values of acquired land, buildings, certain leasehold improvements and restaurant equipment subject to finance leases are determined using both the cost approach and market approach. The fair value of the favorable and unfavorable leases acquired, right-of-use assets, right-of-use liabilities, as well as the fair value of land, buildings, leasehold improvements and restaurant equipment subject to finance leases acquired is measured using significant inputs observable in the open market. The Company categorizes all such inputs as Level 2 inputs under ASC 820. The fair value of acquired franchise rights is primarily determined using the income approach, and unobservable inputs classified as Level 3 under ASC 820. Cash and Cash Equivalents. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. At both September 27, 2020 and December 29, 2019, the Company did not have any cash invested in money market funds classified as cash equivalents on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. Fair Value of Financial Instruments. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. In determining fair value, the accounting standards establish a three level hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value as follows: Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; Level 2 inputs are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, including quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities; and Level 3 inputs are unobservable and reflect the Company's own assumptions. Financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, trade and other receivables, accounts payable and long-term debt. The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, trade and other receivables and accounts payable approximate fair value because of the short-term nature of these financial instruments. The carrying amount of the Term Loan B and B-1 Facilities at September 27, 2020 approximate fair value because of their variable rates. The Company recognizes derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value, which is considered Level 2. The Company’s only derivative is an interest rate swap which is designated as a cash flow hedge; therefore, the effective portion of the changes in the fair value of this arrangement are recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. The ineffective portion of the changes in the fair value of this arrangement are immediately recognized in earnings as interest expense. The Company classifies cash inflows and outflows from derivatives within operating activities on the statement of cash flows. Fair value measurements of non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities are primarily used in the impairment analysis of long-lived assets, goodwill and intangible assets. Long-lived assets and definite-lived intangible assets are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis using Level 3 inputs. As described in Note 4, the Company recorded long-lived asset impairment charges of $1.0 million and $5.4 million during the three and nine months ended September 27, 2020, respectively, and $0.3 million and $1.4 million during the three and nine months ended September 29, 2019, respectively. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements. In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses, to introduce new guidance for the accounting for credit losses on instruments within its scope. ASU 2016-13 requires among other things, the measurement of all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable supportable forecasts. In addition, ASU 2016-13 amends the accounting for credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities and purchased financial assets with credit deterioration. This update was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this ASU in the first quarter of 2020 and there was no impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. This ASU simplifies the accounting for goodwill by eliminating step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Under the new ASU, if the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss will be recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds its fair value. This update was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this ASU in the first quarter of 2020 and there was no impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14, Compensation - Retirement benefits (Topic 715-20). This ASU amends ASC 715 to add certain relevant disclosures, remove certain disclosures no longer considered to be cost beneficial, and clarify specific disclosure requirements related to defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans. This ASU is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2020 and requires application on a retrospective basis. The Company does not expect adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements. In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04 (“ASU 2020-04”), Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. ASU 2020-04 provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying U.S. GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by the discontinuation of the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”). This ASU is effective for all entities as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. The Company is currently evaluating the effect adoption of this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In April 2020, the FASB staff issued interpretive guidance that indicated it would be acceptable for entities to make an election to account for lease concessions related to the COVID-19 pandemic consistent with how those concessions would be accounted for under ACS Topic 842, Leases ("ASC 842"), as though enforceable rights and obligations for those concessions existed (regardless of whether those enforceable rights and obligations for the concessions explicitly exist in the contract). Consequently, for concessions related to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, an entity will not have to analyze each contract to determine whether enforceable rights and obligations for concessions exist in the contract and can elect to apply or not apply the lease modification guidance in Topic 842 to those contracts. This election is available for concessions related to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic that do not result in a substantial increase in the rights of the lessor or the obligations of the lessee. The Company has made the policy election to apply this interpretive guidance to certain rent relief resulting directly from COVID-19,

Acquisition (Notes)

Acquisition (Notes)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Mergers, Acquisitions and Dispositions Disclosures [Text Block]	Acquisitions Since 2012, the Company has been assigned Burger King Corporation's ("BKC") right of first refusal on the sale of franchisee-operated restaurants in 20 states (the "ROFR"). In 2019, the Company acquired an aggregate of 179 Burger King restaurants and 55 Popeyes restaurants from other franchisees in the following transactions, some of which were acquired pursuant to the exercise of the ROFR (in thousands, except number of restaurants): Closing Date Number of Restaurants Purchase Price Market Location April 30, 2019 (1) 220 $ 259,083 Southeastern states, primarily TN, MS, LA June 11, 2019 13 15,788 Baltimore, Maryland August 20, 2019 (2) 1 1,108 Pennsylvania 234 $ 275,979 (1) During the second quarter of 2019, the Company completed its merger with New CFH, LLC (“Cambridge”) and acquired 165 Burger King restaurants and 55 Popeyes restaurants. (2) Acquisitions resulting from the exercise of the ROFR with Burger King. On April 30, 2019 the Company completed a merger with Cambridge ("the Cambridge Merger") for a purchase price of $259.1 million through the issuance to Cambridge Franchise Holdings LLC ("Cambridge Holdings") of shares of stock which consisted of (i) approximately 7.4 million shares of common stock, (ii) 10,000 shares of the Company's newly designated Series C Convertible Preferred Stock, which were converted into approximately 7.5 million shares of common stock on August 29, 2019, and (iii) the retirement of approximately $113.8 million of the indebtedness of Cambridge, net of cash acquired. All shares issued are subject to a two year Under the purchase method of accounting, the aggregate purchase price is allocated to the net tangible and intangible assets based on their estimated fair values on the acquisition date. The purchase price allocation values the common stock at $145.3 million based on the $9.81 closing price of the Company's common stock on the date of acquisition. The Company allocated the aggregate purchase price to the net tangible and intangible assets acquired in the Cambridge Merger at their estimated fair values. The Company engaged a third party valuation specialist to assist with the valuation of franchise rights, leasehold improvements and favorable and unfavorable leases included in the operating right-to-use assets acquired. The fair value of other property and equipment and franchise agreements was based on the carrying value of the respective assets given that in the three years prior to the Cambridge Merger, Cambridge had completed valuations in connection with its own acquisition of 132 restaurants and also recently constructed 33 new restaurants. The fair value of the right-of-use liability is based upon the lease payments over the remaining lease term discounted by the Company's incremental borrowing rate. Goodwill recorded in connection with the Cambridge Merger represents the excess of the purchase price over the aggregate fair value of net assets acquired and is related to the benefits expected as a result of the merger, including sales, operating synergies, development and growth opportunities. Cambridge's existing Burger King and Popeyes restaurant portfolios provides the Company with significant growth and development opportunities and, due to the geographic location of the restaurants, mitigates the dependence on the economic performance of any one particular geographic location or restaurant concept. A deferred income tax liability of approximately $44.3 million was recorded representing book and tax differences primarily related to the fair value of the acquired franchise rights. The following table summarizes the final allocation of the aggregate purchase price for the Cambridge Merger reflected in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of December 29, 2019: Inventory $ 2,839 Prepaid expenses 2,947 Other assets 1,846 Land and buildings 21,257 Restaurant equipment 25,358 Restaurant equipment - subject to finance leases 488 Right-of-use assets 251,431 Leasehold improvements 3,498 Franchise fees 7,300 Franchise rights 174,500 Deferred income taxes (44,292) Goodwill 84,060 Finance lease obligations for restaurant equipment (568) Operating lease liabilities (255,897) Accounts payable (8,014) Accrued payroll, related taxes and benefits (3,133) Other liabilities (4,537) Net assets acquired $ 259,083 The Company allocated the aggregate purchase price for the 2019 acquisitions other than the Cambridge Merger at their estimated fair values. The following table summarizes the preliminary allocation of the aggregate purchase price for the 2019 acquisitions reflected in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of December 29, 2019: Inventory $ 158 Restaurant equipment 743 Restaurant equipment - subject to finance leases 150 Right-of-use assets 9,515 Leasehold improvements 6,205 Franchise fees 394 Franchise rights 9,809 Deferred income taxes 29 Goodwill 86 Operating lease liabilities (9,968) Finance lease liabilities for restaurant equipment (185) Accounts payable (40) Net assets acquired $ 16,896 Goodwill recorded in connection with the 2019 acquisitions represents costs in excess of fair values assigned to the underlying net assets of acquired restaurants. Acquired goodwill that is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes was $47.2 million in 2019. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are due primarily to the book and tax bases differences of franchise rights, property and equipment, net favorable and unfavorable leases. The results of operations for the restaurants acquired are included from the closing date of the respective acquisition. The 2019 acquired restaurants contributed restaurant sales of $73.3 million and $210.6 million in the three and nine months ended September 27, 2020, respectively. It is impracticable to disclose net earnings for the post-acquisition period for the acquired restaurants as net earnings of these restaurants were not tracked on a collective basis due to the integration of administrative functions, including field supervision. The unaudited pro forma impact on the results of operations for the restaurants acquired in 2019 for the nine months ended September 29, 2019 is included below. The unaudited pro forma results of operations are not necessarily indicative of the results that would have occurred had the acquisitions been consummated at the beginning of the periods presented, nor are they necessarily indicative of any future consolidated operating results. The following table summarizes the Company's unaudited pro forma operating results: Nine Months Ended September 29, 2019 Total revenue $ 1,167,461 Net loss $ (15,744) Basic and diluted net loss per share $ (0.38)

Intangible Assets (Notes)

Intangible Assets (Notes)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill And Franchise Rights [Text Block]	Intangible Assets Goodwill. The Company is required to review goodwill for impairment annually, or more frequently when events and circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may be impaired. If the determined fair value of goodwill is less than the related carrying amount, an impairment loss is recognized. The Company performs its annual impairment assessment as of the last day of its fiscal year and does not believe circumstances have changed since the last assessment date which would make it necessary to reassess the value of its goodwill. There were no recorded goodwill impairment losses during the three and nine months ended September 27, 2020 or September 29, 2019. Franchise Rights. Amounts allocated to franchise rights for each acquisition of Burger King ® and Popeyes ® restaurants are amortized using the straight-line method over the average remaining term of the acquired franchise agreements plus one twenty-year renewal period. The Company assesses the potential impairment of franchise rights whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. If an indicator of impairment exists, an estimate of the aggregate undiscounted cash flows from the acquired restaurants is compared to the respective carrying value of franchise rights for each acquisition. If an asset is determined to be impaired, the loss is measured by the excess of the carrying amount of the asset over its fair value. No impairment charges were recorded related to the Company’s franchise rights for the three and nine months ended September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019. The change in franchise rights for the nine months ended September 27, 2020 is summarized below: Balance at December 29, 2019 $ 348,941 Amortization expense (10,712) Balance at September 27, 2020 $ 338,229

