One of the most popular and successful fast-food restaurants in the U.S. is in the process of closing upwards of 500 of its locations.
Based in Columbus, Ohio, Wendy’s International had around 7,200 stores as of late 2023 and according to industry statistics was listed as the largest hamburger fast food chain in the world, behind only Burger King and McDonald’s.
But in a move to shore up its finances, Ken Cook, interim chief executive officer of the chain, said the company was “closing consistently underperforming restaurants.”
In an earnings call, Cook said the company is instead focusing on “locations with the greatest potential for profitable growth.”
Earlier, Cook remarked that some restaurants had become a “drag from a franchisee financial performance perspective.”
“The goal,” he added, “is to address and fix those restaurants.”
Last month the company said its overall restaurant sales had fallen by just over 11% in late 2025 in the U.S. compared with the final quarter of 2024. That figure, noted the Wall Street Journal, was substantially greater than the “8.5% decline that analysts had expected.”
Launched in late 1969, Wendy’s quickly made a name for itself with its salad bars and never-frozen hamburgers. By early 1978 the company had opened 100 locations, meaning, noted the Cincinnati Enquirer, that it had “built more stores in less time than any other chain in America.”
It opened its 5,000th restaurant in Columbus, Ohio in 1997.
Putting an emphasis on dining space, the average Wenday’s outlet measures around 2,000 to 3,000 square feet, and for several decades included sunrooms, or solariums, as part of its design look.
Although a comprehensive list of Wendy’s restaurants slated for closure has not been announced, outlets in California, Indiana, and Pennsylvania have ceased operations in recent months, according to media reports.
March 20, 2026
By Garry Boulard
Wendy’s ad 1970s
