We've seen multiple retailers closing stores over the past few years, and the same thing is happening to restaurants. Many of them have been struggling lately. Even major players like Wendy's, Red Lobster, TGI Fridays, and more have shuttered locations recently for one reason or another. Since 2020, restaurants have faced a lot of issues, including rising food costs (like crazy high egg prices), supply chain problems, higher wages, labor shortages, competition, and changing consumer behaviors.
Here's the ever-growing list of restaurants closing locations in 2025 and the reason(s) behind them. Plus, we've included closures from last year to help you understand how widespread this problem is.
Restaurant Openings in 2025
First Watch is opening 18 new locations over the next year.
This daytime only restaurant chain only serves breakfast, brunch, and lunch (they close at 2:30 p.m.). Although First Watch opened in 1983, their location count and popularity continues to grow 40 plus years later. In 2025, they're working on 18 new restaurants across the U.S,
Alabama
2301 Cobbs Ford Rd., Prattville (just opened!)
Arizona
111 North Verrado Way, Buckeye (by end of year)
Delaware
40 N. Dupont Hwy., Dover (September)
34571 Postal Ln., Lewes (by end of year)
405 Middletown Warwick Rd., Middletown (early 2026)
Georgia
413 Turner McCall Blvd., Rome (opening date TBD)
Illinois
456 S. Rte. 59, Naperville (just opened!)
Massachusetts
777 Boylston St., Boston (opening date TBD)
Nevada
1020 E. Craig Rd., Las Vegas (August)
10415 S. Eastern Blvd., Henderson (by end of year)
550 N. Stephanie St., Henderson (early 2026)
North Carolina
700 Pembroke Rd., Greensboro (fall 2025)
Ohio
Rte. 224, Boardman (early 2026)
The Greens of Strongsville Retail Center, Strongsville (early 2026)
Tennessee
7810 Poplar Ave., Germantown (fall 2025)
Texas
3500 E. Parmer Ln., Austin (July 28, 2025)
Utah
678 S. Pleasant Grove Blvd., Pleasant Grove (opening date TBD)
Shops at Fort Union, Midvale (opening date TBD)
Watch for 12 Texas Roadhouse locations to open this year.
Texas Roadhouse holds the #1 spot as the biggest casual-dining chain in the U.S. (based on total sales for all locations). As of April 2025, they had over 790 locations in 49 states. This year, they're opening another 12 restaurants across 11 states.
Alabama
US-72, Athens (opening date TBD)
Florida
Interstate 75, Parrish (opening date TBD)
Georgia
Kingsland (address and opening date TBD)
Illinois
1500 Fort Worth Way, Mattoon (by end of year)
Michigan
Battle Creek (address and opening date TBD)
Missouri
Branson Hills Parkway, Branson (Sept. 2025)
New Jersey
970 N Rte. 73, Marlton (opening date TBD)
New Mexico
4399 Cerrillos Rd., Santa Fe (Sept. 2025)
Ohio
Great Northern Mall, North Olmsted (fall 2025)
Tennessee
Antioch (address and opening date TBD)
Texas
14365 FM 1488, Magnolia (fall 2025)
Crystal Falls Pkwy. & 183A Frontage Rd., Leander (summer 2025)
Savvy Sliders is opening 19 new locations in 2025.
Michigan-based Savvy Sliders is known as the "fastest-growing slider brand" in the U.S. They have a group of restaurants, including the Florida-based chain BurgerFi (which Savvy Sliders acquired in 2024) and Happy's Pizza. They're opening 19 more Savvy Sliders location this year.
Florida
12265 SW 112th St., Miami
Indiana
1060 Sagamore Pkwy. W., West Lafayette
Louisiana
St. Peter St., New Orleans
3624 Nicholson Dr., Baton Rouge
2201 Veterans Blvd., Kenner
Michigan
1180 W. Columbia Ave., Battle Creek
1515 N. Telegraph Rd., Monroe
22650 W. 8 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills
13320 E Jefferson Ave., Detroit
235 Ann St., East Lansing
23939 Michigan Ave., Dearborn
140 N. Main St., Mt. Clemens
26336 W. 12 Mile Rd., Southfield
Mississippi
6168 US 49, Hattiesburg
Tennessee
202 Cedar Ln., Knoxville
Texas
855 State Hwy. 121, Lewisville
6413 Precinct Line Rd., North Richland Hills
3803 Spencer Hwy., Pasadena
Dutch Bros. Coffee is opening seven new locations in five states in 2025.
