Year Established: 1948
Estimated Branch Closures: 28 Branches
At its peak, Marie Callender’s had almost 100 locations throughout the United States, all sporting the wonderful slogan, “Home Cooked Happiness”. The chain was founded in 1964 by Marie Callender and her husband Cal Warren Callender, who had been selling food for decades prior.
The business had a steady rate of growth throughout the years, but saw a huge decline in 2009 when the founders’ son and brand owner, Don Callender, passed away. Just a few years later, the Marie Callender’s chain filed for bankruptcy, and in 2011, they had 58 units shut down. Unfortunately, just last year, an additional 29 stores were closed, and the future of the chain remains very uncertain.
Dairy Queen
Year Established: 1940
Estimated Branch Closures: 70 Branches
While Dairy Queen is known for its ultra-thick ice cream mixes, the Blizzard alone hasn’t been enough to keep the company’s profits in the green. In 1987, both Dairy Queen and Orange Julius were purchased by a subsidiary of Warren Buffett’s company, Berkshire Hathaway.
The 1987 sale provided the chain restaurant with a strong parent company to rely on, but high operating costs eventually forced the company to file for bankruptcy in 2017. Branch closures have been the norm since then, as Dairy Queen struggles to improve its profit margins.
Joe’s Crab Shack
Year Established: 1991
Estimated Branch Closures: 41 Branches
A seafood-centric chain restaurant, Joe’s Crab Shack is most popular in the South. However, the beach-themed restaurant has been slowly disappearing as the years go by. Joe’s parent company, J.H. Whitney & Co., filed for bankruptcy in 2017, and Joe’s was bought by Landry’s, Inc.
The change in leadership, as well as a general decline in public opinion surrounding the restaurant, led Landry’s to close dozens of locations. However, the crab shack isn’t gone for good. Landry’s plans to revamp the chain and reintroduce a new and improved version of Joe’s Crab Shack in time.
Carl’s Jr.
Year Established: 1941
Estimated Branch Closures: 150 Branches
Carl's Jr. is an American fast food chain that was previously known as Carl's Drive-In Barbecue. The company was founded in 1941 by Carl Karcher and his wife Margaret, and began as a hot dog stand. Over time, it grew to almost 1,500 locations, and currently serves people worldwide. Although the chain isn’t nearly as successful as Burger King, it has a dedicated fanbase that swears by their food and service.
The brand's signature Six Dollar Burger is one of their most popular items, and helps satisfy their millions of happy customers. Despite their original product, Carl's Jr. has recently had to close quite a few branches due to their vast underperformance. Nonetheless, they have been a strong brand for decades, and hope to stay that way for many more years to come.
Buffalo Wild Wings Bar & Grill
Year Established: 1982
Estimated Branch Closures: 60 Branches
Unlike many chain restaurants, Buffalo Wild Wings boasts at least one branch in all 50 states, and often much more than one. Overall, the franchise includes 1,238 branches across the U.S., resulting in around $2 billion in revenue per year.
Despite its nationwide presence, BWW has been plagued by increases in operation costs, a surge in tough competition, and a lack of innovative growth. These and more problems led to the closure of 60 branches that weren’t bringing in enough profits to stay in business.