Impairment Of Long-Lived Assets

Impairment Of Long-Lived Assets And Other Lease Charges (Notes)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020
Asset Impairment Charges [Abstract]
Asset Impairment Charges [Text Block]	Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Other Lease Charges The Company reviews its long-lived assets, principally property and equipment, for impairment at the restaurant level. If an indicator of impairment exists for any of its assets, an estimate of the undiscounted future cash flows over the life of the primary asset for each restaurant is compared to that long-lived asset’s carrying value. If the carrying value is greater than the undiscounted cash flow, the Company then determines the fair value of the asset and if an asset is determined to be impaired, the loss is measured by the excess of the carrying amount of the asset over its fair value. For closed restaurant locations, the Company reviews the future minimum lease payments and related ancillary costs from the date of the restaurant closure to the end of the remaining lease term and records a lease charge for the lease liabilities to be incurred, net of any estimated sublease recoveries. The Company determined the fair value of restaurant equipment, for those restaurants reviewed for impairment, based on current economic conditions. The Company determines the fair value of right-of-use lease assets based on an assessment of market rents and a discounted future cash flow model. These fair value asset measurements rely on significant unobservable inputs and are considered Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. During the three months ended September 27, 2020, the Company recorded impairment and other lease charges of $2.0 million consisting of $0.7 million of initial impairment charges for four underperforming restaurants, capital expenditures of $0.2 million at underperforming restaurants, and $1.0 million of other lease charges primarily for three restaurants closed in the third quarter of 2020. During the nine months ended September 27, 2020, the Company recorded impairment and other lease charges of $7.8 million consisting of $4.9 million related to initial impairment charges for thirteen underperforming restaurants, capital expenditures of $0.5 million at previously impaired restaurants and $2.4 million of other lease charges primarily from nine restaurants closed during the first quarter of 2020 and three restaurants closed in the third quarter of 2020. During the three months ended September 29, 2019, the Company recorded impairment and other lease charges of $0.5 million consisting of $0.3 million of initial impairment charges for two underperforming restaurants and $0.2 million of other lease charges primarily from one restaurant closed during the third quarter of 2019. During the nine months ended September 29, 2019, the Company recorded impairment and other lease charges of $1.8 million consisting of $1.1 million related to initial impairment charges for five underperforming restaurants, capital expenditures of $0.3 million at underperforming restaurants and $0.4 million of other lease charges primarily due to the closure of two restaurants and changes in estimates during the year.

Other Liabilities, Long-Term (N

Other Liabilities, Long-Term (Notes)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020
Other Liabilities, Noncurrent [Abstract]
Other Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block]	Other Liabilities, Long-Term Other liabilities, long-term, at September 27, 2020 and December 29, 2019 consisted of the following: September 27, 2020 December 29, 2019 Accrued occupancy costs $ 2,123 $ 8,523 Accrued workers’ compensation and general liability claims 5,566 5,370 Interest rate swap 7,218 — Deferred compensation 4,212 3,902 Deferred federal payroll taxes 14,267 — Other 286 289 $ 33,672 $ 18,084

Leases

Leases	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020
Leases [Abstract]
Leases	Leases The Company utilizes land and buildings in its operations under various lease agreements. The Company does not consider any one of these individual leases material to the Company's operations. Initial lease terms are generally for twenty years and, in many cases, provide for renewal options and in most cases rent escalations. The exercise of such renewal options are generally at the Company’s sole discretion. The Company evaluates renewal options at lease commencement and upon any lease amendments or remodeling activity to determine if such options are reasonably certain to be exercised based on economic factors. Certain leases also require contingent rent, determined as a percentage of sales as defined by the terms of the applicable lease agreement. For most locations, the Company is obligated for occupancy related costs including payment of property taxes, insurance and utilities. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic uncertainty in the restaurant industry, the Company contacted each of its landlords to potentially negotiate accommodations to preserve cash. For certain leases the Company was able to modify existing payment terms, in some cases through deferral of existing payments until future periods and in some cases through a reduction in payments due during this period. The Company elected the practical expedient to not evaluate whether a deferral of rent within the current term is a lease modification. Any concessions which resulted in extension of the existing lease term were accounted for as a lease modification under the current GAAP guidance. The total rent that was or will be deferred as a result of requests for relief from our landlords other than BKC (see Note 11) was $5.8 million, of which $4.8 million was or is expected to be repaid over various periods beginning in the third quarter of 2020. As of September 27, 2020, $4.3 million remains to be repaid to landlords related to these deferrals. The right-of-use (“ROU”) lease assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make payments in exchange for that right of use. As the rate implicit within our leases is not readily determinable, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate which considers the Company's debt issuances and lease term in determining the present value of future payments. The ROU asset is also reduced by lease incentives and initial direct costs and is adjusted by favorable lease assets and unfavorable lease liabilities. Variable lease components represent amounts that are contractually fixed percentage of sales and are recognized in expense as incurred. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet and are recognized as lease expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company does not account for lease components (e.g., fixed payments including rent, real estate taxes and insurance costs) separately from the non-lease components. In addition, the Company utilizes certain restaurant equipment under various finance lease agreements with initial terms of generally eight years. The Company does not consider any one of these individual leases material to the Company's operations. For certain leases where rent escalates based upon a change in a financial index, such as the Consumer Price Index, the difference between the rate at lease inception and the subsequent fluctuations in that rate are included in variable lease costs. Additionally, because the Company has elected to not separate lease and non-lease components, in limited instances variable costs also include payments to the landlord for common area maintenance, real estate taxes, insurance and other operating expenses. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term, with variable lease payments recognized in the period those payments are incurred. Lease Cost The components and classification of lease expense for the three and nine months ended September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019 are as follows: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Lease cost Classification September 27, 2020 September 29, 2019 September 27, 2020 September 29, 2019 Operating lease cost (1) Restaurant rent expense $ 26,126 $ 24,933 $ 77,088 $ 65,770 Operating lease cost General and administrative 171 171 436 393 Variable lease cost Restaurant rent expense 4,524 4,529 12,228 12,619 Sublease income Restaurant rent expense (114) (162) (342) (483) Finance lease cost: Amortization of right-of-use assets Depreciation and amortization 221 414 1,103 1,248 Interest on lease liabilities Interest expense 26 69 108 204 Total lease cost $ 30,954 $ 29,954 $ 90,621 $ 79,751 (1) Includes short-term leases which are not material. Other Information Supplemental cash flow information related to leases for the nine months ended September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019 are as follows: Nine Months Ended September 27, 2020 September 29, 2019 Gain on sale-leaseback transactions $ 226 $ 289 Lease assets and liabilities resulting from lease modifications and new leases $ 47,209 $ 49,097 Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: Operating cash flows from operating leases $ 73,749 $ 62,986 Operating cash flows from finance leases $ 26 $ 204 Financing cash flows from finance leases $ 1,464 $ 1,555
Leases	Leases The Company utilizes land and buildings in its operations under various lease agreements. The Company does not consider any one of these individual leases material to the Company's operations. Initial lease terms are generally for twenty years and, in many cases, provide for renewal options and in most cases rent escalations. The exercise of such renewal options are generally at the Company’s sole discretion. The Company evaluates renewal options at lease commencement and upon any lease amendments or remodeling activity to determine if such options are reasonably certain to be exercised based on economic factors. Certain leases also require contingent rent, determined as a percentage of sales as defined by the terms of the applicable lease agreement. For most locations, the Company is obligated for occupancy related costs including payment of property taxes, insurance and utilities. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic uncertainty in the restaurant industry, the Company contacted each of its landlords to potentially negotiate accommodations to preserve cash. For certain leases the Company was able to modify existing payment terms, in some cases through deferral of existing payments until future periods and in some cases through a reduction in payments due during this period. The Company elected the practical expedient to not evaluate whether a deferral of rent within the current term is a lease modification. Any concessions which resulted in extension of the existing lease term were accounted for as a lease modification under the current GAAP guidance. The total rent that was or will be deferred as a result of requests for relief from our landlords other than BKC (see Note 11) was $5.8 million, of which $4.8 million was or is expected to be repaid over various periods beginning in the third quarter of 2020. As of September 27, 2020, $4.3 million remains to be repaid to landlords related to these deferrals. The right-of-use (“ROU”) lease assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make payments in exchange for that right of use. As the rate implicit within our leases is not readily determinable, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate which considers the Company's debt issuances and lease term in determining the present value of future payments. The ROU asset is also reduced by lease incentives and initial direct costs and is adjusted by favorable lease assets and unfavorable lease liabilities. Variable lease components represent amounts that are contractually fixed percentage of sales and are recognized in expense as incurred. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet and are recognized as lease expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company does not account for lease components (e.g., fixed payments including rent, real estate taxes and insurance costs) separately from the non-lease components. In addition, the Company utilizes certain restaurant equipment under various finance lease agreements with initial terms of generally eight years. The Company does not consider any one of these individual leases material to the Company's operations. For certain leases where rent escalates based upon a change in a financial index, such as the Consumer Price Index, the difference between the rate at lease inception and the subsequent fluctuations in that rate are included in variable lease costs. Additionally, because the Company has elected to not separate lease and non-lease components, in limited instances variable costs also include payments to the landlord for common area maintenance, real estate taxes, insurance and other operating expenses. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term, with variable lease payments recognized in the period those payments are incurred. Lease Cost The components and classification of lease expense for the three and nine months ended September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019 are as follows: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Lease cost Classification September 27, 2020 September 29, 2019 September 27, 2020 September 29, 2019 Operating lease cost (1) Restaurant rent expense $ 26,126 $ 24,933 $ 77,088 $ 65,770 Operating lease cost General and administrative 171 171 436 393 Variable lease cost Restaurant rent expense 4,524 4,529 12,228 12,619 Sublease income Restaurant rent expense (114) (162) (342) (483) Finance lease cost: Amortization of right-of-use assets Depreciation and amortization 221 414 1,103 1,248 Interest on lease liabilities Interest expense 26 69 108 204 Total lease cost $ 30,954 $ 29,954 $ 90,621 $ 79,751 (1) Includes short-term leases which are not material. Other Information Supplemental cash flow information related to leases for the nine months ended September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019 are as follows: Nine Months Ended September 27, 2020 September 29, 2019 Gain on sale-leaseback transactions $ 226 $ 289 Lease assets and liabilities resulting from lease modifications and new leases $ 47,209 $ 49,097 Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: Operating cash flows from operating leases $ 73,749 $ 62,986 Operating cash flows from finance leases $ 26 $ 204 Financing cash flows from finance leases $ 1,464 $ 1,555

Long-Term Debt (Notes)