This year, Dutch Bros. Coffee will continue to add locations to their existing 1,000 or more coffee shops. With at least 160 new locations planned for 2025, Dutch Bros. is well on their way toward their next goal of having 2,029 locations by 2029. Here's where you'll find the latest seven openings.
Georgia
Medlock Bridge and State Road 20, John’s Creek
4545 Hugh Howell Road, Tucker
Bill Gardner Parkway near I-75, Locust Grove
Indiana
14560 Mundy Drive, Noblesville
Louisiana
Lee and Burbank, Baton Rouge
Ohio
8670 Winton Road, Springfield Township
South Carolina
101 Angus Drive, Charleston
Sweetgreen plans to open at least 40 new restaurants this year.
Sweetgreen is focused on opening at least 40 new locations by year's end. So far in 2025, they've opened new restaurants in Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Here are five more locations that are scheduled to open this year.
Arizona
3221 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix
Arkansas
417 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Fayetteville
1701 SE 8th St., Bentonville
California
2080 Fair Oaks Blvd., Sacramento
Ohio
7100 Foundry Row, Liberty Township
Buc-ee's is opening three new locations.
Buc-ee's is opening three locations this summer. Here's where you'll find the new locations.
Georgia
I-95 and State Hwy 99, Brunswick (July 1)
Mississippi
Menge Avenue on I-10, Harrison County (July 1)
Virginia
Exit 240 Interstate 81, Rockingham County (June 30)
The Cheesecake Factory has three new locations coming this year.
Like Buc-ee's, The Cheesecake Factory is also opening three new locations in 2025. Here's where:
Florida
2300 Premium Outlets Boulevard, Lutz (Later in 2025)
Illinois
428 S State Route 59, Naperville (June 17)
Texas
29216 Hempstead Rd, Cypress, Cypress (Later in 2025)
Crumbl will open nine new shops over the summer.
Crumbl is expanding with nine new shops across six states this year.
Florida
3760 West Hillsboro Boulevard, Deerfield Beach (summer)
Homestead (address TBD, summer)
Tradition (address TBD, summer)
Maryland
Bowie (address TBD, summer)
17301 Valley Mall Road, Hagerstown(summer)
Missouri
3324 Campster Drive, Cape Girardeau (summer)
New Mexico
3777 Cerrillos Rd, Santa Fe (summer)
New York
Poughkeepsie (address TBD, summer)
Oklahoma
1740 S. Sooner Rd., Midwest City (summer)
Texas
3803 Spencer Hwy., Pasadena
6413 Precinct Line Rd., North Richland Hills
Culver's is working on 27 new locations across 12 states.
Culver's is opening 27 new locations across 12 states. Although the addresses are unknown at this time, here are the city and state for each.
Arizona
Queen Creek (address TBD)
Arkansas
Harrison (address TBD)
Florida
Fort Meade (address TBD)
Fort Myers (address TBD)
Jacksonville (address TBD)
Leesburg (address TBD)
Ruskin (address TBD)
Georgia
Cartersville (address TBD)
Illinois
Bradley (address TBD)
Diamond (address TBD)
Rantoul (address TBD)
Kansas
Derby (address TBD)
Michigan
Holland (address TBD)
Southfield (address TBD)
White Lake (address TBD)
Woodhaven (address TBD)
Ohio
Columbus (address TBD)
West Carrollton (address TBD)
South Carolina
Boiling Springs (address TBD)
Greenville (address TBD)
Tennessee
Hixson (address TBD)
Oak Ridge (address TBD)
Sevierville (address TBD)
Texas
Katy (address TBD)
Wisconsin
Combined Locks (address TBD)
Eau Claire (address TBD)
Evansville (address TBD)
Raising Cane's is adding six more restaurants to their over 800 current locations.
Raising Cane's continues to grow with six new restaurants scheduled to open in June.
Connecticut
1298 Silas Deane Highway, Wethersfield (June 24)
Illinois
6401 95th St, Chicago Ridge (June 3)
Kansas
350 S. Ridge Road, Wichita (June 24)
Massachusetts
799 Broadway, Saugus (June 3)
Mississippi
357 Goodman Road W., Southhaven (June 10)
Ohio
702 N. Lexington-Springmill Rd., Ontario (June 24)
Restaurant Closures in 2025
On The Border is closing 77 locations in 2025.
On March 5, On The Border filed for bankruptcy due to several reasons, including inflation and labor shortages. As part of their bankruptcy filing, On The Border is closing or has closed 77 locations (with a reported 40 of them in February). According to their site, the number of current locations is down to 66 across 20 states.
