Overview
- State layoff notices and local reports identify closures in Whittier, City of Industry, Merced, and Hanford, with 55 jobs set to be cut in late May through early July.
- Five Guys cited “financial hardship” and rising expenses as reasons for the shutdowns, with reporting noting higher labor and real estate costs weighing on California restaurants.
- A Fast Company review counts at least 14 Five Guys locations that have closed or are slated to close in the first half of 2026 across several states, including Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Georgia, and Nebraska.
- Customers and observers point to high menu prices reducing repeat visits, with coverage noting a typical burger, fries, and drink can cost far more than budget rivals.
- It remains unclear if these moves mean a net pullback because the private company does not regularly disclose store counts, even though it reported growth in 2024 and lists more than 1,900 locations worldwide.