Long-Term Debt (Notes)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020
Long-term Debt, Unclassified [Abstract]
Long-Term Debt	Long-Term Debt Long-term debt at September 27, 2020 and December 29, 2019 consisted of the following: September 27, 2020 December 29, 2019 Collateralized: Senior Credit Facility: Term Loan B borrowings $ 419,688 $ 422,875 Term Loan B-1 borrowings 75,000 — Revolving credit borrowings — 45,750 Finance lease liabilities 1,060 2,524 495,748 471,149 Less: current portion of long-term debt and finance lease liabilities (4,795) (5,866) Less: unamortized debt issuance costs (8,142) (7,768) Less: unamortized original issue discount (5,361) (1,950) Total Long-term debt $ 477,450 $ 455,565 On April 30, 2019, the Company entered into a senior secured credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $550.0 million, consisting of (i) a Term Loan B Facility in an aggregate principal amount of $425.0 million (the “Term Loan B Facility”) maturing on April 30, 2026 and (ii) a revolving credit facility (including a sub-facility of $35.0 million for standby letters of credit) in an aggregate principal amount of $125.0 million maturing on April 30, 2024 (the “Revolving Credit Facility” and, together with the Term Loan B Facility, (as amended, the “Senior Credit Facilities”). On December 13, 2019, the Company entered into the First Amendment to Credit Agreement (the "First Amendment") which amended a financial covenant under the Senior Credit Facilities applicable solely with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility that previously required the Company to maintain quarterly a Total Net Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Senior Credit Facilities) of not greater than 4.75 to 1.00 (measured on a most recent four quarter basis), to now require that the Company maintain only a First Lien Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Senior Credit Facilities) of not greater than 5.75 to 1.00 (as measured on a most recent four quarter basis) if, and only if, on the last day of any fiscal quarter (beginning with the fiscal quarter ended December 29, 2019), the sum of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding revolving credit borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility and the aggregate face amount of letters of credit issued under the Revolving Credit Facility (excluding undrawn letters of credit in an aggregate face amount up to $12.0 million) exceeds 35% of the aggregate amount of the maximum revolving credit borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility. The First Amendment also reduced the aggregate maximum revolving credit borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility by $10.0 million to a total of $115.0 million. On March 25, 2020, the Company entered into the Second Amendment to its Senior Credit Facilities (the "Second Amendment"). The Second Amendment increased the aggregate maximum commitments available for revolving credit borrowings (including standby letters of credit) under the Revolving Credit Facility (the "Revolving Committed Amount") by $15.4 million to a total of $130.4 million. The Second Amendment also amended the definition of Applicable Margin (such definition and all other definitions used herein and otherwise not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Senior Credit Facilities) to provide that on and after the date of the Second Amendment (the "Second Amendment Effective Date"), the Applicable Margin for borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility (including Letter of Credit Fees) shall be at a rate per annum equal to (a) for so long as the Revolving Committed Amount is greater than $115.0 million, (i) for the period commencing on the Second Amendment Effective Date and including the date that is 179 days after the Second Amendment Effective Date, 3.5% for LIBOR Rate Loans and 2.5% for Alternate Base Rate Loans, (ii) for the period commencing on the date that is 180 days after the Second Amendment Effective Date, through and including the date that is 269 days after the Second Amendment Effective Date, 4.25% for LIBOR Rate Loans and 3.25% for Alternate Base Rate Loans, (iii) for the period commencing on the date that is 270 days after the Second Amendment Effective Date, through and including the date that is 364 days after the Second Amendment Effective Date, 4.5% for LIBOR Rate Loans and 3.5% for Alternate Base Rate Loans and (iv) for the period commencing on the date that is 365 days after the Second Amendment Effective Date and thereafter, 4.75% for LIBOR Rate Loans and 3.75% for Alternate Base Rate Loans and (b) for so long as the Revolving Committed Amount is equal to or less than $115.0 million, 3.5% for LIBOR Rate Loans and 2.5% for Alternate Base Rate Loans. The Second Amendment also provides that beginning on the 180th day after the Second Amendment Effective Date and for so long as the Revolving Committed Amount is greater than $115.0 million, the Company shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Revolving Facility Lenders, a commitment fee (the "Ticking Fee") on the average daily amount of the Revolving Committed Amount at a rate per annum equal to (a) 0.125% for the 180th day after the Second Amendment Effective Date through and including the 269th day after the Second Amendment Effective Date, (b) 0.25% for the 270th day after the Second Amendment Effective Date through and including the 364th day after the Second Amendment Effective Date and (c) 1.00% for the 365th day after the Second Amendment Effective Date and thereafter. The Second Amendment provides that the Ticking Fee will be due and payable quarterly in arrears (calculated on a 360-day basis) on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter and will accrue from the 180th day after the Second Amendment Effective Date for so long as the Revolving Committed Amount is greater than $115.0 million. The Second Amendment also provides that the Company shall use the proceeds of an Extension of Credit which results in the sum of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Revolving Loans plus the aggregate amount of LOC Obligations equaling an amount in excess of $115.0 million, solely for ongoing operations of the Company and its subsidiaries and shall not be held as cash on the balance sheet. Pursuant to the Letter Agreement dated as of March 25, 2020 among the Company, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and Truist Bank, the Company agreed to defer rent payments totaling approximately $2.4 million per month under certain real property leases for the period between April 1, 2020 through and including June 30, 2020. The Company paid these amounts in full according to these terms on July 1, 2020. On April 8, 2020, the Company entered into the Third Amendment to its Senior Credit Facilities which increased the aggregate maximum commitments available for revolving credit borrowings (including standby letters of credit) under the Revolving Credit Facility by $15.4 million to a total of $145.8 million. On April 16, 2020, the Company entered into the Fourth Amendment to its Senior Credit Facilities (the "Fourth Amendment"). The Fourth Amendment permits the Company to incur and, if necessary, repay indebtedness incurred pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program (the "PPP") under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, as amended (the "CARES Act"). Subsequent to this amendment, the Company withdrew its application for relief under the PPP and returned the funds upon receipt. On June 23, 2020 (the "Fifth Amendment Effective Date"), the Company entered into the Fifth Amendment to its Senior Credit Facilities (the "Fifth Amendment"). The Fifth Amendment increased the Term Loan (as defined in the Senior Credit Facilities) borrowings in the aggregate principal amount of $75 million of Incremental Term B-1 Loans (as defined in the Senior Credit Facilities). The Incremental Term B-1 Loans constitute a new tranche of Term Loans ranking pari passu in right of payment and security with the Initial Term Loans for all purposes under the Senior Credit Facilities. The Incremental Term B-1 Loans have the same terms as outstanding borrowings under the Company's existing term loan B facility pursuant to and in accordance with the Senior Credit Facilities, provided that (i) borrowings under the Incremental Term B-1 Loans will bear interest at a rate per annum, at the Company’s option, of (a) the Alternate Base Rate (as defined in the Senior Credit Facilities) plus the applicable margin of 5.25% or (b) the LIBOR Rate (as defined in the Senior Credit Facilities) (which shall not be less than 1% for Incremental Term B-1 Loans) plus the applicable margin of 6.25% and (ii) certain prepayments of the Incremental Term B-1 Loans by the Company prior to the first anniversary of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date are subject to a premium to the Administrative Agent (as defined in the Senior Credit Facilities), for the ratable account of each applicable Term Loan Lender (as defined in the Senior Credit Facilities) holding Incremental Term B-1 Loans on the date of such prepayment equal to the Applicable Make-Whole Amount (as defined in the Senior Credit Facilities) with respect to the principal amount of the Incremental Term B-1 Loans so prepaid. The principal amount of the Incremental Term B-1 Loans will amortize in an aggregate annual amount equal to 1% of the original principal amount of the Incremental Term B-1 Loans and shall be repayable in consecutive quarterly installments on the last day of the Company's fiscal quarters beginning on the third fiscal quarter of 2020 with the remaining outstanding principal amount of the Incremental Term B-1 Loan and all accrued but unpaid interest and other amounts payable with respect to the Incremental Term B-1 Loan due on April 30, 2026 which is the Term Loan Maturity Date (as defined in the Senior Credit Facilities). The net proceeds of the Incremental Term B-1 Loans were $71.3 million after original issue discount and were used for general corporate purposes, including repayment of the outstanding balance of the Revolving Credit Facility. The Company’s obligations under the Senior Credit Facilities are guaranteed by its subsidiaries and are secured by first priority liens on substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, including a pledge of all of the capital stock and equity interests of its subsidiaries. Under the Senior Credit Facilities, the Company is required to make mandatory prepayments of borrowings in the event of dispositions of assets, debt issuances and insurance and condemnation proceeds (all subject to certain exceptions). The Senior Credit Facilities contain certain covenants, including without limitation, those limiting the Company’s and its subsidiaries' ability to, among other things, incur indebtedness, incur liens, sell or acquire assets or businesses, change the character of its business in all material respects, engage in transactions with related parties, make certain investments, make certain restricted payments or pay dividends. In addition, the Senior Credit Facilities require the Company to meet a First Lien Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Senior Credit Facilities) if revolving credit borrowings exceed 35% of the aggregate borrowing capacity, as described under the First Amendment above. As there were no borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility at September 27, 2020, no First Lien Leverage Ratio calculation was required. The Company was in compliance with the covenants under its Senior Credit Facilities at September 27, 2020. The Senior Credit Facilities contain customary default provisions, including that the lenders may terminate their obligation to advance and may declare the unpaid balance of borrowings, or any part thereof, immediately due and payable upon the occurrence and during the continuance of customary defaults which include, without limitation, payment default, covenant defaults, bankruptcy type defaults, cross-defaults on other indebtedness, judgments or upon the occurrence of a change of control. The Term Loan B and B-1 borrowings are due and payable in quarterly installments, which began on September 30, 2019. Amounts outstanding at September 27, 2020 are due and payable as follows: (i) twenty-two remaining quarterly installments of $1.3 million; (ii) one final payment of $467.0 million on April 30, 2026. At September 27, 2020, borrowings under the Senior Credit Facilities bore interest as follows: (i) Revolving Credit Facility: at a rate per annum equal to (a) the Alternate Base Rate (as defined in the Senior Credit Facilities) plus 2.50% or (b) LIBOR Rate (as defined in the Senior Credit Facilities) plus 3.50%. (ii) Term Loan B borrowings: at a rate per annum equal to (a) the Alternate Base Rate (as defined in the Senior Credit Facilities) plus 2.25% or (b) LIBOR Rate (as defined in the Senior Credit Facilities) plus 3.25%. (iii) Term Loan B-1 borrowings: at a rate per annum, at the Company’s option, of (a) the Alternate Base Rate plus the applicable margin of 5.25% or (b) the LIBOR Rate (which shall not be less than 1% for Incremental Term B-1 Loans) plus the applicable margin of 6.25%. The weighted average interest rate for borrowings under the Senior Credit Facilities, was 4.4% and 4.5% for the three and nine months ended September 27, 2020, respectively, and 5.7% and 6.4% for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2019, respectively. As of September 27, 2020, there were no revolving credit borrowings outstanding and $9.7 million of letters of credit issued under the Revolving Credit Facility. After reserving for issued letters of credit and outstanding revolving credit borrowings, $136.2 million was available for revolving credit borrowings under the Senior Credit Facilities at September 27, 2020. Interest Rate Swap. In March 2020, The Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement with its lenders to mitigate the risk of increases in the variable interest rate related to term loan borrowings under the Term Loan B Facility. The interest rate swap fixes the interest rate on 50% of the outstanding term loan borrowings under the Term Loan B Facility at 0.915% plus the applicable margin in its Senior Credit Facilities. The agreement matures on February 28, 2025 and has a notional amount of $220.0 million at September 27, 2020. The differences between the variable LIBOR rate and the interest rate swap rate of 0.915% are settled monthly. The Company made payments of $0.4 million to settle the interest rate swap during both the three and nine months ended September 27, 2020. The fair value of the Company's interest rate swap agreement was a liability of $7.2 million as of September 27, 2020 and is included in long-term other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Changes in the valuation of the Company's interest rate swap were included as a component of other comprehensive income and will be reclassified to earnings as the losses are realized. The Company expects to reclassify net losses totaling $1.7 million into earnings in the next twelve months. The Company's counterparties under this arrangement provided the Company with quarterly statements of the market values of these instruments based on significant inputs that were observable or could be derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data for substantially the full term of the asset or liability. The Company classified this within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy described in Note 1. The impact on the derivative liabilities for the Company and the counterparties' non-performance risk to the derivative trades was considered when measuring the fair value of derivative liabilities.

