News & Trending Shopping & Deals News

Wendy’s Is Closing Hundreds of Restaurants in 2026 (Is Yours One?)

Wendy's plans to shutter hundreds of underperforming U.S. locations through 2026.

By Amanda Machado , Edited by Calista Headrick

Updated Sept. 1, 2026

Add Us On Google

Wendy's, the fast-food chain famous for its square burgers and Frosty treats, spent the first half of 2026 shrinking. The company has closed hundreds of U.S. restaurants since late 2025 as part of a turnaround effort — and its new chief executive has signaled that more closures are still ahead.

For loyal customers who are looking to go out to eat more, this news sparks a pressing question. Could your favorite Wendy's be next?

Here's what we know so far about the closures, how many locations have actually disappeared, what Wendy's leadership is saying now, and how this could impact fans of the iconic chain.

Earn $100 cash rewards bonus with this incredible card

The Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card (Rates and fees) has no annual fee and you can earn $100 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.

Cardholders can also earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.

The best part? There's no annual fee.

Click here to apply now.

How many Wendy's locations have closed?

Wendy's ended the second quarter of 2026 with 5,724 U.S. restaurants, according to the company's earnings release. That's down from 5,967 a year earlier, and down from the 5,979 U.S. locations Wendy's reported when it first announced its turnaround plan in late 2025.

The net decline in the first half of 2026 alone was 245 U.S. restaurants. That figure accounts for 44 new U.S. openings during the same period, meaning the actual number of doors that closed was higher than the net number suggests.

Globally, the picture is different. Wendy's still operates more than 7,000 restaurants worldwide, and its international business added locations during the same stretch that the U.S. was contracting.

Make Money: 8 dumb ways to make money (almost anyone can do this)

Why is Wendy's closing locations?

The primary reason is underperformance. Then-interim CEO Ken Cook told investors in November 2025 that certain restaurants "do not elevate the brand" and were weighing on franchisee profitability. In some cases, restaurants were outdated, lacked modern equipment, or simply failed to attract enough customers to stay profitable.

At the time, Cook framed the closures as part of a strategic plan called Project Fresh, designed to improve the long-term health of the chain. The idea was that by concentrating resources on high-performing stores, Wendy's could improve customer experience, increase traffic, and reinvest savings into its remaining locations.

Cook said the company aimed to close roughly 5% to 6% of its U.S. restaurants — somewhere between 298 and 358 locations — during the first half of 2026, on top of 28 that had already closed in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Which stores closed?

Wendy's has never released a list of the specific restaurants it closed, and it has not committed to publishing one. The company discloses restaurant counts in its quarterly financial filings, but not addresses.

Reporters have filled some of the gap by tracking Wendy's own store locator tool. A Fast Company review in the spring found the locator showing roughly 5,675 U.S. locations — about 200 fewer than an archived version captured at the end of September 2025 — with several states posting net declines in the double digits. Those counts are unofficial and don't always match the numbers Wendy's reports to the SEC.

It's also worth noting that not every struggling location shut down. Wendy's has said some restaurants received upgrades or new technology, and others were transferred to a different operator rather than closed permanently.

Earn as much as $1K doing simple online tasks

A company called Freecash has compiled all sorts of quick cash tasks from about a dozen advertisers and market research companies thirsty for more data. Freecash has paid out over $13 million to users since 2019, and has over 50,000 five-star reviews on Trustpilot.

Wendy's has a new CEO — and a new plan is coming

The leadership that announced these closures is no longer running the company. Bob Wright became Wendy's president and CEO in May 2026, and Steve Cirulis joined as chief financial officer and chief strategy officer in June 2026 after a stint at Potbelly.

Wright didn't soften his assessment of where the brand stands. "Today we are clearly not performing at our potential," he said in the company's second-quarter earnings release, adding that traffic, the chain's value proposition, and franchisee economics were all falling short of expectations.

He also outlined five areas the company is working on: rebuilding a quality menu at compelling value, marketing that drives demand, operational excellence, a digital experience that builds repeat visits, and using restaurants as an engine for growth. A fuller turnaround plan is still being developed.

Will more Wendy's locations close?

Probably, but the approach appears to be changing. Wright told analysts in August that previous rounds of closures had been handled as a system-wide program, and that going forward the company would take "a much more targeted approach," working with individual franchisees to get their portfolios healthy rather than shrinking the brand for its own sake.

