Wendy’s Warned It Would Make This Change Last Year—and Now It’s Happening

Whether you visit Wendy’s for a Biggie Bag, a Cold Foam Cold Brew pick-me-up, or a classic Frosty for dessert, there’s a chance your closest drive-thru is closing before the year ends. In what could be bad news for Baconator fans, Wendy’s just made a major announcement that impacts restaurants across the U.S.—and it’s happening all before the end of the year.

Like Starbucks, Wendy’s is shuttering hundreds of locations in the next two months.

Wendy’s To Close Hundreds of U.S. Locations

“Closures of underperforming units are expected to boost sales and profitability at nearby locations,” Wendy’s Interim CEO Ken Cook said during a quarterly earnings call, according to CNN. During the Nov. 7 call, Cook reportedly revealed plans to close a “mid-single digit percentage” of Wendy’s locations in America, which could account for anywhere from 200 to 350 restaurants. 

While the executive did not share the exact restaurants subject to closure during the announcement, Cook did argue that a number of Wendy’s restaurants “do not elevate the brand” and are a “drag from a franchisee financial performance perspective.”

This isn’t the first time in recent history that Wendy’s has announced mass closures. Last year, the chain said it planned to close 140 Wendy’s locations nationwide, with intentions of opening an additional 250 to 300 new restaurants.

During an earnings call in August, Cook revealed that the brand is “not happy with our sales performance,” per CNN.  And, after losing nearly 50 percent of its stock value in 2025, Wendy’s launched a new comprehensive strategic plan, titled “Project Fresh,” intended to revitalize the brand through both menu offerings and marketing strategies.

Project Fresh is currently underway, starting with the addition of a brand-new menu offering: Tendy’s, Wendy’s entrance into the fast-food chicken wars alongside Taco Bell, McDonald’s, and Sonic. New food aside, the chain has said it continues to focus on customer satisfaction.

In an October press release, Wendy’s Chairman of the Board, Art Winkleblack, stated, “We are confident that Project Fresh will position Wendy’s as the industry leader—one that guests love, franchisees are proud to operate, teams are excited to be a part of, and creates significant value for our shareholders.”