Income Taxes (Notes)

Income Taxes (Notes)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes The provision (benefit) for income taxes for the three and nine months ended September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019 was comprised of the following: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 27, 2020 September 29, 2019 September 27, 2020 September 29, 2019 Current $ 48 $ (48) $ 143 $ 17 Deferred 83 (1,833) (7,259) (10,052) Change in valuation allowance (83) — 276 — Provision (benefit) for income taxes $ 48 $ (1,881) $ (6,840) $ (10,035) Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amount used for income tax purposes. The Company has performed an assessment of positive and negative evidence regarding the realization of its deferred income tax assets at September 27, 2020 as required by ASC 740. Under ASC 740, the weight given to negative and positive evidence is commensurate only to the extent that such evidence can be objectively verified. ASC 740 also prescribes that objective evidence, in particular the Company’s three-year cumulative loss position at September 27, 2020, be given greater weight than subjective evidence, including the Company’s forecasts of future taxable income, which include assumptions that cannot be objectively verified. The Company considers all available positive and negative evidence and determines, based on the required weight of the evidence under ASC 740, whether a valuation allowance is necessary for any of its deferred tax assets at each reporting period. During the first quarter of 2020, due to forecasted losses for 2020, the Company determined that an incremental valuation allowance was needed for its net deferred income tax assets. As of September 27, 2020, a valuation allowance was recorded against net deferred tax assets of $2.4 million. The benefit for income taxes for the three and nine months ended September 27, 2020 was derived using an estimated effective annual income tax rate for all of 2020 of 43.1%, which excludes any discrete tax adjustments. The difference compared to the statutory rate for 2020 is attributed to the benefits of federal employment credits which are not directly related to the amount of pre-tax loss recorded in a period. Accordingly, in periods where recorded pre-tax income (loss) is relatively small, the proportional effect of these items on the effective tax rate may be significant. There were no discrete items for the three and nine months ended September 27, 2020. The provision for income taxes for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2019 was derived using an estimated effective annual income tax rate for all of 2019 of 35.1%, which excludes any discrete tax adjustments and was below the statutory rate due to the effect of fixed employment tax credits on taxable income. The benefits of federal employment credits are not directly related to the amount of pre-tax income recorded in a period. Accordingly, in periods where recorded pre-tax income is relatively small, the proportional effect of these items on the effective tax rate may be significant. There were no discrete adjustments for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2019. On March 27, 2020, the United States enacted the CARES Act as a response to the economic uncertainty resulting from COVID-19. The CARES Act includes modifications for net operating loss carryovers and carrybacks, limitations of business interest expense for tax, immediate refund of alternative minimum tax (AMT) credit carryovers as well as a technical correction to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, referred to herein as the U.S. Tax Act, for qualified improvement property. As of September 27, 2020, the Company expects that the carryback of NOL's will not have an impact on its current tax attributes. As of September 27, 2020, the Company had federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $145.0 million which expire beginning in 2033. The Company's state net operating loss carryforwards expire beginning in 2021 through 2038. The Company's policy is to recognize interest and/or penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. At September 27, 2020 and December 29, 2019, the Company had no unrecognized tax benefits and no accrued interest related to uncertain tax positions. The tax years 2014 - 2019 remain open to examination by the major taxing jurisdictions to which the Company is subject. Although it is not reasonably possible to estimate the amount by which unrecognized tax benefits may increase within the next twelve months due to the uncertainties regarding the timing of examinations, the Company does not expect unrecognized tax benefits to significantly change in the next twelve months.

Commitments And Contingencies (

Commitments And Contingencies (Notes)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]	Commitments and Contingencies Lease Guarantees. Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc. ("Fiesta"), a former wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, was spun-off in 2012 to the Company's stockholders. As of September 27, 2020, the Company is a guarantor under 27 Fiesta restaurant property leases, of which all but six are still operating, with lease terms expiring on various dates through 2030. The Company is fully liable for all obligations under the terms of the leases in the event that Fiesta fails to pay any sums due under the lease, subject to indemnification provisions of a Separation and Distribution Agreement entered into in connection with the spin-off of Fiesta. The maximum potential amount of future undiscounted rental payments the Company could be required to make under these leases at September 27, 2020 was $8.2 million. The obligations under these leases will generally continue to decrease over time as these operating leases expire. No payments related to these guarantees have been made by the Company to date and none are expected to be required to be made in the future. The Company has not recorded a liability for $8.2 million of these guarantees in accordance with ASC 460 - Guarantees as Fiesta has

Transactions with Related Parti

Transactions with Related Parties (Notes)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block]	Transactions with Related Parties In connection with an acquisition of restaurants from BKC in 2012, the Company issued to BKC 100 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, which was exchanged for 100 shares of newly issued Series B Convertible Preferred Stock ("Series B Preferred Stock") in 2018. These preferred shares are convertible into 9,414,580 common stock, which as of September 27, 2020 represents approximately 15.3% of the outstanding shares of the Company's common stock after giving effect to the conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock and excluding shares held in treasury. Pursuant to the terms of the Series B Preferred Stock, BKC together with certain other entities that are both affiliates of BKC and either Restaurant Brands International or Restaurant Brands International Limited Partnership (collectively "RBI") are entitled to elect two representatives on the Company's board of directors. The Company operates its Burger King® restaurants under franchise agreements with BKC and its Popeyes® restaurants under franchise agreements with Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc. ("PLK"), a subsidiary of RBI. These franchise agreements generally provide for an initial term of twenty years and currently have an initial franchise fee of fifty dollars. Any franchise agreement, including renewals, can be extended at the Company's discretion for an additional 20 year term, with BKC's and PLK's approval, provided that, among other things, the restaurant meets the current restaurant image standard and the Company is not in default under terms of the franchise agreement. In addition to the initial franchise fee, the Company generally pays BKC a monthly royalty at a rate of 4.5% of Burger King restaurant sales and PLK a weekly royalty at a rate of 5.0% of Popeyes restaurant sales. Royalty expense was $17.8 million and $17.1 million in the three months ended September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019, respectively and was $48.8 million and $45.0 million in the nine months ended September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019, respectively. The Company is also generally required to contribute 4% of restaurant sales from its restaurants to an advertising fund utilized by BKC and PLK for its advertising, promotional programs and public relations activities, and additional amounts for additional local advertising in markets that approve such advertising. Advertising expense associated with these expenditures was $15.6 million for each of the three months ended September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019 and $43.2 million and $41.4 million in the nine months ended September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019, respectively. As of September 27, 2020, the Company leased 234 of its restaurant locations from BKC and 103 of these locations are subleased by BKC from various third party lessors. Aggregate rent under these BKC leases was $6.9 million for each of the three months ended September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019 and was $19.9 million and $20.6 million in the nine months ended September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019, respectively. The Company does not believe that such lease terms have been significantly affected by the fact that the Company and BKC are deemed to be related parties. As of September 27, 2020 and December 29, 2019, the Company owed BKC and PLK $14.3 million and $14.0 million, respectively, related to the payment of advertising, royalties, rent and real estate taxes, which is normally remitted on a monthly basis. The Company and BKC have entered into an Area Development and Remodeling Agreement ("Area Development Agreement") commencing on April 30, 2019 and ending on September 30, 2024, which supersedes the Operating Agreement dated as of May 30, 2012, as amended, between Carrols LLC and BKC. Pursuant to the Area Development Agreement, BKC assigned its right of first refusal under its franchise agreements with its franchisees to purchase all of the assets of a Burger King restaurant on the same terms proposed between such franchisee and a third party purchaser (the “ADA ROFR”), in 16 states and a limited number of counties in four additional states, and granted franchise pre-approval to acquire Burger King restaurants until the date that Carrols LLC has acquired more than an aggregate of an additional 500 Burger King restaurants excluding those restaurants the Company acquired in the Cambridge Merger. The continued assignment of the ADA ROFR is potentially subject to suspension at BKC's discretion in the event of non-compliance by Carrols LLC with certain terms as set forth in the Area Development Agreement. In 2019 Carrols LLC paid to BKC the total consideration of $3.0 million for the ADA ROFR. The Company has assumed Cambridge's development agreement for Popeyes ®, which includes a right of first refusal for acquisitions in two southern states, as well as a development commitment to open, build and operate approximately 80 new Popeyes ® restaurants over six years.

Stockholders' Equity

Stockholders' Equity	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020
Equity [Abstract]
Stockholders' Equity	Stockholders' Equity Stock Repurchase Program On August 2, 2019, the Company's Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase plan ("Repurchase Program") under which the Company may repurchase up to $25 million of its outstanding common stock. The authorization became effective August 2, 2019, and will expire 24 months thereafter, unless terminated earlier by the Company's Board of Directors. Purchases under the Repurchase Program may be made from time to time in open market transactions at prevailing market prices or in privately negotiated transactions (including, without limitation, the use of Rule 10b5-1 plans) in compliance with applicable federal securities laws, including Rule 10b-18 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company has no obligation to repurchase stock under the Repurchase Program, and the timing, actual number and value of shares purchased will depend on the Company's stock price, trading volume, general market and economic conditions, and other factors.

