15 fast-food and restaurant chains you might see less of in 2021

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Zoë EttingerMay 19, 2020, 21:04 IST
15 fast-food and restaurant chains you might see less of in 2021

Steak 'n Shake is facing many closures in 2020.AP

  • Multiple fast-food chains have seen closures over the past few years, and some are facing even more due to the coronavirus.
  • Applebee's recently announced it's closing 200 branches, while Steak 'n Shake just announced it's permanently closing 51 restaurants.

Though many fast-food and restaurant chains were already facing closures before the coronavirus hit, the pandemic has had a devastating effect on the industry.

Steak 'n Shake, established over 80 years ago, recently announced it's shuttering 51 branches. Some restaurants, such as Applebee's and Ruby Tuesday, relied on diners eating meals in their establishments, so they've had to make the sudden switch to delivery and takeout.

Take a look at all the fast-food and restaurant chains you'll be seeing less of in 2021.

Read the original article on Business Insider
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Steak 'n Shake recently announced it is closing 51 branches.

Steak 'n Shake recently announced it is closing 51 branches.
Steak 'n Shake AP

As Business Insider's Irene Jiang previously reported, "The burger chain has been struggling for the last several years, 'temporarily' closing over a hundred locations and hemorrhaging millions of dollars as sales plummet."

In 2019, Subway closed over 1,000 stores nationwide, and it has announced more closures in 2020.

In 2019, Subway closed over 1,000 stores nationwide, and it has announced more closures in 2020.
Subway. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Subway closed more stores than it opened in 2016, and it closed more than 900 stores in 2017. Some have estimated the chain will be closing a similar number of branches as it did in 2019 by the end of 2020.

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Pizza Hut announced in 2019 that it will be closing over 500 underperforming restaurants in a two-year period.

Pizza Hut announced in 2019 that it will be closing over 500 underperforming restaurants in a two-year period.
Pizza Hut. Mario Anzuoni/Reuters

In August 2019, David W. Gibbs, then president and chief operating and financial officer of Yum! Brands, which operates Pizza Hut, told Nation's Restaurant News, "Our US store count could drop to as low as 7,000 locations over the next 24 months primarily driven by closures of underperforming dine-in restaurants before rebounding to current levels and above in the future."

Burger King reported plans to close up to 250 restaurants in 2019, with closures coming into effect this year and over the next few years.

Burger King reported plans to close up to 250 restaurants in 2019, with closures coming into effect this year and over the next few years.
Burger King. Damian Dovarganes/AP

According to Restaurant Business, "Burger King executives said the company plans to close 200 to 250 low-volume locations per year over the next couple of years."

On May 12, MassLive reported that a Burger King in Springfield, Massachusetts, closed its doors after 46 years in business.

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Applebee's recently completed a plan to close over 200 underperforming locations.

Applebee's recently completed a plan to close over 200 underperforming locations.
Applebee's. Scott Olson/Getty Images

Applebee's plans to increase delivery and takeout options, which are already boosting sales, according to The Wall Street Journal.

TGI Fridays closed 34 restaurants in 2019, and has so far closed four in 2020, including the only one in Rhode Island.

TGI Fridays closed 34 restaurants in 2019, and has so far closed four in 2020, including the only one in Rhode Island.
TGI Fridays. John Lamparski/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

TGI Friday's management told Today, "As part of the early stages of our business turnaround, we bought underperforming franchises, which creates a temporary loss of near term profit, including store closures."

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Friendly's closed 23 locations in 2019, and is continuing to close more in 2020.

Friendly's closed 23 locations in 2019, and is continuing to close more in 2020.
Friendly's. AP Images

Friendly's has seen a 25% decline in its restaurants in the past two years. A spokesperson told Mashed that the closures were due to "shifting consumer demographics."

On February 9, a Friendly's in Rochester, New Hampshire, closed. It was the last one in the Seacoast Region.

Perkins filed for bankruptcy in 2011 and 2019, and it has already closed two branches in 2020.

Perkins filed for bankruptcy in 2011 and 2019, and it has already closed two branches in 2020.
Perkins. Shutterstock

According to Mashed, Perkins split with its partner, Marie Callender's Inc., in 2019. It is now partnered with Huddle House, another fast-casual restaurant chain.

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Ruby Tuesday shut down 26 locations in 2019, and it closed three restaurants in May 2020.

Ruby Tuesday shut down 26 locations in 2019, and it closed three restaurants in May 2020.
Ruby Tuesday. Jeffrey Greenberg / Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Restaurant industry analyst Darren Tristano told the Asbury Park Press, "[Ruby Tuesday] has been in trouble for years and having to shut down your restaurants and having declines in restaurant sales is really a challenge to get past. Unfortunately, restaurants like Ruby Tuesday are going to see a lot of closures this year and continuing."

At the start of last year, there were 57 Fuddruckers nationwide, but now there are just 40.

At the start of last year, there were 57 Fuddruckers nationwide, but now there are just 40.
Fuddruckers. Shutterstock

ABC News reported on May 12 that one Fuddruckers in North Carolina, which was temporarily shut down due to the pandemic, permanently closed.

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In 2019, Red Robin closed 10 underperforming restaurants. It recently temporarily closed 35 locations, cut 35 headquarter jobs, and reduced salaries.

In 2019, Red Robin closed 10 underperforming restaurants. It recently temporarily closed 35 locations, cut 35 headquarter jobs, and reduced salaries.
Red Robin. Shutterstock

According to MoneyWise, Red Robin said its 2019 closures were due to the decline of America's malls; seven of the 10 closed locations were in malls.

According to Restaurant Business, Red Robin's same-store sales fell 65.2% for the week that ended April 12, 2020.

Boston Market closed 45 locations in 2019.

Boston Market closed 45 locations in 2019.
Boston Market. Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock

The fast-casual dining chain has faced financial trouble since as far back as 1998, when it filed for bankruptcy. It has also had falling sales for the past two years. According to Mashed, Boston Market's then CEO, Frances Allen, said last year that the closures were necessary in order for the company to have a shot at surviving in the long-term.

On May 18, ARLnow reported that a Boston Market in Arlington, Virginia, permanently closed.

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Popular in Texas, Luby's closed several restaurants in 2019, and is in debt $35.9 million, according to Restaurant Business.

Popular in Texas, Luby's closed several restaurants in 2019, and is in debt $35.9 million, according to Restaurant Business.
Luby's. Shutterstock

Last July, Luby's, which also owns Fuddruckers and Cheeseburger in Paradise, closed several restaurants to try and pay off debt, according to Mashed.

In November 2019, CEO Chris Pappas said, "We are not pleased with our shareholder value, same-store sales, guest traffic results, or corporate overhead."

In March, Luby's temporarily closed 35 restaurants.

Texas' Taco Cabana closed 19 of its 164 restaurants in January 2020.

Texas' Taco Cabana closed 19 of its 164 restaurants in January 2020.
Taco Cabana. Shutterstock

According to NBC, the company said that the 19 restaurants were underperforming and that they had $4.2 million in pre-tax operating losses.

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Taco Bell closed more than half a dozen restaurants this year, including the only one in Kodiak, Alaska.

Taco Bell closed more than half a dozen restaurants this year, including the only one in Kodiak, Alaska.
Taco Bell. Shutterstock

Though the closures won't amount to much, as there are still 7,116 Taco Bell locations in the United States, residents of Kodiak, Alaska, will no longer be seeing the taco chain near their homes.

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