Another round of Wendy's restaurants has gone dark, and there may be more to come.
Meritage Hospitality Group, one of the largest Wendy's franchisees in the country, closed 13 more locations over the weekend of October 16-18 as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.
What's Happening
Meritage filed for Chapter 11 protection on September 17, when it operated 314 Wendy's restaurants across 15 states. The latest closures were the fourth weekend in a row that the company shut down locations, bringing the total to more than 30 closures since the filing. Reports on the affected restaurants include locations in Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Why the Locations Are Closing
Meritage has described the closed restaurants as operating at a loss, and court filings say continued lease and franchise obligations would create unnecessary costs. The closures are taking place under court-approved restructuring agreements. They follow about 60 restaurants that the company shut down earlier this year, before the bankruptcy filing.
More Could Be on the Way
Industry reports say Meritage could ultimately close up to 60 additional locations. Separately, The Wendy's Company has moved to terminate Meritage's franchise agreement and has pushed to have more say in which restaurants stay open, a disagreement the franchisee has pushed back on in court.
A Larger Trend for the Chain
The Meritage closures are part of a broader contraction at Wendy's. The chain has closed a net of more than 300 locations since 2024, and it announced plans to phase out hundreds of underperforming U.S. stores beginning in late 2025. Meritage's bankruptcy is a franchisee-level proceeding, separate from Wendy's own corporate finances.
What It Means for Customers
Closures vary by market, so it's worth checking before you head to a favorite location, especially if you're in one of the affected states. Wendy's restaurants run by other franchisees and by the company are not part of the Meritage proceedings.
The Takeaway
The situation is still developing, with no public buyer announced for Meritage's portfolio as of October 18. If your local Wendy's is a regular stop, a quick check of its hours or the Wendy's app can save you a wasted trip.