Net Loss Per Share (Notes)

Net Loss Per Share (Notes)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net Income (Loss) Per Share	Net Income (Loss) per Share The Company applies the two-class method to calculate and present net income (loss) per share. The Company's non-vested share awards and Series B Preferred Stock contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends and are considered participating securities for purposes of computing net income (loss) per share pursuant to the two-class method. Under the two-class method, net earnings are reduced by the amount of dividends declared (whether paid or unpaid) and the remaining undistributed earnings are then allocated to common stock and participating securities, based on their respective rights to receive dividends. As the Company incurred a net loss for the nine months ended September 27, 2020 and the three and nine months ended September 29, 2019, and losses are not allocated to participating securities under the two-class method, such method is not applicable for the aforementioned interim reporting periods. Basic net income (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the reporting period. Diluted net income (loss) per share reflects additional shares of common stock outstanding, where applicable, calculated using the treasury stock method or the two-class method. The following table sets forth the calculation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per share: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 27, 2020 September 29, 2019 September 27, 2020 September 29, 2019 Basic net income (loss) per share: Net income (loss) $ 3,531 $ (6,812) $ (10,836) $ (22,013) Less: Income attributable to non-vested shares (67) — — — Less: Income attributable to preferred stock (541) — — — Net income (loss) available to common stockholders $ 2,923 $ (6,812) $ (10,836) $ (22,013) Weighted average common shares outstanding 50,923,686 45,947,413 50,887,182 41,014,635 Basic net income (loss) per share $ 0.06 $ (0.15) $ (0.21) $ (0.54) Diluted net income (loss) per share: Net income (loss) $ 3,531 $ (6,812) $ (10,836) $ (22,013) Shares used in computing basic net income (loss) per share 50,923,686 45,947,413 50,887,182 41,014,635 Dilutive effect of preferred stock and non-vested shares 9,618,894 — — — Shares used in computing diluted net income (loss) per share 60,542,580 45,947,413 50,887,182 41,014,635 Diluted net income (loss) per share $ 0.06 $ (0.15) $ (0.21) $ (0.54) Shares excluded from diluted net income (loss) per share computations (1) — 9,665,597 10,582,428 12,138,687 (1) Shares issuable upon conversion of preferred stock and non-vested shares were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share because their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

Other Expense (Income) (Notes)

Other Expense (Income) (Notes)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020
Other Income and Expenses [Abstract]
Other Expense (Income)	Other Expense (Income) In the three months ended September 27, 2020, the Company recorded other expense, net, of $0.5 million which consisted of a net gain related to adjustments to insurance recoveries from previous property damage at its restaurants of $0.2 million, loss on one sale-leaseback transaction of $0.4 million and a loss on disposal of assets of $0.3 million. In the nine months ended September 27, 2020, the Company recorded other income, net of $1.4 million, which consisted of gains related to insurance recoveries from property damage at four of its restaurants of $1.7 million, net gain on eleven sale-leaseback transactions of $0.2 million and a loss on disposal of assets of $0.5 million. In the nine months ended September 29, 2019, the Company recorded other income of $1.8 million which consisted of a $1.9 million gain from a settlement with BKC for their approval of new restaurant development by other franchisees which unfavorably impacted the Company's restaurants, a $0.3 million gain on three sale-leaseback transactions, a $0.1 million gain related to an insurance recovery from a fire at one of its restaurants in the prior year, and a loss on a disposal of restaurant equipment of $0.6 million.

Subsequent Events (Notes)

Subsequent Events (Notes)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	Subsequent Events

Basis Of Presentation (Policies

Basis Of Presentation (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Basis of Consolidation. Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. is a holding company and conducts all of its operations through its direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries Carrols Corporation and New CFH, LLC and their wholly-owned subsidiaries. Carrols Corporation's material direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, "Carrols") include its wholly-owned subsidiary Carrols LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Carrols LLC's wholly-owned subsidiary Republic Foods, Inc., a Maryland corporation ("Republic Foods"). New CFH LLC's material direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries include Alabama Quality, LLC, Carolina Quality, LLC, Frayser Quality, LLC, Nashville Quality, LLC, Frayser Holdings, LLC, Louisiana Quality, LLC, CFH Real Estate, LLC, Tennessee Quality, LLC, TQ Real Estate, LLC and Mirabile Investment Corporation (and together with New CFH, LLC's immaterial direct and indirect subsidiaries, collectively, "New CFH"). Unless the context otherwise requires, Carrols Restaurant Group and its direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries are collectively referred to as the “Company.” All intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Fiscal Period, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Fiscal Year. The Company uses a 52-53 week fiscal year ending on the Sunday closest to December 31. The three and nine months ended September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019 each contained thirteen and thirty-nine weeks, respectively.
Basis of Presentation, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Basis of Presentation. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of and for the three and nine months ended September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019 have been prepared without an audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and do not include certain of the information and the footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all normal and recurring adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of such unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been included. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.
Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Use of Estimates. The preparation of the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management
Segment Reporting, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Operating segments are components of an entity for which separate financial information is available and is regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker in order to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company's chief operating decision maker currently evaluates the Company's operations from a number of different operational perspectives; however, resource allocation decisions are determined based on the chief operating decision maker's evaluation of the total Company operations. The Company derives all significant revenues from a single operating segment. Accordingly, the Company views the operating results of its restaurants as one reportable segment.
Business Combinations Policy [Policy Text Block]	Business Combinations. In accordance with ASC 805, the Company allocates the purchase price of an acquired business to its net identifiable assets and liabilities based on the estimated fair values. The excess of the purchase price over the amount allocated to the assets and liabilities, if any, is recorded as goodwill. The excess value of the net identifiable assets and liabilities acquired over the purchase price, if any, is recorded as a bargain purchase gain. The Company uses all available information to estimate fair values of identifiable intangible assets and property acquired. In making these determinations, the Company sometimes engages an independent third party valuation specialist to assist with the valuation of certain leasehold improvements, franchise rights and favorable and unfavorable leases.
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Cash and Cash Equivalents.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Fair Value of Financial Instruments. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. In determining fair value, the accounting standards establish a three level hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value as follows: Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; Level 2 inputs are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, including quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities; and Level 3 inputs are unobservable and reflect the Company's own assumptions. Financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, trade and other receivables, accounts payable and long-term debt. The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, trade and other receivables and accounts payable approximate fair value because of the short-term nature of these financial instruments. The carrying amount of the Term Loan B and B-1 Facilities at September 27, 2020 approximate fair value because of their variable rates. The Company recognizes derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value, which is considered Level 2. The Company’s only derivative is an interest rate swap which is designated as a cash flow hedge; therefore, the effective
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements. In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses, to introduce new guidance for the accounting for credit losses on instruments within its scope. ASU 2016-13 requires among other things, the measurement of all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable supportable forecasts. In addition, ASU 2016-13 amends the accounting for credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities and purchased financial assets with credit deterioration. This update was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this ASU in the first quarter of 2020 and there was no impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. This ASU simplifies the accounting for goodwill by eliminating step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Under the new ASU, if the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss will be recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds its fair value. This update was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this ASU in the first quarter of 2020 and there was no impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
Subsequent Events, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Subsequent events. The Company reviewed and evaluated subsequent events through the issuance date of the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

Intangible Assets (Policies)

Intangible Assets (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Goodwill, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Goodwill. The Company is required to review goodwill for impairment annually, or more frequently when events and circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may be impaired. If the determined fair value of goodwill is less than the related carrying amount, an impairment loss is recognized. The Company performs its annual impairment assessment as of the last day of its fiscal year and does not believe circumstances have changed since the last assessment date which would make it necessary to reassess the value of its goodwill.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Franchise Rights. Amounts allocated to franchise rights for each acquisition of Burger King ® and Popeyes ® restaurants are amortized using the straight-line method over the average remaining term of the acquired franchise agreements plus one twenty-year renewal period.

Impairment Of Long-Lived Asse_2

Impairment Of Long-Lived Assets And Other Lease Charges (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020
Asset Impairment Charges [Abstract]
Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]	The Company reviews its long-lived assets, principally property and equipment, for impairment at the restaurant level. If an indicator of impairment exists for any of its assets, an estimate of the undiscounted future cash flows over the life of the primary asset for each restaurant is compared to that long-lived asset’s carrying value. If the carrying value is greater than the undiscounted cash flow, the Company then determines the fair value of the asset and if an asset is determined to be impaired, the loss is measured by the excess of the carrying amount of the asset over its fair value. For closed restaurant locations, the Company reviews the future minimum lease payments and related ancillary costs from the date of the restaurant closure to the end of the remaining lease term and records a lease charge for the lease liabilities to be incurred, net of any estimated sublease recoveries.The Company determined the fair value of restaurant equipment, for those restaurants reviewed for impairment, based on current economic conditions. The Company determines the fair value of right-of-use lease assets based on an assessment of market rents and a discounted future cash flow model. These fair value asset measurements rely on significant unobservable inputs and are considered Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

Stock-Based Compensation Polici

Stock-Based Compensation Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020
Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]
Stock-Based Compensation Costs, Policy [Policy Text Block]	The fair value of non-vested shares is based on the closing price on the date of grant.

Net Loss Per Share (Policies)

Net Loss Per Share (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]	The Company applies the two-class method to calculate and present net income (loss) per share. The Company's non-vested share awards and Series B Preferred Stock contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends and are considered participating securities for purposes of computing net income (loss) per share pursuant to the two-class method. Under the two-class method, net earnings are reduced by the amount of dividends declared (whether paid or unpaid) and the remaining undistributed earnings are then allocated to common stock and participating securities, based on their respective rights to receive dividends. As the Company incurred a net loss for the nine months ended September 27, 2020 and the three and nine months ended September 29, 2019, and losses are not allocated to participating securities under the two-class method, such method is not applicable for the aforementioned interim reporting periods. Basic net income (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the reporting period. Diluted net income (loss) per share reflects additional shares of common stock outstanding, where applicable, calculated using the treasury stock method or the two-class method.

