Some disappointing news over the past years. It revealed many of the best stores are closing branches across the country. Retail stores aren’t the only ones to suffer from this challenging period, and many restaurants also needed to reduce their numbers. Each restaurant included in this list is closing for its reason, so continue reading to see which of our favorites we ‘re sad to see it go by 2020, and which, thankfully, will stay open.
Say Your Goodbyes Because These Restaurant Chains Are Closing Locations
Pizza Hut
Established in 1958, Pizza Hut has about 18,431 branches worldwide. The store is a subsidiary of the bigger Yum! Brands. It was originally from Wichita, Kansas. There are 7,500 locations in the United States, but the Yum Brands recently announced that 500 areas that do not reach their quota would be clamped down. Within two years, this cycle is complete.
Pizza Hut
Luby’s
Luby was the original company that started well-known chain restaurants in Paradise, such as Luby’s, Koo Koo Roo, Fuddruckers and Cheeseburger. The Luby’s cafeteria was created in 1947 and subsequently rebuilt. The current Luby ‘s restaurant has 83 branches, but they recently announced their closing of the less successful venues. Before that, they managed to increase their revenues by earning $6.6 million in income.
Luby’s
Steak ‘N Shake
Steak’N Shake, founded in 1934, began in Normal, Illinois, as a simple burger restaurant. Currently, it works from a variety of countries, including America, Southwest Europe, and the Middle East. Today there are 628 franchised locations, with 214. They will temporarily close several dozen locations while they are looking for a new franchise partner.
Steak ‘N Shake
O’Charley’s
O’Charley’s started in 1971 and now has nearly 200 restaurants all over the South and Midwest. However, in addition to others, the easy dining chain suddenly closed eight stores all in one day. At this point, Fidelity Loyalty determines if they want to try to support the restaurant that is struggling to stay open.
O’Charley’s
Tim Hortons
Tim Hortons is based in Toronto, which is Canada’s most prominent fast-food location. Tim Horton and Jim Charade originally were interested in establishing a hamburger restaurant but then switched to coffee and donuts. Tim Horton ‘s Inc. has operated 4,848 branches around the world but has recently announced its decision to downsize based on underperforming stores. The most recent was the abrupt closure of four Ohio restaurants.
Tim Hortons
Red Robin
Back in 1969, this burger chain originated from Seattle, Washington. Ten years later, they established the first franchised restaurant. The establishments currently hold 562 restaurants, of which 90 are franchises. Unfortunately, they agreed to close ten stores after a recent loss of 85.4 percent, but ignore the suggestions of creditors to shutter the company entirely.
Red Robin
HomeTown Buffet
The Hometown Buffet-style restaurant was founded in 1983 and hit 250 restaurants at its best. It is a subsidiary of Ovation Brands, a subsidiary of Partners in Food Management. It was, however, recently under new ownership after being acquired by Food Management. The latest change wasn’t so successful for HomeTown Buffet, and as of August 2019, they have closed down more than 200 locations.
HomeTown Buffet
McCormick & Schmick’s
After almost half of its branches have been closed, this seafood joint will close more restaurants by 2020. McCormick & Schmick’s has its base in Portland, Oregon and is owned by the parent company Landry’s Inc. They have about forty locations around the United States and five locations in Canada. It’s safe to say the business isn’t thriving between its revenue, net income, assets, and equity. Landry’s is responsible for the store closing and moves the headquarters to Texas.
McCormick & Schmick’s
Fuddruckers
Fuddruckers was the place to go for those crispy chicken finger lovers at one point. At its peak, there were almost 111 franchises and 77 company-operated branches. They have revenues of $150 million and are planning to increase by closing some stores. Its headquarters is in Texas and has undergone many different changes in ownership.
Fuddruckers
Roy Rogers
The Roy Rogers Restaurants, named after the old western actor Roy Rogers, are a burger chain located mostly in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic area. They were called the RoBee House of Beef before but were then purchased by the Hotel Marriot company. They had an aggressive sales campaign that attracted consumers and had 600 branches across the whole of America at one point. It was sold to Hardee’s parent company in 1990, and only 48 stores are still standing today. There was a violent advertising campaign that attracted consumers and, at one point, had 600 branches throughout the United States at one stage. It was sold to Hardee’s parent company in 1990, and today there are only 48 locations still standing.
