Several U.S. restaurant chains are closing down different locations across the country to streamline operations and cut costs – a consequence of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and labor shortages. A report by the Daily Mail named several chains that downsized their operations, including several familiar brands.

Applebee's

Casual dining chain Applebee's has closed around 300 stores since 2016, including 13 locations it shuttered in 2022. Applebee's President Tony Moralejo said in a March 2023 earnings call that building new restaurants was too expensive and that launching additional stores was going to be difficult. The restaurant made headlines in 2022 when one of its ads was aired alongside footage of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Buffalo Wild Wings

Chicken joint and sports bar Buffalo Wild Wings closed down 45 branches between November 2020 and March 2023. In particular, locations in Colorado, Illinois, Florida and Virginia have all closed in 2022 alone. The restaurant was sued for $9 million by an Illinois man who accused the joint of deceptive marketing; a judge later threw out the frivolous complaint.

Denny's

Known for its all-day breakfast, Denny's had more than 1,600 locations in the U.S. in 2017. By 2022, however, this dwindled to 1,445 – equating to more than 150 locations shuttering. A lawsuit forced locations in North and South Carolina to close, while local outlets in Connecticut, Oregon and New York also closed down. Denny's suffered from staffing issues throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, with one viral video from August 2022 showing two patrons helping out a lone employee.