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Wendy’s to Shutter 5%–6% of U.S. Restaurants by Mid-2026

The chain pivots to permanent value pricing after a steep late-2025 sales slide.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 13: A delivery workers exits one of the Wendy's restaurants on November 13, 2025 in lower Manhattan, New York City. Fast food chain Wendy's has reported a 4.7% decline in sales at U.S. locations, and the company has decided to close hundreds of its U.S. stores next year. (Photo by ZAMEK/VIEWpress)
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Fast food chain Wendy's will shutter 5% to 6% of its stores nationwide in the first half of 2026.
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Overview

  • Executives said 298 to 358 U.S. locations will close primarily in the first half of 2026, following 28 closures in the fourth quarter of 2025 and about 240 in 2024.
  • Closures will target consistently underperforming restaurants and be decided with franchisees on a store-by-store basis, and no public list of affected sites has been released.
  • U.S. same-store sales fell 11.3% in the fourth quarter and 5.6% for 2025, with management citing lower traffic partially offset by higher average checks.
  • Wendy’s has launched a permanent Biggie Deals value platform at $4, $6 and $8 and plans increased marketing and digital investment under its Project Fresh turnaround.
  • New menu items, including a planned chicken sandwich, are slated for 2026 as leadership labels it a rebuilding year and projects roughly flat global systemwide sales.