Acquisition (Tables)

Acquisition (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Schedule of Business Acquisitions, by Acquisition [Table Text Block]	In 2019, the Company acquired an aggregate of 179 Burger King restaurants and 55 Popeyes restaurants from other franchisees in the following transactions, some of which were acquired pursuant to the exercise of the ROFR (in thousands, except number of restaurants): Closing Date Number of Restaurants Purchase Price Market Location April 30, 2019 (1) 220 $ 259,083 Southeastern states, primarily TN, MS, LA June 11, 2019 13 15,788 Baltimore, Maryland August 20, 2019 (2) 1 1,108 Pennsylvania 234 $ 275,979 (1) During the second quarter of 2019, the Company completed its merger with New CFH, LLC (“Cambridge”) and acquired 165 Burger King restaurants and 55 Popeyes restaurants. (2) Acquisitions resulting from the exercise of the ROFR with Burger King.
Schedule of Recognized Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed [Table Text Block]	The following table summarizes the final allocation of the aggregate purchase price for the Cambridge Merger reflected in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of December 29, 2019: Inventory $ 2,839 Prepaid expenses 2,947 Other assets 1,846 Land and buildings 21,257 Restaurant equipment 25,358 Restaurant equipment - subject to finance leases 488 Right-of-use assets 251,431 Leasehold improvements 3,498 Franchise fees 7,300 Franchise rights 174,500 Deferred income taxes (44,292) Goodwill 84,060 Finance lease obligations for restaurant equipment (568) Operating lease liabilities (255,897) Accounts payable (8,014) Accrued payroll, related taxes and benefits (3,133) Other liabilities (4,537) Net assets acquired $ 259,083 Inventory $ 158 Restaurant equipment 743 Restaurant equipment - subject to finance leases 150 Right-of-use assets 9,515 Leasehold improvements 6,205 Franchise fees 394 Franchise rights 9,809 Deferred income taxes 29 Goodwill 86 Operating lease liabilities (9,968) Finance lease liabilities for restaurant equipment (185) Accounts payable (40) Net assets acquired $ 16,896
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Table Text Block]	The following table summarizes the Company's unaudited pro forma operating results: Nine Months Ended September 29, 2019 Total revenue $ 1,167,461 Net loss $ (15,744) Basic and diluted net loss per share $ (0.38)

Intangible Assets (Tables)

Intangible Assets (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Table Text Block]	The change in franchise rights for the nine months ended September 27, 2020 is summarized below: Balance at December 29, 2019 $ 348,941 Amortization expense (10,712) Balance at September 27, 2020 $ 338,229

Other Liabilities, Long-Term (T

Other Liabilities, Long-Term (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020
Other Liabilities, Noncurrent [Abstract]
Schedule of Other Assets and Other Liabilities [Table Text Block]	Other liabilities, long-term, at September 27, 2020 and December 29, 2019 consisted of the following: September 27, 2020 December 29, 2019 Accrued occupancy costs $ 2,123 $ 8,523 Accrued workers’ compensation and general liability claims 5,566 5,370 Interest rate swap 7,218 — Deferred compensation 4,212 3,902 Deferred federal payroll taxes 14,267 — Other 286 289 $ 33,672 $ 18,084

Leases (Tables)

Leases (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020
Leases [Abstract]
Lease, Cost [Table Text Block]	The components and classification of lease expense for the three and nine months ended September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019 are as follows: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Lease cost Classification September 27, 2020 September 29, 2019 September 27, 2020 September 29, 2019 Operating lease cost (1) Restaurant rent expense $ 26,126 $ 24,933 $ 77,088 $ 65,770 Operating lease cost General and administrative 171 171 436 393 Variable lease cost Restaurant rent expense 4,524 4,529 12,228 12,619 Sublease income Restaurant rent expense (114) (162) (342) (483) Finance lease cost: Amortization of right-of-use assets Depreciation and amortization 221 414 1,103 1,248 Interest on lease liabilities Interest expense 26 69 108 204 Total lease cost $ 30,954 $ 29,954 $ 90,621 $ 79,751
Leases, Cash Flows Supplemental [Table Text Block]	Supplemental cash flow information related to leases for the nine months ended September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019 are as follows: Nine Months Ended September 27, 2020 September 29, 2019 Gain on sale-leaseback transactions $ 226 $ 289 Lease assets and liabilities resulting from lease modifications and new leases $ 47,209 $ 49,097 Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: Operating cash flows from operating leases $ 73,749 $ 62,986 Operating cash flows from finance leases $ 26 $ 204 Financing cash flows from finance leases $ 1,464 $ 1,555

Long-Term Debt (Tables)

Long-Term Debt (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020
Long-term Debt, Unclassified [Abstract]
Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table Text Block]	Long-term debt at September 27, 2020 and December 29, 2019 consisted of the following: September 27, 2020 December 29, 2019 Collateralized: Senior Credit Facility: Term Loan B borrowings $ 419,688 $ 422,875 Term Loan B-1 borrowings 75,000 — Revolving credit borrowings — 45,750 Finance lease liabilities 1,060 2,524 495,748 471,149 Less: current portion of long-term debt and finance lease liabilities (4,795) (5,866) Less: unamortized debt issuance costs (8,142) (7,768) Less: unamortized original issue discount (5,361) (1,950) Total Long-term debt $ 477,450 $ 455,565

Income Taxes (Tables)

Income Taxes (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]	The provision (benefit) for income taxes for the three and nine months ended September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019 was comprised of the following: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 27, 2020 September 29, 2019 September 27, 2020 September 29, 2019 Current $ 48 $ (48) $ 143 $ 17 Deferred 83 (1,833) (7,259) (10,052) Change in valuation allowance (83) — 276 — Provision (benefit) for income taxes $ 48 $ (1,881) $ (6,840) $ (10,035)

Stock-Based Compensation (Table

Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020
Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]
Summary of Nonvested Share Activity [Table Text Block]	A summary of all non-vested shares activity for the nine months ended September 27, 2020 was as follows: Shares Weighted Average Grant Date Price Non-vested at December 29, 2019 790,823 $ 11.35 Granted 863,128 $ 5.42 Vested (416,253) $ 12.07 Forfeited (69,850) $ 6.24 Non-vested at September 27, 2020 1,167,848 $ 7.02
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit, Activity [Table Text Block]	A summary of all RSU activity for the nine months ended September 27, 2020 was as follows: Units Non-vested at December 29, 2019 57,942 Vested (20,486) Non-vested at September 27, 2020 37,456
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option, Activity	A summary of all stock option activity for the nine months ended September 27, 2020 was as follows: Options Weighted Average Exercise Price Average Remaining Contractual Life Aggregate Intrinsic Value (1) Options outstanding at December 29, 2019 — Granted 1,075,000 $ 7.12 Forfeited (25,000) $ 7.12 Options Outstanding at September 27, 2020 1,050,000 $ 7.12 6.9 $ — Vested or expected to vest at September 27, 2020 1,050,000 $ 7.12 6.9 $ — Options exercisable at September 27,2020 — (1) The aggregate intrinsic value is calculated using the difference between the market price of the Company's common stock at September 27, 2020 of $6.31 and the grant price for only those awards that have a grant price that is less than the market price of the Company's common stock at September 27, 2020. There were no awards having a grant price less than the market price of the Company's common stock at September 27, 2020.

Net Loss Per Share (Tables)

Net Loss Per Share (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block]	The following table sets forth the calculation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per share: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 27, 2020 September 29, 2019 September 27, 2020 September 29, 2019 Basic net income (loss) per share: Net income (loss) $ 3,531 $ (6,812) $ (10,836) $ (22,013) Less: Income attributable to non-vested shares (67) — — — Less: Income attributable to preferred stock (541) — — — Net income (loss) available to common stockholders $ 2,923 $ (6,812) $ (10,836) $ (22,013) Weighted average common shares outstanding 50,923,686 45,947,413 50,887,182 41,014,635 Basic net income (loss) per share $ 0.06 $ (0.15) $ (0.21) $ (0.54) Diluted net income (loss) per share: Net income (loss) $ 3,531 $ (6,812) $ (10,836) $ (22,013) Shares used in computing basic net income (loss) per share 50,923,686 45,947,413 50,887,182 41,014,635 Dilutive effect of preferred stock and non-vested shares 9,618,894 — — — Shares used in computing diluted net income (loss) per share 60,542,580 45,947,413 50,887,182 41,014,635 Diluted net income (loss) per share $ 0.06 $ (0.15) $ (0.21) $ (0.54) Shares excluded from diluted net income (loss) per share computations (1) — 9,665,597 10,582,428 12,138,687 (1) Shares issuable upon conversion of preferred stock and non-vested shares were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share because their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

Basis Of Presentation (Details)

Basis Of Presentation (Details) $ in Thousands	2 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		4 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2020restaurant	Sep. 27, 2020USD ($)	Sep. 29, 2019USD ($)	Jun. 28, 2020restaurant	Sep. 27, 2020USD ($)	Sep. 29, 2019USD ($)
Entity Information [Line Items]
Asset impairment charges | $		$ 1,000	$ 300		$ 5,400	$ 1,400
Proceeds from issuance of Term Loan B Facility | $					$ 71,250	$ 422,875
Burger King Corporate [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Number of Restaurants		1,023			1,023
Number of States in which Entity Operates		23			23
Popeyes [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Number of Restaurants		65			65
Number of States in which Entity Operates		7			7
COVID-19 [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Number Of Restaurants Temporarily Closed | restaurant	46
Number Of Restaurants Temporarily Closed Which Have Reopened | restaurant				40

Acquisition (Details)

Acquisition (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	Aug. 20, 2019USD ($)	Jun. 11, 2019USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2019USD ($)restaurantdirector$ / sharesshares	Sep. 27, 2020USD ($)shares	Sep. 29, 2019USD ($)restaurant	Sep. 27, 2020USD ($)shares	Sep. 29, 2019USD ($)	Sep. 29, 2019restaurant	Dec. 29, 2019USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma General And Administrative Expenses							$ 4,000
Right of First Refusal, Number of States				20		20
Number of Restaurants Acquired						234
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross						$ 275,979
Business acquisitions, purchase price						0	131,545
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions						20,342	7,018
Restaurant sales				$ 407,036	$ 402,345	1,126,972	$ 1,061,693
Goodwill				122,619		122,619			$ 122,619
April 30, 2019 Acquisition 2 [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of Restaurants Acquired			220
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross			$ 259,083
June 11, 2019 Acquisition [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of Restaurants Acquired		13
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross		$ 15,788
August 20, 2019 Acquisition [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of Restaurants Acquired	1
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross	$ 1,108
Agreement And Plan Of Merger - Cambridge Holdings, LLC [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of Restaurants Acquired | restaurant			132
Business acquisition, equity interest issued or issuable, number of shares | shares			7,400,000
Business Combination, Restrictions On Stock, Term Of Restrictions On Sale Or Transfer			2 years
Business Combination, Number Of Director Nominees That May Be Designated By Counterparty | director			2
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred			$ 259,100
Number of Restaurants Constructed | restaurant			33
Goodwill									84,060
Deferred income taxes									44,292
2019 Acquisition [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Goodwill, Expected Tax Deductible Amount									$ 47,200
Goodwill				86		86
Deferred income taxes				29		29
Acquired Restaurants [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Restaurant sales				$ 73,300		$ 210,600
Cambridge Holdings, LLC [Member] | Agreement And Plan Of Merger - Cambridge Holdings, LLC [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Retirement of Outstanding Indebtedness			$ 113,800
Common Stock [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price, Conversion, Closing Price | $ / shares			$ 9.81
Common Stock [Member] | Agreement And Plan Of Merger - Cambridge Holdings, LLC [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred			$ 145,300
Burger King Corporate [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of Restaurants Acquired | restaurant					165			179
Popeyes [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of Restaurants Acquired | restaurant					55			55
Cambridge Holdings, LLC [Member] | Series C Preferred Stock [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Issuance (in shares) | shares						10,000
Conversion of Stock, Shares Converted | shares				7,500,000