Roy Rogers
Boston Market
The Boston Chicken, traditionally known for its special rotisserie chicken, is now known as the Boston Market. It is owned by Sun Capitals and most often located in the north-east and mid-west, and Florida. In 2013, there were approximately 462 branches, but today this number has dropped dramatically. It also agreed to a “multifaceted transformation plan.” by the restaurant chain.
Boston Market
Perkins
This breakfast and bakery chain Perkins was established in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1958 under the name Pancake House as a privately owned company. It was changed to Perkins Family Restaurant some years later. It is scattered throughout the country among thirty-two US states, as well as four providences in Canada. The restaurant also owned by Marie Callenders, who itself filed for bankruptcy in 2019. Unfortunately, this has resulted in fast store closers, and 25,000 workers were laid off due to it.
Perkins
Friendly’s
This chain found mostly in the East Coast region. Since its establishment in 1935, it has undergone several changes, including declaring bankruptcy some years ago. It did make a comeback, though, and transformed the menu altogether. There are 167 locations today, but they are planning to close the spots that don’t attract enough traffic.
Friendly’s
Del Taco
Del Taco was established in the 1960s as a Mexican-inspired restaurant that also offers burgers and fries, which is an unusual combination. It is incredibly popular in the West and Southwest regions and has a total of 564 restaurants. However, there are plans to shut down less popular sites by 2020. They ‘re also interested in moving more towards franchising. It was sold to Levy Acquisition in 2015, making it a public company. Their plans to expand east were not unbelievably successful, but they still bring considerable revenue, making them a worthy competitor against Taco Bell.
Del Taco
Applebee’s
Applebee’s is the sister restaurant of the famous IHOP, and they are both closing down soon. With 1,830 restaurants worldwide, most locations are franchised. The restaurant once had $2.5 billion in revenue, with total assets amounting to $935 million and 28,000 employees.
Applebee’s
IHOP
The House Of Pancakes International is one that hits me home. The local pancake house is owned by Dine Brands Global’s parent corporation and founded in Los Angeles, California, where its headquarters reside. They are rivals of the Waffle House, which will soon close down stores. IHOP once had sales between $350 billion and $32,300, but where it is now is unknown.
IHOP
Burger King
Binger King was founded in 1966 and was formerly known as Insta-Burger King. Currently, there are 17,8000 restaurants in the country, but 200-250 locations are projected to close each year. The King of Burger is now stepping down.
Burger King
Ruby Tuesday
Ruby Tuesdays is a local favorite close to franchises like TFI Friday’s and Applebee’s. It was founded in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1972, and today it has around 491 stores. Most are based in the East Coast region but recently, they announced that due to lack of adequate revenue, they would close a number of their shops.
Ruby Tuesday
Marie Callender’s
The closing is taking us hard. This local joint is home to the most delightful baked pies you can find, particularly the most critical lime pie! Marie Callender’s was founded by Marie Callender herself, as she created the chain of restaurants while living in a trailer park. She began to make pies to support her family, and eventually, the restaurant became a big success. Unfortunately, a family tragedy in 2009 has caused a hiccup in the success of the restaurant. The restaurant has declared bankruptcy after her husband passed away due to brain injuries and has closed several locations. Most of the remaining branches are in California, where they’re also headquartered.
Marie Callender’s
Kona Grill
Kona Grill is a sushi restaurant founded in Scottsdale, Arizona, now with 40 locations scattered throughout the US and Puerto Rico. Unfortunately, since its inception in 1989, the chain has been fighting off closures. They announced they were filing for bankruptcy in Spring 2019. This company, however, is still not given up and aims to pursue a deal following the CEO declaring his interest in resigning.
Kona Grill
Quiznos
The fast-food sandwich shop filed for bankruptcy in 2014 but made a strong recovery after a $400 million cut in its debt. The joint had 5,000 outlets globally back in 2002, which now has just 800. The closures started in 2007 when they said farewell to 1,000 US sites.
