Restaurant Chains That Will Be Closing This Year

No matter whether you prefer the wings or the legs, there’s no denying that KFC is a big player in the fast food industry. These restaurants go through buckets and buckets of fried chicken every single day, and you don’t have to search too far to find your nearest location. However, we have sad news for those living near The Avenue Retail Park in Bradford, UK – as that location has now closed down and won’t be opening its doors again.

The pizza business is a tough game. It’s crowded with the likes of Domino’s and Papa John’s, and it seems as though Pizza Hut is also feeling the pinch of modern life. In 2024, Pizza Hut will be laying off over 1,200 delivery drivers across the West Coast, drastically decreasing its presence in the likes of Los Angeles, Riverside, and Orange County. And that’s all thanks to a new law in California, which has changed the minimum wage. 

It’s not every day you come across a restaurant chain founded by Marky Mark (just without the Funky Bunch) and his brothers. And while some thought Wahlburgers would be somewhat of a gimmick, there’s no doubt that this burger chain has claimed its legitimate spot in the fast food world. In fact, more and more Wahlburgers are popping up every year and wowing customers with its simple but delicious menu. In 2024, however, it lost one of its locations. 

You probably don’t need us to tell you that Burger King is one of the most famous burger joints in the world. But while its annual revenue keeps growing (a bit like its menu), it seems as though this company is going for a different strategy to keep business booming. Their plan between 2023 and 2024 is to close up a whopping 300 locations across the country – with many locations already closed. 

Anyone who has ever visited the Vienna Marketplace in D.C. will know that there are so many restaurant options on offer. While this is great for the hungry shopper, it’s not so great for the restaurant trying to deal with increased rent and food prices. That’s exactly why Noodles & Company announced it was closing in January 2024. In the changing landscape, it just can’t afford to stay open.

While TGI Fridays used to be a popular spot for birthday parties and Friday night family dinners, there’s no doubt about the fact that this restaurant chain deals with a lot of competition on a daily basis. And while you might love their menu, we’re sad to tell you that TGI Fridays will be closing 36 of its locations in 2024 alone – and they’ll be closed on both the East and the West coasts. 

There’s a high chance that you’re already familiar with Starbucks and the news of its closing stores. The giant coffee chain hit the headlines last year when it came under fire for unlawfully shutting down 23 locations in the U.S., and it’s fair to say that it didn’t go down well. The National Labor Relations Board took the coffee chain to court and demanded they open all of the closed locations for the sake of the workers who had lost their income.

Even if you don’t quite understand the plastic triangle they put in the middle of their pizzas, there’s no denying that Papa John’s has dominated the food delivery world. But while most of their locations are delivery-only, it seems as though the company is still struggling to navigate the changing landscape of the restaurant world. Because of this, they may be closing up to 100 stores across the pond in the UK.

Joe’s Crab Shack has always been a popular restaurant for New Jersey locals and tourists thanks to its delicious menu and home-style cooking. But those looking to fill their stomachs with crab will have to look elsewhere now, as Joe’s Crab Shack in The Promenade Shops at Clifton was closed down on New Year’s Eve in 2023. At the time, the COO confirmed that this was due to an expired lease. 

Before you get too upset, we should probably clarify that this isn’t the Dairy Queen you go to to grab your post-work ice cream. This is the Dairy Queen Grill & Chill – which just so happened to be based in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Located at 230 Steinwehr Avenue, this old-school Dairy Queen has been in business for over 60 years and has been a staple in the community. But in 2023, it closed its doors for the last time. 

There’s a reason why even the richest celebrities head to Chili’s for their fast food. The impressive menu and the delicious food have made it one of the best fast food chains in the U.S., and it’s been noted that there are over 1,500 locations across the country. However, there was one less as of January 9, 2024, when the Chili’s at 8136 Providence Road in Charlotte, North Carolina, was closed down. 

With thousands of locations around the country, Denny’s is an American institution. And as you can’t make a reservation at this fast food chain, it’s not uncommon to see people waiting in line to pick up their favorites from the menu. But did you know that Denny’s is closing? Well, it’s closing one location in Oakland, California, to be more exact, and that’s all down to safety concerns in the area. 

If you haven’t heard of California Pizza Kitchen, we’re going to assume that you don’t live in California. But those who do will know that this restaurant chain offers an impressive menu at very competitive prices—and some people just can’t get enough. Which is why many will be sad to hear of its closing. While this chain isn’t closing down a large number of its restaurants, it is closing one popular location in the Fountains at Roseville.

