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Dickey's BBQ Chain Closes Nearly 100 Locations (Is Yours One?)

Another hundred were sold to other franchises.

Dickey's Barbecue Pit exterior
Updated Oct. 4, 2024
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Nearly half of Dickey's Barbecue Pit locations were closed or sold during the 2024 fiscal year. That leaves only 366 locations across the U.S. still open for business under the name. 

The restaurant industry continues to struggle as more Americans live paycheck to paycheck and have difficulty going out to eat

Even large chains with huge brand recognition can't survive without customers who can afford their meals, and this is causing many well-known restaurant chains to file for bankruptcy or otherwise adjust their business strategies. 

See how America's biggest barbecue brand got to this point. 

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History

Courtesy of Dickey's Dickey's BBQ Pit first location

Dickey's Barbecue Pit was founded in Dallas, Texas, in 1941. It took more than 50 years for the restaurant to begin franchising, and by 2012, it was dubbed the fastest-growing restaurant chain in the U.S.

Customers love the meat smoked on-site, which uses wood-burning hickory pits to create a rich barbecue flavor. Their menu also offers home-style sides like fried okra, barbecue beans, and green beans with bacon that taste like they came from a home picnic. 


Failures

Courtesy of Dickey's Dickey's BBQ Pit interior

Along with closing physical locations, nearly all of Dickey's virtual restaurants have been closed. Virtual restaurants are also called "ghost kitchens," and customers hate them. These misleading "restaurants" rose to prominence during the pandemic, using different names through online platforms to sell the same chain food to customers. 

Dickey's operates eight different brands, including Wing Boss, Big Deal Burger, Trailer Birds, and Barbecue at Home.

Future

Courtesy of Dickey's Dickey's exterior

Dickey's Barbecue Pit may be struggling financially, but its subsidiary, Wycliff Douglas Provisions, is growing exponentially. 

WDP is a meat processing company that delivers ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook meats to restaurants, retail stores, and private-label clients. Its sales have increased 105% year over year, and its customer base has grown even larger. 

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Bottom line

wolterke - stock.adobe.com Dickey's Barbecue Pit exterior

Dickey's Barbecue Pit is far from the only restaurant chain facing bankruptcies and closures this year. Places like Red Lobster, White Castle, Boston Market, and other recognizable brands struggle to stay relevant to American diners. 

Families struggling to move beyond living paycheck to paycheck have little choice but to cut pleasures such as dining out from their budgets. 


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Author Details

Cassandra Yorgey

Cassandra Yorgey is a journalist with more than 15 years of experience covering a multitude of topics ranging from science-fiction and fantasy genre reviews to the impacts of sociological developments on the political landscape. She champions financial literacy and consumer protections that value human life over monetary profits. She has been featured in both online and print publications, including AOL, Examiner, MSN, Exemplore, Yellowbook, and Wealth of Geeks.