Quiznos
Carrabba’s
After combining with Outback Steakhouse, a family restaurant in 1986 quickly turned into a restaurant phenomenon. They changed their name to Bloomin’ Brands and continued to launch domestic and overseas outlets. Under Bloomin’ Brands, there are many restaurants, but Carrabas is the one with the most closures to the branches.
Carrabba’s
Starbucks
When you think about Starbucks, maybe ‘restaurant’ isn’t the term that comes to mind. Though don’t forget that the company still offers coffee and other products. Earlier in 2018, the coffee retailer made a shocking statement that it would close down 150 stores across the U.S. to maximize its target demand. Those closures are three times greater than Starbucks’ average rate.
Starbucks
T.G.I. Friday’s
The story of T.G.I Friday is a lovely one. It was established in New York City in 1965. The intention behind it was to create a place for younger people to meet and mingle in a relaxed and laid-back atmosphere in their twenties and thirties. Nowadays, this particular group is becoming gradually less familiar with the chain. They closed offices in 2018 and 2019 in significant areas, including Tallahassee, Staten Island, and Washington DC.
TGI Fridays
Papa Murphy’s
If you tend to worry by the moment it is delivered to you; your pizza won’t be warm and fresh, then Papa Murphy has figured out the solution. They invented the system of taking-and-bake, where you get the pizza at the store, take it home, and then bake. Even if they made a great idea, the company had to close down more than 60 locations across the United States in 2018 and 2019.
Papa Murphy’s
Taco Bell
Truly, Mexican-inspired Taco Bell is at its finest. This isn’t so much an accurate representation of Mexican food. Nonetheless, it will come at a price now that the company is looking to grow beyond the USA. The Chain closed branches in Pennsylvania, Arkansas, and four branches in Maine throughout 2019.
Taco Bell
Pollo Tropical
For years Pollo Tropical was there with their Caribbean cuisine for the Southern Floridians. Yet as it started to spread to Cubans, Venezuelans, and Haitians, the company did not find a haven. It was hoping to open a shop in Texas, but it never happened. By 2019, around 23 branches had closed down due to significant financial losses. The trend continued in 2019, with more branches closing.
Pollo Tropical
Papa John’s
Nowadays, America’s fourth-largest pizza delivery restaurant has some trouble keeping it afloat. The founder got into some trouble using a mean racial slur that made him step down the last year. Revenue dropped by 7.8 percent due to the uproar around the event and the change of management. Because of this drastic shift, analysts have warned that there would be a lot of closures in 2019. It was projected it would close as many as 250 branches.
Papa John’s
Pie Five
When you want a homemade pizza that will be ready in five minutes to your liking, then Pie Five is the place to go. Although it was barely ten years ago, the idea of fast-casual caught on in the U.S. and spread quickly outside of Texas. Nevertheless, they started to fall almost as soon as they rose. The organization has closed more than 30 sites in the last few years. In fact, during 2019, they shut down even more.
Pie Five
Pizza Rev
While Pizza Rev has been around for just eight years, it has already managed to make a mark. This was California ‘s response to Pie Five that allowed customers to grab pizzas quickly during their lunch break. While the idea caught on in other states, its rapid growth now has some issues here and there. During 2019, they closed as many as nine sites.
Pizza Rev
Eat ‘N Park
West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio residents have enjoyed food from Eat ‘N Park for 70 years. Despite the restaurant doing fine on the business end, residents in Ohio had five different restaurant locations close during 2019. Still, the remaining branches are being upgraded, so there’s a ray of hope.
Eat ‘N Park
Subway
Subway also hasn’t been immune to the closing of restaurants in the last few years. Subway closed a total of 1,100 branches in the US in 2018 alone. There were more closures, too, in 2019. Yet, don’t worry. Subway is the world’s largest chain-restaurant. The company is actively leaving open the most profitable branches.