If you’re worried that you won’t be able to get your footlong anytime soon, you don’t have to worry too much. Although Subway has indeed closed the doors to a restaurant, it’s only closed its doors to one particular location – and that was the Subway at 4206 Route 31 in Clay, Syracuse. It’s believed that their hands were forced when the nearby Great Northern Mall was closed down, too.

Although McDonald’s is arguably the biggest player on this list, even a huge corporation like this one is still struggling with the after-effects of the pandemic. In fact, McDonald’s was hit hard by COVID regulations and lower footfall traffic, and that was seen in the numbers. In 2021 alone, McDonald’s had to permanently close a whopping 239 locations, and this continued into 2022 and 2023. It’s even still happening in 2024. 

The COVID-19 pandemic had a huge impact on the hospitality industry, and even some of the bigger players are still suffering the after-effects of this troubling time. This is even the case for Cracker Barrel, who had to make some tough decisions in 2023. In fact, they closed down three of their locations extremely suddenly due to rising costs, increased rent, and fewer customers. They did open a few more locations, too, though.

McCormick & Schmick’s might not be the biggest restaurant on this list, but it’s fair to say that it has a dedicated customer base who all love this seafood and steakhouse. But if you’re in Illinois and looking for some surf and turf, you might be sad to learn that the Oak Brook location closed down on January 1, 2024. This means that you’ll have to travel to either Chicago or Rosemont to eat this delicious menu. 

Everyone loves Five Guys, right? When so many fast food chains are switching up their menus and making their portions smaller, you can count on Five Guys to consistently serve good food and generous portions at an affordable price. But while the company is reportedly making profits year on year, that hasn’t stopped them from closing Five Guys locations across the U.S. and the rest of the world. For them, however, it’s all about performance.

Despite claiming itself to be the International House of Pancakes, the IHOP menu offers so much more than that fluffy goodness. For many, it’s their go-to breakfast place and is a family favorite among kids and adults alike. But if you were looking to check out the menu of the IHOP in West Hollywood, you might want to rethink your plans, as this location was closed down indefinitely in January 2024. 

Although it’s not a huge chain, Le Pain Quotidien is still a household name. There were once over 50 locations around the country, allowing customers to pick up beautiful French pastries and baked goods. And while its location in Arlington, Virginia, has always been fairly popular with the locals, that didn’t stop it from being closed down in January 2024. In fact, rumors are swirling that it’s not the last location to be closed down this year, either. 

There was once a time when Quizno’s was one of the most popular restaurant chains in the U.S. At one point, there were over 5,000 Quizno’s across the country, and most people didn’t have to travel too far to find their nearest one. But today, that number is very different. By the end of 2023, there were just 145 locations left in the country – and that number is dwindling even more in 2024. 

If you’re familiar with Long John Silver’s, you’ll know that this place is famous for its seafood menu. However, it’s also infamous for having serious financial struggles. The restaurant chain has been through the process of bankruptcy on numerous occasions, and there’s no doubt about the fact that this has had an impact on the number of locations there are around the country. And while it plans to lose more stores in 2024, it’s also going to add some, too! 

While some restaurants on this list gave their customers notice of their closure, the same can’t be said for the Bonefish Grill in Boise, Idaho. The closure of this restaurant in January 2024 came as a huge shock to customers and staff members alike, as nobody knew it was coming. What’s more, this restaurant had been there for customers for 15 years and become a huge part of the local community. 

Trying to make a fast-food chicken business a success in the modern world must be tough. After all, how can you compete with the likes of KFC? But what we love about Church’s Chicken is that they have definitely tried to stand their ground and compete with these big dogs. In fact, they’ve been going since 1952 and still seem to be going strong – apart from its location in Whitehall, Ohio. 

Although Panera Bread has won over its loyal customers with its delicious menu and beautiful restaurants, it’s fair to say that the company has struggled over the years. With fierce competition from so many other restaurants out there, it seems as though Panera just can’t quite compete with the big dogs. It’s also been pretty unlucky – especially when a car crash in 2023 shut down its National Avenue, Springfield location. 

Pollo Tropical tends to fly under the radar compared to some of the big names on this list. While some people are absolutely obsessed with this chain, there are others who have never heard of it before. But this restaurant offers an impressive menu, and many customers make reservations whenever they can. That’s why locals in the Regency area of Arlington were so upset when their Pollo Tropical location closed down.

If you live in Illinois and love Hardee’s, there’s a high chance that you’ve already heard the news of numerous locations closing down in the central region. In fact, five Illinois locations have already been closed in 2024 alone, and it all happened very quickly. Staff were reportedly told of the news on a Monday, and by the time Wednesday came around the locations had already been picked up by new owners. 