Acquisition Net Assets Acquired

Acquisition Net Assets Acquired (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 27, 2020	Dec. 29, 2019
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 122,619	$ 122,619
2019 Acquisition [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Inventory	158
Restaurant equipment	743
Restaurant equipment - subject to finance leases	150
Right-of-use assets	9,515
Leasehold improvements	6,205
Franchise fees	394
Franchise rights	9,809
Deferred income taxes	29
Goodwill	86
Finance lease liabilities for restaurant equipment	(185)
Operating lease liabilities	(9,968)
Accounts payable	(40)
Net assets acquired	$ 16,896
Agreement And Plan Of Merger - Cambridge Holdings, LLC [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Inventory		2,839
Prepaid expenses		2,947
Other assets		1,846
Land and buildings		21,257
Restaurant equipment		25,358
Restaurant equipment - subject to finance leases		488
Right-of-use assets		251,431
Leasehold improvements		3,498
Franchise fees		7,300
Franchise rights		174,500
Deferred income taxes		44,292
Goodwill		84,060
Finance lease liabilities for restaurant equipment		(568)
Operating lease liabilities		(255,897)
Accounts payable		(8,014)
Accrued payroll, related taxes and benefits		(3,133)
Other liabilities		(4,537)
Net assets acquired		$ 259,083

Acquisition Pro Forma Informati

Acquisition Pro Forma Information (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2019USD ($)$ / shares
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Restaurant Sales	$ 1,167,461
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Net Income (Loss)	$ (15,744)
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted | $ / shares	$ (0.38)

Goodwill (Details)

Goodwill (Details) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020USD ($)
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	$ 0

Franchise Rights (Details)

Franchise Rights (Details)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020USD ($)	Sep. 29, 2019USD ($)	Sep. 27, 2020USD ($)period	Sep. 29, 2019USD ($)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Franchise agreement, number of renewal periods | period			1
Franchise agreement, term			20 years
Franchise RIghts Rollforward [Abstract]
Balance, beginning			$ 348,941,000
Amortization of intangible assets, franchise rights	$ (3,400,000)	$ (3,900,000)	(10,712,000)	$ (8,000,000)
Balance, end	338,229,000		338,229,000
Next fiscal year	13,700,000		13,700,000
Second Fiscal Year	13,700,000		13,700,000
Third Fiscal Year	13,700,000		13,700,000
Fourth Fiscal Year	13,700,000		13,700,000
Fifth Fiscal Year	13,700,000		13,700,000
Franchise Rights [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Impairment of intangible assets (excluding goodwill)	0	$ 0	0	$ 0
Franchise RIghts Rollforward [Abstract]
Amortization expense, expected for full fiscal period	$ 14,300,000		$ 14,300,000

Impairment Of Long-Lived Asse_3

Impairment Of Long-Lived Assets And Other Lease Charges (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020USD ($)restaurant	Mar. 29, 2020	Sep. 29, 2019USD ($)restaurant	Sep. 27, 2020USD ($)	Sep. 29, 2019USD ($)restaurant
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Impairment and other lease charges	$ 1,954		$ 500	$ 7,776	$ 1,777
Underperforming Restaurants [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Asset impairment charges, number of restaurants	4		2	13	5
Other Lease Charges [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Asset impairment charges, number of restaurants | restaurant	3		1		2
Initial Impairment Charge [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Impairment and other lease charges	$ 700		$ 300	$ 4,900	$ 1,100
Capital Expenditures At Underperforming Restaurants [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Impairment and other lease charges	200
Other Lease Charges [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Impairment and other lease charges			$ 200
Other Lease Charges [Member] | Underperforming Restaurants [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Impairment and other lease charges	$ 1,000			2,400	400
Asset impairment charges, number of restaurants	3	9
Previously Impairment Restaurants [Member] | Underperforming Restaurants [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Impairment and other lease charges				$ 500	$ 300

Other Liabilities, Long-Term (D

Other Liabilities, Long-Term (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 27, 2020	Dec. 29, 2019
Other Liabilities, Noncurrent [Abstract]
Accrued occupancy costs	$ 2,123	$ 8,523
Accrued workers’ compensation and general liability claims	5,566	5,370
Interest rate swap	7,218	0
Deferred compensation	4,212	3,902
Deferred federal payroll taxes		0
Other	286	289
Other Liabilities	$ 33,672	$ 18,084

Leases (Details)

Leases (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 27, 2020	Jun. 28, 2020
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Lessee, operating lease, term of contract	20 years
Lessee, Finance Lease, Term of Contract	8 years
COVID-19 [Member]
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Lessee, Operating Lease, Modification, Deferred Rent	$ 4.3	$ 5.8
Lessee, Operating Lease, Modification, Deferred Rent, Expected To Be Repaid		$ 4.8

Leases - Cost (Details)

Leases - Cost (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020	Sep. 29, 2019	Sep. 27, 2020	Sep. 29, 2019
Loans and Leases Receivable Disclosure [Line Items]
Variable lease cost	$ 4,524	$ 4,529	$ 12,228	$ 12,619
Sublease income	(114)	(162)	(342)	(483)
Amortization of right-of-use assets	221	414	1,103	1,248
Interest on lease liabilities	26	69	108	204
Total lease cost	30,954	29,954	90,621	79,751
Restaurant Rent Expense [Member]
Loans and Leases Receivable Disclosure [Line Items]
Operating lease cost	26,126	24,933	77,088	65,770
General and Administrative Expense [Member]
Loans and Leases Receivable Disclosure [Line Items]
Operating lease cost	$ 171	$ 171	$ 436	$ 393

Leases - Other Information (Det

Leases - Other Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020	Sep. 27, 2020	Sep. 29, 2019
Leases [Abstract]
Gain on sale-leaseback transactions	$ 400	$ 226	$ 289
Lease assets and liabilities resulting from lease modifications and new leases		47,209	49,097
Operating cash flows from operating leases		73,749	62,986
Operating cash flows from finance leases		26	204
Financing cash flows from finance leases		$ 1,464	$ 1,555

Long-Term Debt Debt Balances (D

Long-Term Debt Debt Balances (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020	Sep. 29, 2019	Sep. 27, 2020	Sep. 29, 2019	Dec. 29, 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate During Period	4.40%	5.70%	4.50%	6.40%
Total obligations under capital leases	$ 1,060,000		$ 1,060,000		$ 2,524,000
Long-term Debt	495,748,000		495,748,000		471,149,000
Less: current portion	(4,795,000)		(4,795,000)		(5,866,000)
Less: deferred financing costs	(8,142,000)		(8,142,000)		(7,768,000)
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount	(5,361,000)		(5,361,000)		(1,950,000)
Long-term debt, net of current portion	477,450,000		477,450,000		455,565,000
Term Loan B Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Line of Credit	419,688,000		419,688,000		422,875,000
Term Loan B-1 Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Line of Credit	75,000,000		75,000,000		0
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Line of Credit	$ 0		$ 0		$ 45,750,000

Long-Term Debt Narrative (Detai

Long-Term Debt Narrative (Details)

Apr. 30, 2026USD ($)

Jun. 28, 2020

Jun. 23, 2020USD ($)

Mar. 25, 2020USD ($)

Mar. 31, 2020USD ($)

Sep. 27, 2020USD ($)

Sep. 29, 2019USD ($)

Sep. 27, 2020USD ($)

Sep. 29, 2019USD ($)

Apr. 08, 2020USD ($)

Dec. 29, 2019USD ($)

Dec. 13, 2019USD ($)

Apr. 30, 2019USD ($)

Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate During Period

4.40%

5.70%

4.50%

6.40%

Proceeds from issuance of Term Loan B Facility

$ 71,250,000

$ 422,875,000

Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount

$ 9,700,000

9,700,000

Debt Issuance Costs, Net

8,142,000

8,142,000

$ 7,768,000

Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity

136,200,000

136,200,000

Rent Payments Deferred, Monthly Amount

$ 2,400,000

Derivative Asset, Notional Amount

220,000,000

220,000,000

Interest rate swap

7,218,000

7,218,000

0

Cash Flow Hedge Gain (Loss) to be Reclassified within Twelve Months

1,700,000

Payments for Derivative Instrument, Financing Activities

$ (400,000)

$ (400,000)

Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member]

Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]

Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity

$ 550,000,000

Total Net Leverage Ratio

4.75

First Lien Leverage Ratio

5.75

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage

0.915%

Term Loan B Facility [Member]

Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]

Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity

425,000,000

Long-term Line of Credit

419,688,000

419,688,000

422,875,000

Derivative, Interest Rate Swap Debt Fix

$ 0.50

Standby Letters of Credit [Member]

Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]

Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity

35,000,000

Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]

Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity

$ 125,000,000

Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount

$ 12,000,000

Debt, Percent of Aggregate Amount of Borrowing

35.00%

Long-term Line of Credit

$ 0

$ 0

45,750,000

Term Loan B And B-1 Facility [Member]

Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]

Debt, Number of Payments

22

22

Repayment of Debt, Quarterly Payment

$ 1,300,000

$ 1,300,000

First Amendment, Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]

Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity

$ 115,000,000

Line of Credit Facility, Reduction of Borrowing Capacity

$ 10,000,000

Second Amendment, Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]

Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity

130,400,000

Line of Credit Facility, Increase of Borrowing Capacity

15,400,000

Line of Credit Facility, Revolving Committed Amount

$ 115,000,000

Third Amendment, Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]

Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity

$ 145,800,000

Line of Credit Facility, Increase of Borrowing Capacity

$ 15,400,000

Term Loan B-1 Facility [Member]

Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]

Line of Credit Facility, Additional Borrowing Capacity

$ 75,000,000

Long-term Line of Credit

$ 75,000,000

$ 75,000,000

$ 0

Debt Instrument, Annual Amortization Rate, Percentage Of Principal Amount

1.00%

Base Rate [Member] | Term Loan B Facility [Member]

Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate

2.25%

Base Rate [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate

2.50%

Base Rate [Member] | Second Amendment, Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage

2.50%

Base Rate [Member] | Term Loan B-1 Facility [Member]

Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate

5.25%

5.25%

London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Term Loan B Facility [Member]

Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate

3.25%

London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate

3.50%

London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Second Amendment, Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage

3.50%

London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Term Loan B-1 Facility [Member]

Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate

6.25%

6.25%

Forecast [Member] | Term Loan B And B-1 Facility [Member]

Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]

Repayments of Debt

$ 467,000,000

Second Amendment Effective, 179 Days [Member] | Second Amendment, Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]

