75-year-old burger chain closes struggling restaurant locations
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Key PointsOver-expansion and declining sales have forced burger chains to close underperforming locations.A popular burger chain is closing eight restaurants in Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee.The burger chain plans to open new locations in 2026.The great Burger Wars of the early 1980s featured Burger King advertising its flame-broiled burger as superior in taste over McDonald’s burgers cooked on flat griddles. Then came Wendy’s advertisements in 1984 with legendary actor Clara Peller asking, “Where’s the beef,” and the fast-food chain claiming its single burger had more beef than Burger King’s Whopper or McDonald’s Big Mac. With so many burger chains competing against McDonald’s and its over 44,000 worldwide locations, according to the company’s third quarter report, competitors have been reviewing their restaurant locations and closing units that no longer make sense to operate. Over-expansion has led burger chains to close underperforming restaurants and those struggling in markets with multiple locations. Hardee’s closed 8 locations Between August and December 2025, eight Hardee’s restaurants located in North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri and Pennsylvania closed. Wendy’s revealed earlier this year that it would close 300 locations in the fourth quarter of 2025 and stretching into 2026, citing a decline in traffic to stores and a decrease in sales. Burger King had a few problems in 2025, as its franchisee Consolidated Burger Holdings LLC, which owned 57 locations in Florida and Georgia, filed for Chapter 11 protection in April 2025.
Consolidated Burger Holdings had been in a legal dispute with Burger King Co. over their franchise agreement beginning in 2019, but the parties finally reached a settlement in September 2024, according to court documents. The franchisee did not state a specific reason for filing for bankruptcy in its petition. Burger King, however, has closed four U.S. locations in 2025 after shutting six locations in 2024, Usearch reported. Burger King closed locations in 2025: 203 Market St., Celina, Ohio, Sept. 30, 2025 2007 S. U.S. Highway 1, Fort Pierce, Fla., Sept. 25, 2025 2 S. Mountain Blvd., Mountain Top, Pa., Feb. 13, 2025 1535 Sunset Beach Road, Suamico, Wis., Feb. 9, 2025 Even McDonald’s has said it will close some older, underperforming locations this year. Whataburger is closing eight restaurant locations in Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. — Source: Shutterstock Whataburger closes 8 restaurant locations And now, iconic burger chain Whataburger is closing eight restaurants in Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee after a review of its locations, according to company statements and media reports.
The San Antonio, Texas-based chain is closing restaurant locations in Auburn and Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Dec. 15, as part of the company’s ongoing strategy of reviewing operations, Montgomery Advertiser reported. “As a growing brand expanding into new markets, we regularly conduct a business review of our locations to maximize opportunities for growth and keep Whataburger strong in the communities we serve. In a few cases that means closing restaurants,” Whataburger said in a statement. Whataburger is also closing four of its 24 Middle Tennessee locations on Dec. 15, in Mt. Juliet, Murfreesboro, and two in Clarksville, Tenn., WKRN-TV reported. “While we continue to grow in the Nashville area, we’ve made the decision to close four of our 24 restaurants in the area,” Whataburger said in a statement. “This decision helps focus our efforts where we can make the biggest impact, ensuring our guests continue to enjoy the high-quality, delicious food and genuine hospitality they’ve come to expect from Whataburger. Whataburger opening new locations “In 2026 and beyond, guests will find new Whataburger locations opening through Nashville area, including our newest location off Gallatin Ave in a couple of months,” the statement concluded. More closings: Casual Mexican restaurant chain closes more locations 79-year-old national trucking company closes down, no bankruptcy 65-year-old Home Depot rival shutters business permanently Whataburger will also close its locations at 254 Riley Road in Dahlonega, Ga., and 700 US-29 in Athens, Ga., on Dec. 14, the Athens Banner-Herald reported. 75-year-old Whataburger operates over 1,130 restaurants in 17 states, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 364 days each year, according to its website. The chain is closed on Christmas Day. Whataburger closed locations Auburn, Ala., 101 N.
College Street Tuscaloosa, Ala., 1130 University Blvd. Athens, Ga., 700 US-29 Dahlonega, Ga., 254 Riley Road Murfreesboro, Tenn., 1924 Memorial Blvd. Mt. Juliet, Tenn., 11190 Lebanon Road Clarksville, Tenn., 791 North 2nd Street Clarksville, Tenn., 1602 Haynes Street View post: Bankrupt beer and pizza restaurant chain closes locationsRestaurantsBankrupt beer and pizza restaurant chain closes locationsThe popular craft brewery and pizza chain closed more locations after filing for bankruptcy.Kirk O’Neil 0 About the authorKirk O’NeilKirk O'Neil has over 30 years of experience writing and editing articles for various financial news publications, including the Crittenden Report of Commercial Real Estate Finance, TheDeal, Bisnow Commercial Real Estate News, and TheStreet. Kirk specializes in corporate bankruptcy and restructuring and Las Vegas Strip business and entertainment news. He earned his bachelor's degree in Government-Journalism from Sacramento State University. Currently, Kirk writes and edits articles for TheStreet, and he has also worked as West Coast Editor for Bisnow, and as a reporter on the corporate bankruptcy and restructuring team at TheDeal, owned by Euromoney, which had purchased the publication from TheStreet. Send Kirk an email here.Start the Conversation