A Michigan-based Wendy’s franchisee is continuing to close restaurants after filing for bankruptcy last month, this time shuttering 10 underperforming locations on Oct. 9.
The closures follow Grand Rapids Wendy’s franchisee Meritage Hospitality Group's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing last month. The franchisee has planned to close locations since late 2025, according to court documents filed in September. Specifically, the franchisee planned to shutter 60 underperforming stores, with closures continuing into September and October, per court documents.
The franchisee previously said it had 314 Wendy’s locations and is one of the largest Wendy’s franchisees in the United States. Court documents say the closures were due to profitability issues and record
beef prices.
While the franchisee initiated the recent closures, Wendy’s previously announced planned closures of its own, including ones that would affect about 300 stores nationwide. The company also reported 44 U.S. restaurant openings during the first two quarters of 2026.
Wendy's told USA TODAY on Sept. 21 that the company was focused on "serving our customers, supporting our franchise system and strengthening the long-term health of the brand."
USA TODAY contacted Wendy’s and Meritage Hospitality Group on Oct. 21 for comment and an updated count of the company’s franchised locations but has not yet received a response.
Which locations has the franchisee closed recently?
The following franchised locations were slated for closure Oct. 9. The stores no longer appear on the Wendy’s location-by-state site and are marked permanently closed on Google.
Florida
- Jacksonville – 7027 Commonwealth Ave.
- Jacksonville – 10101 New Berlin Road
Georgia
- Marietta – 2668 Windy Hill Road SE
Michigan
- Grosse Pointe Farms – 18800 Mack Ave.
- Hudsonville – 4037 32nd Ave.
Oklahoma
- Choctaw – 14329 NE 23rd St.
- Moore – 1300 N. Moore Ave.
- Oklahoma City – 705 S. MacArthur Blvd.
- Oklahoma City – 1128 NW 178th St.
- Oklahoma City – 13524 N. Rockwell Ave.
Wendy’s tried to save some locations, close others
Among Meritage Hospitality Group’s recent closures were 10 Wendy’s locations in Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Oklahoma, all slated to shutter Oct. 9, according to court documents.
A few days before the closure date, Wendy's tried to save some locations and instead suggested closing select restaurants in Florida, Georgia and Oklahoma. The list Wendy’s suggested also included restaurants in North Carolina and Texas.
However, Meritage Hospitality Group listened to advisers and declined to change the closure list because the move would cost the franchisee more money, court documents say. Wendy’s offered to help cover the costs of closing the suggested locations, but the franchisee declined and proceeded with its original plan.
Where does the franchisee have locations?
Meritage Hospitality Group said in September that it operates 314 Wendy’s locations, with most concentrated in Florida, Georgia and Michigan.
- Arkansas – 8
- Connecticut – 29
- Florida – 44
- Georgia – 44
- Indiana – 13
- Massachusetts – 13
- Michigan – 54
- Mississippi – 7
- Missouri – 4
- North Carolina – 16
- Ohio – 12
- Oklahoma – 23
- Tennessee – 24
- Texas – 11
- Virginia – 12
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s trending team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why are some Wendy's locations closing? What we know