Line of Credit Facility, Applicable Margin, Period After Effect Date

179 days

Second Amendment Effective, 179 Days [Member] | Base Rate [Member] | Second Amendment, Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage

2.50%

Second Amendment Effective, 179 Days [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Second Amendment, Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage

3.50%

Second Amendment Effective, 179 Through 269 Days [Member] | Second Amendment, Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]

Line of Credit Facility, Commitment Fee Percentage

0.125%

Line of Credit Facility, Applicable Margin, Period After Effect Date

180 days

Second Amendment Effective, 269 Days [Member] | Second Amendment, Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]

Line of Credit Facility, Applicable Margin, Period After Effect Date

269 days

Second Amendment Effective, 269 Days [Member] | Base Rate [Member] | Second Amendment, Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage

3.25%

Second Amendment Effective, 269 Days [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Second Amendment, Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage

4.25%

Second Amendment Effective, 269 Through 364 Days [Member] | Second Amendment, Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]

Line of Credit Facility, Commitment Fee Percentage

0.25%

Line of Credit Facility, Applicable Margin, Period After Effect Date

270 days

Second Amendment Effective, 364 Days [Member] | Second Amendment, Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]

Line of Credit Facility, Applicable Margin, Period After Effect Date

364 days

Second Amendment Effective, 364 Days [Member] | Base Rate [Member] | Second Amendment, Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage

3.50%

Second Amendment Effective, 364 Days [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Second Amendment, Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage

4.50%

Second Amendment Effective, 365 Plus Days [Member] | Second Amendment, Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]

Line of Credit Facility, Commitment Fee Percentage

1.00%

Line of Credit Facility, Applicable Margin, Period After Effect Date

365 days

Second Amendment Effective, 365 Plus Days [Member] | Base Rate [Member] | Second Amendment, Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage

3.75%

Second Amendment Effective, 365 Plus Days [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Second Amendment, Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage

4.75%

Income Taxes Schedule of Compon

Income Taxes Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020	Sep. 29, 2019	Sep. 27, 2020	Sep. 29, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Current	$ 48,000	$ (48,000)	$ 143,000	$ 17,000
Deferred	83,000	(1,833,000)	(7,259,000)	(10,052,000)
Change in valuation allowance	(83,000)	0	276,000	0
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	$ 48,000	$ (1,881,000)	$ (6,840,000)	$ (10,035,000)

Income Taxes (Details)

Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020	Sep. 29, 2019	Dec. 29, 2019
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	$ 2,400,000
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent	43.10%	35.10%
Deferred federal payroll taxes			$ 0
Operating Loss Carryforwards	$ 145,000,000
Unrecognized Tax Benefits	0		0
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Interest on Income Taxes Accrued	0		$ 0
COVID-19 [Member]
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Deferred federal payroll taxes	$ 14,267,000

Stock-Based Compensation (Detai

Stock-Based Compensation (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020	Sep. 29, 2019	Sep. 27, 2020	Sep. 29, 2019	Jan. 15, 2019
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation	$ 1,303	$ 1,707	$ 3,543	$ 4,515
Unrecognized Stock-Based Compensation Expense, Non-vested Shares	7,700		7,700
Expected Stock-Based Compensation, Remainder of Fiscal Year	$ 1,300		$ 1,300
Weighted Average Remaining Vesting Period, Non-Vested Shares			4 years 3 months 18 days
Granted (in shares)			1,075,000
Granted (in dollars per share)			$ 7.12
Number of shares vested (in shares)			416,253
Share price (in dollars per share)	$ 6.31		$ 6.31
Restricted Stock [Member] | Certain Employees and Officers [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of Shares Available for Grant					790,000
Restricted Stock [Member] | Outside Directors [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of Shares Available for Grant					73,128
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period			3 years
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares vested (in shares)			20,486
Share price (in dollars per share)	$ 2.92		$ 2.92
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Expiration Period			7 years
Non-Qualified Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Granted (in shares)			739,340
Incentive Stock Options (ISOs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Granted (in shares)			335,660

Stock-Based Compensation Summar

Stock-Based Compensation Summary of Non-Vested Stock Activity (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020$ / sharesshares
Nonvested share activity [Roll Forward]
Nonvested, beginning of period (in shares) | shares	790,823
Granted (in shares) | shares	863,128
Vested (in shares) | shares	(416,253)
Forfeited (in shares) | shares	(69,850)
Nonvested, end of period (in shares) | shares	1,167,848
Weighted Average Grant Date Price
Nonvested, beginning of period (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 11.35
Granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	5.42
Vested (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	12.07
Forfeited (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	6.24
Nonvested, end of period (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 7.02

Stock-Based Compensation - Summ

Stock-Based Compensation - Summary of Stock Options Activity (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020	Dec. 29, 2019
Options
Options Outstanding at September 27, 2020 (in shares)	1,050,000	0
Granted (in shares)	1,075,000
Forfeited (in shares)	(25,000)
Options, Vested or expected to vest at September 27, 2020 (in shares)	1,050,000
Options, Options exercisable at September 27,2020 (in shares)	0
Weighted Average Exercise Price
Granted (in dollars per share)	$ 7.12
Forfeited (in dollars per share)	7.12
Options Outstanding at September 27, 2020 (in dollars per share)	7.12
Vested or expected to vest at September 27, 2020 (in dollars per share)	$ 7.12
Average Remaining Contractual Life
Options Outstanding at September 27, 2020	6 years 10 months 24 days
Vested or expected to vest at September 27, 2020	6 years 10 months 24 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Options Outstanding at September 27, 2020	$ 0
Vested or expected to vest at September 27, 2020	$ 0

Stock-Based Compensation Summ_2

Stock-Based Compensation Summary of RSU Activity (Details) (Details) - Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020shares
Options
Non-vested at December 29, 2019	57,942
Vested	(20,486)
Non-vested at September 27, 2020	37,456

Commitments And Contingencies_2

Commitments And Contingencies (Details)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020USD ($)	Sep. 27, 2020USD ($)
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Maximum potential future undiscounted rental payments	$ 8,200,000	$ 8,200,000
Guarantor Obligations, Payments Made	0
Guarantor Obligations, Expected Future Payments		0
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	$ 8,200,000	$ 8,200,000
Property Lease Guarantee [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Property leases	27	27
Property leases, still in operation	6	6

Transactions with Related Par_2

Transactions with Related Parties (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020USD ($)Rateshares	Mar. 29, 2020USD ($)	Sep. 29, 2019USD ($)	Sep. 27, 2020USD ($)Rateshares	Sep. 29, 2019USD ($)	Dec. 29, 2019USD ($)shares	May 01, 2019staterestaurant	Apr. 30, 2019staterestaurant
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Right of First Refusal, Number of States	20			20
Preferred stock, shares issued | shares	100			100		100
Board of directors, number of members	2			2
Franchise agreement, term				20 years
Accounts payable to BKC	$ 14,300			$ 14,300		$ 14,000
Gain on Business Interruption Insurance Recovery	200			1,700	$ 100
Other Income	$ (515)			$ 1,432	1,773
Litigation Settlement, Amount Awarded from Other Party					1,900
Affiliated Entity [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Preferred stock, ownership percentage if converted | Rate	15.30%			15.30%
Initial Franchise Fees				$ 50
Franchise Term				20 years
Property leases	234			234
Operating Leases, Rent Expense	$ 6,900			$ 19,900	20,600
Royalty Expense	17,800		$ 17,100	48,800	45,000
Advertising Expense	$ 15,600			$ 43,200	$ 41,400
BKC Subleases with third-party lessor [Member] | Affiliated Entity [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Property leases	103			103
Area Development And Remodeling Agreement [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Right of First Refusal, Number of States | state							2	16
Initial Franchise Fees		$ 3,000
Right of first refusal, number of counties | state								4
Right of first refusal, number of franchises | restaurant								500
Franchise agreement, number of restaurants to be remodeled | restaurant							80
Franchise Agreement, Number Of Restaurants To Be Built, Year Six				6 years
Royalty Agreement Terms [Member] | Burger King Corporate [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Rate | Rate				4.50%
Royalty Agreement Terms [Member] | Popeyes [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Rate | Rate				5.00%
Selling and Marketing Expense [Member] | Affiliated Entity [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Rate | Rate	4.00%

Stockholders' Equity (Details)

Stockholders' Equity (Details) - Repurchase Program [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 02, 2019	Sep. 27, 2020
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount	$ 25
Stock Repurchase Program Expiration Period	24 months
Stock Repurchase Program, Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount		$ 21

Net Loss Per Share (Details)

Net Loss Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020	Jun. 28, 2020	Mar. 29, 2020	Sep. 29, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 27, 2020	Sep. 29, 2019
Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract]
Net income (loss)	$ 3,531	$ 7,842	$ (22,209)	$ (6,812)	$ (3,732)	$ (11,469)	$ (10,836)	$ (22,013)
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders	$ 2,923			$ (6,812)			$ (10,836)	$ (22,013)
Weighted average common shares outstanding	50,923,686			45,947,413			50,887,182	41,014,635
Basic net income (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.06			$ (0.15)			$ (0.21)	$ (0.54)
Diluted net income (loss) per share:
Net income (loss)	$ 3,531	$ 7,842	$ (22,209)	$ (6,812)	$ (3,732)	$ (11,469)	$ (10,836)	$ (22,013)
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	50,923,686			45,947,413			50,887,182	41,014,635
Dilutive effect of preferred stock and non-vested shares (in shares)	9,618,894			0			0	0
Shares used in computing diluted net income (loss) per share (in shares)	60,542,580			45,947,413			50,887,182	41,014,635
Diluted net income (loss) per share (in shares)	$ 0.06			$ (0.15)			$ (0.21)	$ (0.54)
Shares excluded from diluted net income (loss) per share computations (in shares)	0			9,665,597			10,582,428	12,138,687
Restricted Stock [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract]
Undistributed Earnings (Loss) Allocated to Participating Securities, Basic	$ 67			$ 0			$ 0	$ 0
Preferred Stock [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract]
Undistributed Earnings (Loss) Allocated to Participating Securities, Basic	$ 541			$ 0			$ 0	$ 0

Other Expense (Income) (Details

Other Expense (Income) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020USD ($)transaction	Sep. 27, 2020USD ($)restauranttransaction	Sep. 29, 2019USD ($)transactionrestaurant
Other Income and Expenses [Abstract]
Other Income	$ (515)	$ 1,432	$ 1,773
Litigation Settlement, Amount Awarded from Other Party			$ 1,900
Number Of Restaurants Subject To Insurance Recovery | restaurant		4	1
Gain on sale-leaseback transactions	400	$ 226	$ 289
Property, Plant and Equipment, Disposals	300	500	600
Gain on Business Interruption Insurance Recovery	$ 200	$ 1,700	$ 100
Number Of Sale-leaseback Transactions In Gain Position | transaction	1	11	3