---
title: "Major US restaurant chains shutter locations amid rising costs"
type: "News"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/286827645.md"
description: "Ten major US restaurant chains, including Wendy’s, Pizza Hut, Papa John’s, and Starbucks, are closing locations due to rising labor and lease costs, weaker sales, and changing consumer habits. Many brands will focus on stronger markets and newer store formats, with some locations potentially being repurposed or rebranded."
datetime: "2026-05-18T23:13:18.000Z"
locales:
  - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/286827645.md)
  - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286827645.md)
  - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/286827645.md)
---

# Major US restaurant chains shutter locations amid rising costs

Who is closing?: Ten major chains, including Wendy’s, Pizza Hut, Papa John’s, and Starbucks, are shutting stores in May, with some cutting hundreds of locations. Why now?: Rising labor and lease costs, weaker sales, and changing consumer habits are forcing operators to exit underperforming or outdated sites. What’s next?: Many brands plan to focus on stronger markets, newer store formats, and efficiency, while some locations may be repurposed or rebranded.

### Related Stocks

- [PZZA.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/PZZA.US.md)
- [WEN.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/WEN.US.md)
- [SBUX.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/SBUX.US.md)
- [FTXG.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/FTXG.US.md)
- [XRT.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/XRT.US.md)
- [PBJ.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/PBJ.US.md)
- [RTH.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/RTH.US.md)
- [EATZ.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/EATZ.US.md)

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