For customers, that likely means fewer sweeping announcements and more one-off closures that surface locally. Because Wendy's doesn't publish a list, there's no way to confirm whether a particular restaurant is at risk until it happens. Fans should watch for local news reports or notices posted at their nearby locations.

How is Wendy's doing financially?

Not well, and the trend has continued. In the second quarter of 2026, reported August 7, Wendy's global systemwide sales fell 6.5%, driven by an 8.2% decline in the U.S. and partially offset by 3.4% growth internationally. U.S. same-restaurant sales — revenue from locations open at least 15 months — dropped 7.0%.

Profitability took a bigger hit. Net income fell to $32.6 million from $55.1 million a year earlier, a decline of nearly 41%. Adjusted EBITDA fell 15.4% to $124.1 million, and margin at U.S. company-operated restaurants slipped to 13.8% from 16.2%, which the company attributed to commodity inflation, falling traffic, and labor costs.

The quarter capped a run of declines that stretches back well over a year. In the fourth quarter of 2025, global systemwide sales fell 8.3% to $3.4 billion, and U.S. same-restaurant sales dropped 11.3%. For all of 2025, global systemwide sales declined 3.5% to $14.0 billion.

Alongside the second-quarter results, Wendy's took three notable steps: it withdrew its 2026 financial outlook entirely, cut its dividend roughly in half to an annualized $0.28 per share, and confirmed it had not repurchased any stock. The company said the moves were meant to free up flexibility to fund the turnaround.

Economic pressure hasn't helped. Inflation and higher dining costs have squeezed the lower-income customers Wendy's relies on, making it harder for diners to eliminate some money stress. Wendy's has leaned on value promotions in response, including new everyday Biggie value offerings rolled out as part of its 2026 marketing calendar.

Don't miss: 8 clever ways to save money so you can still afford to eat out

Wendy's just lost its spot as America's No. 2 burger chain

One consequence of the sales slide became official in August 2026: Burger King passed Wendy's to become the second-largest U.S. burger chain by systemwide sales, according to industry data from Technomic. Wendy's had held the No. 2 spot for about six years, helped by its nationwide breakfast rollout.

The gap came down to momentum. While Wendy's U.S. same-restaurant sales fell 7% in the second quarter, Burger King's rose 8.5% on the back of a multiyear turnaround and a revamped Whopper. McDonald's still leads the category by a wide margin.

Has Wendy's closed locations before?

Yes. In 2024, Wendy's announced two rounds of closures — roughly 100 locations disclosed in May, followed by 140 more announced that October for the fourth quarter. Then-CEO Kirk Tanner said those restaurants were outdated and located in underperforming areas, with sales and margins well below the system average. Most were in the U.S., though some were international.

The difference this time is scale and context. The 2024 closures were paired with aggressive new development, and the company projected net unit growth. The 2026 closures came during six consecutive quarters of declining sales, with the company's U.S. footprint shrinking outright.

Closures themselves aren't unusual in fast food. Other major chains periodically review their locations to determine which stores are underperforming or need renovation.

The history of Wendy's

Founded in 1969 by Dave Thomas in Columbus, Ohio, Wendy's quickly became a household name with its square burgers, fresh ingredients, and commitment to quality. Over the decades, the chain expanded across the U.S. and internationally, and it remains one of the three largest hamburger chains in America.

Despite its popularity, the chain has not been immune to industry challenges. Rising competition, shifts in consumer habits, and economic pressure on fast food spending have created hurdles for Wendy's in recent years.

Earn as much as $1K doing simple online tasks

What customers love most about Wendy's

Despite the closures, Wendy's remains popular for its fresh, made-to-order burgers, signature Frostys, and creative menu items. Customers also appreciate the chain's commitment to high-quality ingredients, including fresh beef, crisp vegetables, and unique flavors that differentiate it from competitors.

The brand's humor and relatability on social media, alongside value-focused menu options, continue to resonate with diners who enjoy both the food and the experience. Many fans remain loyal to Wendy's, even amid the uncertainty surrounding future store closures.

Bottom line

Wendy's has closed hundreds of U.S. restaurants since late 2025, cutting its domestic footprint by 245 locations on a net basis in the first half of 2026 alone. The company targeted underperforming restaurants that didn't meet its financial or customer experience standards, and it never published a list of which ones would go.

With a new CEO in place, a withdrawn financial outlook, and a reduced dividend, the turnaround is still being written — and more closures are expected, though on a more targeted, franchisee-by-franchisee basis. For loyal fans who use Wendy's value deals to save money on groceries, that may mean fewer locations, but stronger ones.

More from FinanceBuzz: