Wendy’s will be shutting down over 100 restaurants nationwide in 2024.

Why Is Wendy’s Shutting Down Locations All Across America?

The past four years or so have been somewhat devastating to the restaurant business. Lagging business, increased operating costs and other issues — some stemming from the pandemic — are mostly to blame.

The woes are even affecting the second-largest fast-food chain in America, Wendy’s. Wendy’s has been quietly closing locations this year due to those factors. In its Q1 earnings call, Wendy’s showed that it has already closed 27 locations.

Wendy’s has shared that it plans on opening new locations around America as well, but not more than it will close in 2024.

Eat This, Not That! reached out to Wendy’s for comment and an explanation as to why they are closing so many locations but did not hear back from the chain.

Wendy’s CEO Kirk Tanner said that Wendy’s currently operates more than 7,200 stores worldwide. The chain expects 30 percent of its future store openings to take place in the United States, while the other 70 percent will take place outside of the country, Tanner added.

This has some investors and foodies wondering if Wendy’s is slowly becoming less popular in America, and more popular worldwide.

A quick search of the internet shows a few local Wendy’s locations that have shut down already, and the local crowds were stunned.

There was a social media rumor about five months ago that Wendy’s would be closing all stores, but that is certainly not the case. However, the chain’s number of locations will for sure be getting smaller in 2024.

The strange thing with most of these restaurant closings is that the restaurant is open one day like normal; then, the next day it is just gone. No reason, no explanation … just a note on the door, in most instances.

Next time you head to your local Wendy’s, it could be your last order from said location.

Evan Paul is the host of Taste of Country Nights, a syndicated radio show heard on more than 130 country radio stations nationwide, every night from 7PM to midnight. He plays the best new country music and interviews today’s top stars, like Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Dan + Shay, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Chris Stapleton, Lady A, + more!