<P> In 2001, Bill Knapp's tried to reverse course by announcing that "The Tradition is Back," restoring the original menu and some original décor, but by then it was too late . </P> <P> On Tuesday May 21, 2002, Bill Knapp's filed for voluntary Chapter 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Michigan . At the time company operated 29 restaurants . </P> <P> By the end of 2002, the chain's last restaurant had closed . </P> <P> Bill Knapp's 6 - inch chocolate birthday cakes, officially known as Bill Knapp's Celebration Cakes, were regarded as one of the chain's dearest features . Because of the popularity of the cakes, Awrey's Bakery purchased the rights to make them, following Bill Knapp's original recipe . The cakes are available from Awrey's in - store bakery and at many Kroger Stores as well . Winn - Dixie and Kroger now also carry Bill Knapp's Chocolate, Nutty, and Glazed Dunkers . </P>

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