It's not exactly a golden era for the restaurant industry right now.
Consider everything that's happened to most of our favorite dining establishments in the past five or so years.
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When Covid struck, unsuspecting restaurants across the U.S. were hit with a shock to the system overnight.
Suddenly, even the trendiest, most exclusive, and most-frequented restaurants were empty and bare.
Foot traffic fell to nearly zero overnight.
Customers who'd been grappling for reservations were warded off. Chairs remained stacked on tables for weeks — and in some cases, months.
Food perished, staff went un-tipped. Which meant that rent, utility, and other bills piled up.
So many restaurants found themselves in the red, with no easy way of fixing it.
Even after Covid waned, many customers were still exceedingly hesitant to venture inside and dine among strangers.
Restaurants that weathered the pandemic and had ample outdoor seating could adapt by offering al-fresco dining. But that wasn't everyone.
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Fast-food restaurants have a unique challenge
Of course, not every restaurant in the U.S. is located centrally in urban hubs or by picturesque waterfronts.
These might attract lots of tourists or workers thanks to prime placement, but there are plenty of other restaurants that depend on routine, everyday customers to keep them afloat.
More closings:
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Fast-food chains, for instance, are often positioned near highways and heavy traffic hubs to capture commuters and road-weary drivers hoping for a warm meal on the go.
They offer little fanfare and are often cheaper compared to more upscale establishments.
But as prices continue to rise and customers cut back on their discretionary spending, a weekly fast-food habit might be the first thing to go.
Top fast-food chain closing in big city
This is partly what's been happening with Jack in the Box (JACK) , a popular chicken and burger chain.
It has made the difficult decision to shutter all its restaurants based in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
Jack in the Box also plans to close between 80-120 restaurants across the U.S. in 2025.
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It is currently in the midst of a new “Jack on Track” strategy, which will close down underperforming restaurants, streamline operations, and reduce debt.
It's planning to reduce its debt by about $300 million in the next two years and potentially sell its Del Taco business, which it acquired in 2022.
Only one Jack in the Box restaurant is slated to open in Kansas City in August 2025.
CEO Lance Tucker called the restructuring effort “an overall return to simplicity for the Jack in the Box business model and investor story.”