Subway
Chipotle
Chipotle shut down 50 separate stores in 2019. Despite the increasing popularity of the chain, a few heavy setbacks over the past few years have placed a dent in the reputation of the firm. The restaurant had been hit with some poor ads a few years ago: customers got sick with E. Coli during two outbreaks attributed to food that they had consumed at Chipotle. A cyber-attack in 2019 left personal data of customers at risk. Now, there are more than 150 branched new ones that opened in 2019, and something has to go right.
Chipotle
Potbelly Sandwich Shop
The name hasn’t scared today’s health-conscious generation away as it turns out. Potbelly has taken the move in the past couple of years and grown to India outside of the US. Because this chain is expanding and it is contracting as well. Just three years before opening its Toronto branch, all of its town shops had to be closed by 2019. It has reached the point where restaurant chain sales weren’t successful.
Potbelly Sandwich Shop
Jack In The Box
Jack in the Box hasn’t had his competitors’ degree of popularity. When it opened in 1951, kids around the U.S. have always preferred McDonald’s over Jack, and it is the same today. The corporation running this chain previously owned Qdoba before selling it back in 2018. The burger chain has since been losing a lot of customers and has had to shut down some of its stores. The company is predicting it will close down at least 14 stores this year alone.
Jack In The Box
Noodles & Company
Noodles & Company was founded in 1995 and enjoyed several years of success until their sales started to decline. People after the early 2000s did not seem to want to get in on the noodle buzz too much. However, what made a difference in 2016 was a data breach that compromised the personal information of customers across the states. The data breach eventually cost the company $11 million. 10 % of their branches had to be closed in 2018.
Noodles & Company
Joe’s Crab Shack
Joe’s Crab Shack was once a favorite an informal seafood chain specializing in large buckets of crab, stuffed shrimp, and other American comfort dishes. It may have been their rivalry with Bubba Gump or other independent seafood restaurants that made their customers less attractive. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2017 and closed 41 of its sites. Right now, 58 places are still open, but it is expected that more will close this year.
Joe’s Crab Shack
Howard Johnson’s
Howard Johnson’s had fried clam that everybody enjoyed, including 28 ice cream flavors that travelers enjoyed so much. About 1,000 roadside sites operated during the 1960s and 1970s. The chain was founded in 1925, but it wasn’t that long ago that the New York restaurant clung to life support, according to Yelp reviews. Only two years ago, the very last location was closed.
Howard Johnson’s
Houlihan’s
The chain was founded in 1972. The co-founders have purchased an ex-haberdashery called Tom Houlihan’s Men’s Wear. Yet the remodeling artist called his project “Houlihan ‘s Old House,” and it stuck. Although they appeared to have done all right, the company already has $50 million in debt, and several sites close.
Houlihan’s
Baja Fresh Mexican Grill
Baja Fresh Mexican Grill is renowned for its burritos, taquitos, and salsa self-service. The bar opened in 1990 but was acquired in 2002 by Wendy’s. There were nearly 300 units in 21 States at the time. The chain has deteriorated gradually since the closure of stores started in 2004.
Baja Fresh Mexican Grill
Ground Round
Ground Round’s slogan was created in 1969, is, “The place for relatives, friends and sports enthusiasts.” Before the corporation filed for bankruptcy in 2004, there were over 100 stores and almost even suddenly closed their places. Just 17 remain open today.
Ground Round
Pinkberry
This popular yogurt store launched in 2005 in West Hollywood. It soon became a popular spot with plenty of celebrities shopping there too. While the yogurt was great, it wasn’t enough. The business subsequently spread to 21 nations, but only 139 stores were operating in the United States by 2015.
Pinkberry
TGI Friday’s
Thank God It’s Friday is a casual dining experience from around the world at 870 places. It was founded by Daniel Scoggin and Alan Stillman in New York City. They relocated the headquarters to Texas, but there are still other sites about it. They announced that the sites would shut down between 2019 and 2020.
TGI Friday’s
Carl’s Jr.
CKJE Restaurant Holdings owns Carl’s Jr. and is one of the most successful fast-food chains in the US and Canada. It started in 1941 as a hot dog truck and grew later to a complete restaurant. They still face their challenges despite their success, and they have had to close several stores each year. They only have 1,490 left worldwide.
Carl’s Jr.