Denny’s is closing 70 - 90 restaurants this year.
On top of closing 88 locations last year, Denny's recently announced they plan to shutter another 70 - 90 in 2025. The reason behind closing about 150 locations (which started in 2024)? The buildings are too old for remodeling or they aren't turning a profit. On the bright side, Denny's still has over 1,300 locations in the U.S. and is opening 20 new locations this year.
Red Robin is shuttering 70 locations, starting in 2025 and beyond.
As part of their plan to get their sales "back on track," Red Robin announced in February 2025 that they're looking at 70 restaurants for possible closure (when their leases expire) over the next five years, starting with 10 - 15 this year. In addition to closing about 14% of their 500 locations, Red Robin has revamped their loyalty program and added new menu items and limited-time offers.
TGI Fridays is closing around 30 restaurants in 2025.
Since January 2025, TGI Fridays has closed around 30 restaurants. New Hampshire, New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Ohio locations made the list. These restaurant closings are on top of the 100 they shuttered last year. Whether TGI Fridays intends to close additional locations this year is unknown, but they're down to 123 locations in the U.S.
Restaurant Closures in 2024
Applebee’s shuttered 45 locations in 2024.
Applebee's parent company Dine Brands closed 35 restaurants during 2024, while one franchisee filed for bankruptcy and shuttered eight of their locations around Kansas City, KS, in October of last year. A second franchisee closed two locations without authorization from Applebee's and was sued by them because of it. In the end, Applebee's still has over 1,500 U.S. locations.
Denny’s closed 88 restaurants last year.
Last year, Denny's said goodbye to 88 U.S. locations that were either underperforming or were outdated and couldn't be remodeled.
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit said goodbye to 97 (or more) locations in 2024.
As of May 2024 (end of their fiscal year), Dickey's Barbecue Pit had closed 97 locations. Although that leaves them with just over 500 restaurants (as mentioned on their locations page) in the U.S., Dickey's Barbecue Pit remains the nation's largest barbecue chain.
Note that we counted only 316 total U.S. locations, according to the number of locations listed on their website. As of this writing, we can't find info on whether they've lost another 200 or so restaurants, or someone has miscounted.
KFC abruptly shuttered 25 locations in the Midwest.
One KFC franchisee was responsible for the 25 restaurant closings in 2024. EYM Chicken closed the locations in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. The franchisee also had Pizza Hut and Burger King locations that ran into legal and financial trouble.
Hooters closed an estimated 40 restaurants across 14 states.
In 2024, Hooters closed an estimated 40 underperforming restaurants. States that lost Hooters locations were Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas (which lost the highest number at 16), and Virginia. Shortly into 2025, many outlets are reporting Hooters is preparing to file for bankruptcy, which may lead to a slew of more closures in 2025.
Outback Steakhouse shuttered about 41 locations in 2024.
The states that saw Outback Steakhouse disappear in 2024 were Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, and New Hampshire. Reasons for the closures were underperformance and the high cost of remodeling them.
Red Lobster closed 100 locations last year.
Red Lobster filed for bankruptcy in 2024 and shuttered about 100 locations (Florida saw the most at 22) across the U.S. Although their "Endless Shrimp" promotion is often blamed for the bankruptcy, it was more about their leases and rising material and labor costs. On the upside, Red Lobster is back to baking Cheddar Bay Biscuits and offering seafood extravaganzas like Lobsterfest in about 500 U.S. locations.
Rubio’s Coastal Grill saw 48 location closures in 2024.
At the end of May last year, Rubio's abruptly closed 48 locations across California. A company statement at the time shared it was due to the "rising cost of doing business in California." The closures happened two months after the state increased the minimum wage to $20 an hour. With last year's closures, Rubio's has 82 locations across Arizona, California, and Nevada.
TGI Fridays closed about 100 in 2024.
TGI Fridays restaurant closures started with 36 locations across 12 states (California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia) in January 2024. Then in mid-October, with word of bankruptcy on the horizon, TGI Fridays shuttered another 50ish locations. According to CNN, TGI Fridays had 270 locations at the beginning of 2024. And as of this writing (March 2025) they're down to 123.
Wendy’s shuttered 140 locations last year.
Last year, Wendy's closed 140 underperforming locations. However, Wendy's continues to grow (replacing those they've lost) with new locations, collaborations, and limited-time offers. With over 5,900 locations in the U.S., finding a Wendy's shouldn't be too hard.
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