Denny’s could slowly become a thing of the past, with the iconic breakfast chain planning to shut down even more of its locations before 2026.
While the company was recently taken private for $620 million by Capital Advisors, Treville Capital Group, and Yadav Enterprises, one of its largest franchisees, the closures were already in motion. Denny’s clarified that this wave of shutdowns was announced during its October 2024 Investor Day. In total, 150 locations will be shut down before the end of 2025.
Many of the underperforming restaurants have already shut their doors. It’s unclear which ones remain, though SFGATE confirmed a Bay Area location closed unexpectedly this week.
Months before the buyout, in an August earnings call, CEO Kelli F. Valade explained the chain’s plan to clean house.
“The surgical and methodical approach, which began in 2023 and will be completed by the end of this year, was specifically designed to optimize and enhance the overall health of the franchise system with the goal of returning to net flat to positive growth by 2026,” Valade said.
She also stated, “Rationalizing the portfolio was the right thing to do, and we’re seeing the results that we wanted and expected from this process.”
For fans of the late-night diner vibe and Grand Slam breakfasts, it might be time to find a backup.
