Iconic breakfast chain to close another location in DAYS after exec reveals plot to shut 180 by end of the year
A BELOVED breakfast chain has shuttered another restaurant after confirming mass closures earlier this month.
Diners will now be forced to head elsewhere for some of their favorite food and drink items.
On March 30, the Denny's location in Rome, New York, about 44 miles east of Syracuse, served customers for the last time, per the Rome Sentinel.
The restaurant had been operational for decades ahead of the shutdown, and there are no current plans to fill the space it leaves behind.
It comes as part of Denny's plan to remove at least 150 locations from its nationwide footprint by the end of 2025.
That number was even upped recently by between 70 to 90 more restaurants, and the chain is already ahead of target.
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Denny's also closed 88 locations in 2024.
CFO Robert Verostek noted that the mass removals were necessary to improve Denny's financial outlook and to invest in its remodeling program.
"Accelerating the closure of lower-volume restaurants will improve franchisee cash flow and allow them to reinvest into traffic-driving initiatives like our tested and proven remodel program," Verostek noted during a recent earnings call.
"In any mature brand, when restaurants have been open that long, it is natural that trade areas can shift over time."
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SHEDDING WEIGHT
A majority of the closing locations on the list had been operational for around 30 years.
Denny's noted that they had no longer become profitable, and some others had expiring leases anyways.
Some of the lowest-performing Denny's were bringing in about $1.1 million, while less than half of the top performers cited $2.9 million.
The company is also assessing and making improvements to about 265 other locations as it completes a full "portfolio optimization" to bring in more money at every Denny's restaurant.
Inflation and rising food costs have been massive parts of Denny's struggles in recent years, similar to many other chains.
Verostek also noted that there were sharp sales declines in January and February of this year despite a promising showing at the end of 2024 due to "consumer uncertainty."
Restaurant closures in 2024
BOSSES at major dining chains have announced a series of restaurant closures. The U.S. Sun has compiled a list of the chain's affected.
- Cracker Barrel: Stores in Medford, Oregon, Columbia, South Carolina, and Sacramento, California, have closed.
- Mod Pizza: Bosses dramatically shuttered 27 shops in April, including some in the state of California.
- Frisch's Big Boy: Restaurant chiefs confirmed the closure of a restaurant in Covington, Kentucky in April.
- Outback Steakhouse: The chain will shutter 41 'underperforming' locations this year.
- Two Bucks: Four restaurants in Ohio closed in April.
- Chili's: A restaurant in Port Arthur, Texas, has shut permanently as well as one in Irvine, California, and one in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
- Friendly's: Bosses confirmed an establishment in Ronkonkoma, Long Island will close.
- Pizza Hut: A restaurant in Glen Falls, New York, closed at the end of March, followed by four in Ohio in June and 15 in Indiana. This was followed in July by a bankruptcy filing from its parent company which announced the closure of 150 locations.
- Carl's Jr.: The first Boise, Idaho location has closed.
- In-N-Out: An Oakland location closed earlier in the year due to crime in the area.
- Cheesecake Factory: The chain is set to shutter a location in Memphis, Tennessee in July.
- Applebee's: Announced the closure of between 25 and 35 locations this year.
- Red Lobster: The seafood chain filed for bankruptcy in May and shuttered over 100 locations.
- Taco John's: Shuttered a restaurant in Minnesota and put the building up for sale in May.
- Frisco's Chicken: The poultry restaurant shuttered all of its locations over the summer
- Rubio's Coastal Grill: Has announced the closure of 48 locations in California after filing for bankruptcy.
- Burger King: Shuttered a location in California in June after 30 years.
- Foster's Freeze: Shuttered a location in California after five decades in business due to financial struggles.
- Chicken Salad Chick: After nine years the restaurant shuttered one location in Jacksonville, Florida, with no reason given.
- México Lindo: The New York City-based restaurant announced its final day after 52 years and finally shuttered its doors for good on July 31.
- American Dream Pizza: Closed all of its locations in Oregon in July.
- Tender Greens: The Southern California-based chain filed for bankruptcy.
- Lefty's Famous Cheesesteaks, Hoagies, & Grill: Abruptly shuttered 18 locations in July due to a family feud.
- Firehouse Subs: Shuttered a location in the Tri-Cities area of Washington State over the summer citing "unforeseen circumstances"
- Taco Time: The Taco Bell rival shuttered a location in Seattle after 50 years following a death in the franchise owner's family.
- Burgerim: Shuttered a location in Burlington, Massachusetts in July, reigniting bankruptcy fears from 2020.
- Denny's: The chain has shuttered over 40 locations so far this year with the owner of the one outlet blaming vandalism.
- Starbucks: The chain shuttered one of its most iconic locations in New York City after almost three decades with fans blaming crime. It also lost a location in Seattle.
- Subway: In August, the sandwich chain shuttered over 20 locations across the US and Canada after a franchisee lost money after being a victim of fraud.
- IHOP: A restaurant in New Hampshire shut its doors after 24 years, leaving four locations in the state.
- Switchback Coffee Roasters: The popular chain filed for bankruptcy in August after over a decade in business.
- Jimmy John's: The sandwich shop chain shuttered a location in Nevada on August 19 after 12 years citing overexpansion issues.
- KFC: Closed the remaining three locations in Rockford, Illinois all on the same day on August 19. In total, it closed six locations across four cities in Illinois.
- Rusty Bucket: The chicken shop chain confirmed it would officially leave Florida as it announced a handful of closures including in Sarasota and Ohio.
- Buca di Beppo: The Olive Garden rival abruptly shuttered 44 locations across five states before filing for bankruptcy.
- Red Robin: Announced the closure of its Ashburn, Virginia location on August 25 after 15 years in business.
- Noodles & Company: Shuttered dozens of locations due to their contribution to around $2 million worth of losses.
- Shoney's: The classic American-style food chain founded in 1947 officially exited Ohio after three decades of business as it reduced its operational footprint.
- Homegrown: The sandwich chain based in Seattle announced the closure of 10 locations leaving 150 employees in the lurch.
- World of Beer: Filed for bankruptcy after closing 14 outlets.
- Arby's: The chain announced a number of closures this year including in Lexington, Kentucky, Akron, Ohio,
- Uno Pizzeria & Grill: Shuttered a location in New Jersey in July, leaving just two in the state, followed by the closure of a Baltimore location in August.
- Hart House: Shutterd all four locations in California in September just two years after the vegan fast-food restaurant chain was launched by actor and comedian Kevin Hart.
PERK PROMISES
Another way Denny's plans to combat financial woes includes the return of its popular $2-$4-$6-$8 value menu promotion.
While the budget-friendly deal could certainly earn a positive response, some changes Denny's continues to make aren't as much.
For example, select locations will no longer be open for 24 hours.
Some customers cried out on social media that the perk was what they valued most about the chain.
"The ONLY draw for Denny's is the 24hr hours," a fuming fan wrote on X.
"I just want ONE 24 hour restaurant in our area to stay open," another added.
"I'm not a huge fan of Denny's but it's the only 24 hr restaurant around!" exclaimed a third.
Casual restaurant chains are also taking hits this year.
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On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina recently filed for bankruptcy and is shutting down at least 70 locations.
Applebee's also suddenly closed at least two restaurants recently.