Restaurant, Retail Chains Close Stores Across US

Restaurant closures are thinning the footprint of chains facing higher costs and shifting demand. Tahoe Joe’s closed its Visalia, California, restaurant abruptly, leaving the 30-year-old steakhouse with only locations in Fresno and Bakersfield; an employee said more than 30 workers received no advance notice. Sugar Factory has permanently closed at least five U.S. restaurants since early 2026, including locations in Miami, Chicago, Rosemont, Jacksonville and Detroit, though it continues to operate more than 20 U.S. locations and some abroad. The broader decline has also erased once-familiar brands: K&W Cafeterias closed its last nine restaurants in 2025, while Howard Johnson’s final restaurant closed in 2022.