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3 Major Pizza Chains Are Closing Hundreds of Stores (Is Your Favorite on the List?)

Three major pizza chains are closing a lot of stores.

By Amanda Machado , Edited by Calista Headrick

Updated Aug. 21, 2026

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Pizza is one of the most affordable and convenient meals for busy families, retirees, and anyone looking for an easy dinner or to go out to eat more. But even some of the country's most recognizable pizza chains are facing a more challenging business climate. Higher labor and ingredient costs, increased competition from national and regional brands, and consumers becoming more selective with discretionary spending are encouraging restaurant companies to rethink where they operate.

Instead of expanding as aggressively as they did in previous years, several major chains are trimming underperforming locations while investing more heavily in stores that continue attracting steady business. That strategy has led three well-known pizza brands to announce hundreds of restaurant closures over the next several months. Here's what customers should know.

Editor's note: Store closure figures are based on company announcements and earnings reports. Specific affected locations have generally not been announced and may vary.

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Papa John's

Papa John's has announced plans to close up to 300 restaurants through the end of 2027. About 200 of those closures are expected by the end of 2026, with the remaining locations potentially closing the following year.

Company executives have said the decision is an effort to improve the overall health of the business rather than exit the pizza market altogether. Restaurants that have struggled with weaker sales or higher operating costs are being evaluated, while stronger-performing locations continue receiving investment. The company has also continued promoting digital ordering, loyalty rewards, and delivery as important parts of its long-term strategy.

Like many restaurant operators, Papa John's has pointed to less consumer spending as one of the challenges facing the business. Many households have become increasingly price-conscious, making promotions and discounts more important than ever when choosing where to order dinner.

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Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut has already completed one of the largest rounds of closing locations in the industry this year. During the first half of 2026, the chain shuttered approximately 250 restaurants as it continued adjusting its restaurant portfolio.

The closures come as restaurant companies across the industry face many of the same financial pressures. Rising wages, higher food costs, and increasing competition have made it more difficult for weaker locations to remain profitable. Consumers are also seeking more value, encouraging chains to rely more heavily on limited-time promotions, bundle deals, and loyalty rewards.

Pizza Hut has indicated that these closures are intended to strengthen the pizza place. The company continues operating thousands of restaurants worldwide and remains focused on delivery, carryout, and updated restaurant formats that better reflect current customer preferences.

Papa Murphy's

Papa Murphy's is taking a somewhat different approach. Parent company MTY Food Group announced plans to close up to 50 corporate-owned restaurants beginning in mid-July as part of a bigger effort to eliminate underperforming locations.

Unlike some restaurant systems that rely almost entirely on company-owned stores, Papa Murphy's operates many franchised restaurants. That means the announced reductions mostly affect corporate-owned locations rather than the entire chain.

Executives have described the closures as a strategic move to improve operating efficiency and focus resources where they are expected to get stronger returns. While 50 stores are still a lot of closures, the company continues operating hundreds of locations across North America.

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What's driving so many pizza store closures?

Although each company has its own business strategy, the reasons behind these announcements are similar. Restaurant operators throughout the industry have been dealing with higher operating expenses for several years, including labor, rent, utilities, insurance, and food ingredients.

At the same time, many consumers have become more selective about restaurant spending. Inflation has encouraged households to save more money, and even customers who still enjoy takeout often compare promotions before deciding where to order. That has increased pressure on chains to offer deeper discounts while still managing rising expenses. Several major pizza chains have drawn complaints for rising prices.

Competition has also intensified. National pizza brands are competing not only against each other but also against independent pizzerias, warehouse club food courts, grocery store prepared meals, and fast-casual restaurants. With so many affordable dinner options available, weaker-performing locations have become more difficult to justify.

No specific store lists have been released

One important detail for customers is that the companies generally have not published complete lists of affected locations. While closure totals have been announced, most chains have not identified every individual restaurant that may close.

As a result, customers should not assume that a favorite neighborhood Pizza Hut, Papa John's, or Papa Murphy's location is affected simply because the company announced store reductions. Some communities may see no changes at all, while others could lose one or more restaurants.

These closures don't mean the brands are disappearing

Large closure announcements can create the impression that a chain is in serious financial trouble, but that's not necessarily the case here. Closing weaker-performing restaurants allows companies to redirect employees, marketing dollars, and investment toward locations with stronger sales potential.

In many cases, operators believe that fewer, healthier restaurants create a stronger business than maintaining locations that consistently struggle to turn a profit. That strategy has become increasingly common across the restaurant industry over the past several years as companies adapt to changing consumer habits and higher operating costs.

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Bottom line

Hundreds of pizza restaurant closures grab attention, but the announcements from Papa John's, Pizza Hut, and Papa Murphy's are strategic restructuring more than industry-wide collapse. Each company has cited many of the same challenges, including less consumer spending, higher discounting, and higher operating costs, while focusing investments in stronger-performing restaurants instead of broad retrenchment.

For customers who are looking to save on groceries and eating out, the biggest takeaway is that no comprehensive list of affected stores has been released. If you regularly visit a particular location, checking directly with that restaurant or through the chain's website or mobile app remains the best way to confirm its status. Those same apps may also be worth keeping an eye on, as pizza chains continue leaning into digital coupons, loyalty rewards, and limited-time promotions in an effort to attract value-conscious diners in an increasingly competitive market.

FAQs

How do I find out if my local pizza restaurant is closing?

The most reliable way is to check the restaurant chain's official app or website, since none of these companies have published a complete list of affected addresses. Calling the location directly or watching the chain's social media accounts can also confirm whether a specific store is staying open.

Why isn't Domino's closing locations like other pizza chains?

Domino's has taken the opposite approach, continuing to open new locations even as competitors pull back. Over the past decade the chain has added roughly 2,000 net new stores and gained significant market share, which executives credit to lower menu prices and stronger store-level profitability than rivals can match.

Has the pizza industry seen a wave of closures like this before?

Yes. In 2020, Pizza Hut's largest franchisee, NPC International, filed for bankruptcy and agreed to close up to 300 locations, about one in four of the restaurants it operated at the time. Most of those Pizza Hut locations were later sold to a new operator and reopened under different ownership rather than disappearing for good.

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