Wendy's Plans to Close Approximately 300 Stores Nationwide by Late 2025
Ohio-based Wendy's, operating about 6,000 locations across the U.S., announced it will close a "mid single-digit percentage" of its stores. This translates to roughly 240 to 360 closures, with an investor estimating around 300.
Reasons for Store Closures
"When we look at the system today, we have some restaurants that do not elevate the brand and are a drag from a franchisee financial performance perspective," said Interim CEO Ken Cook. "The goal is to address and fix those restaurants."
To improve performance, some restaurants may receive upgrades to technology or equipment, or be transferred to new operators. Others will be permanently closed.
Expansion and Closures in 2024
Wendy's spokesperson Heidi Schauer confirmed about 250 to 300 new locations were expected to open in 2024. However, following a strategic review, closures will closely match openings, resulting in roughly flat net unit growth for the year.
"After our strategic review, we now expect a similar number of closures as openings, so we expect net unit growth in 2024 to be roughly flat," Schauer said.
Timing and Local Impact
The planned closures are set to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025. Wendy's has not yet released the list of stores to be closed. In Michigan, the restaurant chain operates 218 locations according to its website.
Author’s summary: Wendy's plans to close around 300 underperforming stores nationwide by late 2025, balancing closures with new openings to maintain steady overall presence.