JR’s Hometown Grill and Pub has long held a presence in Michigan, with locals booking regular reservations and buying gift cards for their food-loving friends and family. But the restaurant chain took locals by surprise in January 2024 when it was announced that it would be closing four of its Michigan restaurants. Not only that, but they gave customers very little notice, which didn’t go down well with those with gift cards. 

We love chicken restaurants with just three letters in their names, and PDQ definitely fits that bill. And while you can still find many PDQ locations across the country, those in New Jersey only have a single PDQ left in their state. That’s because the restaurant chain unexpectedly closed down the Cherry Hill and Sicklerville locations in 2024 – and many are wondering whether the last one will be following suit later in the year. 

We don’t know who Jason is, but we’d like to find him and shake his hand because we absolutely love the food on his menu. And while those living in Athens, Ohio have loved this restaurant for decades, it seems as though the era of eating at Jason’s has come to an end. This location was closed down earlier in 2024, and it didn’t take long for it to be replaced.

Home-brewed coffee just doesn’t compare to coffee from a proper coffee shop, and the menu at The Black Lab Coffee Co. is definitely worth a try if you need a caffeine fix. But if you’re located near downtown Springfield, Missouri, you’re going to have to travel a little further if you want your Black Lab fix from now on. That’s because the coffee chain shut down its downtown store in late 2023 and doesn’t plan on reopening it. 

Most Americans can’t get enough of smokehouse food, and the menu at Sugarfire Smokehouse is top-notch. And while you can still find this establishment around the country, you won’t be able to make a reservation at the Cedar Rapids restaurant anytime soon. In fact, this location was closed down in late 2023 after three years in business. During that time, it served a huge portion of the local community and built up an impressive fan base. 

Every pizza restaurant has pizza on the menu. But Pieology Pizzeria’s USP is the fact that it allows customers to build their own pizzas – and this has led to constant reservations for years on end. And while many Pieology Pizzerias around the country are thriving, a decision was made to close its location at the UV Business Center in Sacramento, California, in 2024. Why? Well, it’s believed that competition is too fierce. 

Sometimes, the closure of restaurants doesn’t have anything to do with the restaurant’s performance at all. Sometimes, it’s all about the location. And that certainly seems to be the case for the closure of the McAlister’s Deli location in Arboretum Shopping Center in Charlotte. Although customers loved the food on the menu at this place, it ultimately shut up shop in 2024 – alongside many other restaurants in the shopping center. 

Everyone knows the smiley cookie of the Eat’n Park, right? Especially those who live in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia – as Eat’n Park has been an institution in this area since 1949. And while there are still many restaurants serving up this family-friendly menu and taking reservations for hungry stomachs, the chain decided to close the Highlands Eat’n Park restaurant at the beginning of the year. Unfortunately, no reason was given as to why.

Pizzerias are a dime a dozen in New York, but there’s no doubt about the fact that every New Yorker has their favorite. This is the place they go for lunch, for dinner, or just a mid-afternoon snack when they’re feeling peckish. And for many people, that place was Johnny’s Pizza in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. This legendary establishment had been making pizzas in the same place for over 56 years before it closed its doors for good in January 2024. 

If you’ve ever been to a Fuddruckers location, you’ll know that it’s not like any other restaurant out there. The menu is incredibly varied, and it offers everything from made-to-order burgers to specialized condiment carts where you can customize your burger even more. And that’s before we mention the on-site bakery for you to pick up some baked goods on the way out! But while customers love it, Fuddruckers in Waco, Texas, was closed forever in late 2023. 

Hands up if you’re from Michigan? If you are, we’re going to assume that you’re familiar with Bagger Dave’s. This Michigan-based restaurant chain has previously taken over the state, with locals falling in love with the homestyle menu that offered something for everyone – no matter whether they wanted a fancy pizza or a sloppy burger. But Bagger Dave’s has been struggling financially for many years now, and this has led to them closing many of their locations. 

This next restaurant is a little different to some of the others on this list. That’s because Momofuku Ko isn’t just any restaurant – it’s a two-Michelin-star restaurant. However, we should probably say that it was a two-Michelin-star restaurant, as it was closed in November 2023. While you’d think that the famous chef would be sad about this fact, it seems as though David Chang has bigger fish to fry.

Anyone who knows anything about restaurants in New York City will know that they’ll either make it or break it. And keeping on track of sales and rising rent prices in the Big Apple can easily break you. This has happened to Chinese restaurant Milu in 2024. Although it was once a thriving restaurant with an impressive menu in Williamsburg, it shocked locals when it shut unexpectedly earlier in the year.