Popular barbecue chain with 180 restaurants abruptly closes 2 locations in same state despite remodeling earlier in year
Last week, two outlets of a well-known national barbecue restaurant with around 200 locations were abruptly closed.
Well-known Even though one of the restaurants had recently undergone renovations in early 2024, Dave’s closed both.
With 180 locations spread across more than 30 states, Famous Dave’s is a well-known barbecue brand that celebrated its 30th anniversary this year.
According to a local publication, two of the chain’s Washington locations—Tacoma and Tukwila—were permanently closed on December 4.
They were Western Washington’s final two Famous Dave’s sites.
The franchise’s owner, Ascend Hospitality Group, informed fans of the closures on social media.
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We have had the privilege of serving this community for many years, creating many memories over plates of traditional cuisine and wonderful company. For that, we are thankful, the statement stated.
Famous Dave’s History
In 1994, Dave Anderson, a Native American businessman from Wisconsin’s Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation, opened the renowned Dave’s Bar-B-Que.
He developed his love for BBQ as a child and spent years honing his skills while taking cues from Southern culinary customs.
The original Famous Dave’s restaurant debuted in Hayward, Wisconsin, and immediately became well-known for its real barbecue recipes that were influenced by local American cultures.
With outlets in more than 30 states, the brand has expanded into a franchise that is well-known for its smoked meats and distinctive sauces.
We appreciate you letting us share in your ordinary moments, family dinners, and celebrations, dear guests. Serving you has been our greatest honor.
“The treasured memories and relationships that make Famous Dave’s BBQ a wonderful location for so many people are with us as we enter this holiday season. I’m grateful for everything.
The post states that although the exact number of affected employees is unknown, they received compensation and assistance in finding new employment.
Given that the Tacoma facility had only been renovated a few months prior, the closures’ justification is likewise ambiguous but undoubtedly sudden.
The restaurant, which shares the Tacoma Place plaza with WinCo Foods, underwent minor renovations earlier this year, including new flooring and other repairs.
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After a brief closure from late January to mid-April, the restaurant returned with a country music-filled party in the parking lot.
According to the Famous Dave’s website, the Tacoma and Tukwila locations are permanently closed, and the Yakima location is the final one in Washington state.
FOOD FIASCO
Since customers are cutting back on discretionary spending and inflation is still high, several fast food companies and restaurants have closed throughout 2024.
According to a Wednesday morning report from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, eating out cost 0.3% more last month than it did in October.
The cost of eating out increased by 3.6% between November 2024 and the same period the previous year.
Restaurant closures in 2024
Major restaurant businesses’ bosses have announced a number of closures. A list of the chain’s impacted members has been compiled by the U.S. Sun.
- Cracker Barrel: Stores in Medford, Oregon, Columbia, South Carolina, and Sacramento, California, have closed.
- Mod Pizza: Bosses dramatically shuttered 27 shops in April, including some in the state of California.
- Frisch’s Big Boy: Restaurant chiefs confirmed the closure of a restaurant in Covington, Kentucky in April.
- Outback Steakhouse: The chain will shutter 41 ‘underperforming’ locations this year.
- Two Bucks: Four restaurants in Ohio closed in April.
- Chili’s: A restaurant in Port Arthur, Texas, has shut permanently as well as one in Irvine, California, and one in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
- Friendly’s: Bosses confirmed an establishment in Ronkonkoma, Long Island will close.
- Pizza Hut: A restaurant in Glen Falls, New York, closed at the end of March, followed by four in Ohio in June and 15 in Indiana. This was followed in July by a bankruptcy filing from its parent company which announced the closure of 150 locations.
- Carl’s Jr.: The first Boise, Idaho location has closed.
- In-N-Out: An Oakland location closed earlier in the year due to crime in the area.
- Cheesecake Factory: The chain is set to shutter a location in Memphis, Tennessee in July.
- Applebee’s: Announced the closure of between 25 and 35 locations this year.
- Red Lobster: The seafood chain filed for bankruptcy in May and shuttered over 100 locations.
- Taco John’s: Shuttered a restaurant in Minnesota and put the building up for sale in May.
- Frisco’s Chicken: The poultry restaurant shuttered all of its locations over the summer
- Rubio’s Coastal Grill: Has announced the closure of 48 locations in California after filing for bankruptcy.
- Burger King: Shuttered a location in California in June after 30 years.
- Foster’s Freeze: Shuttered a location in California after five decades in business due to financial struggles.
- Chicken Salad Chick: After nine years the restaurant shuttered one location in Jacksonville, Florida, with no reason given.
- M xico Lindo: The New York City-based restaurant announced its final day after 52 years and finally shuttered its doors for good on July 31.
- American Dream Pizza: Closed all of its locations in Oregon in July.
- Tender Greens: The Southern California-based chain filed for bankruptcy.
- Lefty’s Famous Cheesesteaks, Hoagies, & Grill: Abruptly shuttered 18 locations in July due to a family feud.
- Firehouse Subs: Shuttered a location in the Tri-Cities area of Washington State over the summer citing “unforeseen circumstances”
- Taco Time: The Taco Bell rival shuttered a location in Seattle after 50 years following a death in the franchise owner’s family.
- Burgerim: Shuttered a location in Burlington, Massachusetts in July, reigniting bankruptcy fears from 2020.
- Denny’s: The chain has shuttered over 40 locations so far this year with the owner of the one outlet blaming vandalism.
- Starbucks: The chain shuttered one of its most iconic locations in New York City after almost three decades with fans blaming crime. It also lost a location in Seattle.
- Subway: In August, the sandwich chain shuttered over 20 locations across the US and Canada after a franchisee lost money after being a victim of fraud.
- IHOP: A restaurant in New Hampshire shut its doors after 24 years, leaving four locations in the state.
- Switchback Coffee Roasters: The popular chain filed for bankruptcy in August after over a decade in business.
- Jimmy John’s: The sandwich shop chain shuttered a location in Nevada on August 19 after 12 years citing overexpansion issues.
- KFC: Closed the remaining three locations in Rockford, Illinois all on the same day on August 19. In total, it closed six locations across four cities in Illinois.
- Rusty Bucket: The chicken shop chain confirmed it would officially leave Florida as it announced a handful of closures including in Sarasota and Ohio.
- Buca di Beppo: The Olive Garden rival abruptly shuttered 44 locations across five states before filing for bankruptcy.
- Red Robin: Announced the closure of its Ashburn, Virginia location on August 25 after 15 years in business.
- Noodles & Company: Shuttered dozens of locations due to their contribution to around $2 million worth of losses.
- Shoney’s: The classic American-style food chain founded in 1947 officially exited Ohio after three decades of business as it reduced its operational footprint.
- Homegrown: The sandwich chain based in Seattle announced the closure of 10 locations leaving 150 employees in the lurch.
- World of Beer: Filed for bankruptcy after closing 14 outlets.
- Arby’s: The chain announced a number of closures this year including in Lexington, Kentucky, Akron, Ohio,
- Uno Pizzeria & Grill: Shuttered a location in New Jersey in July, leaving just two in the state, followed by the closure of a Baltimore location in August.
- Hart House: Shutterd all four locations in California in September just two years after the vegan fast-food restaurant chain was launched by actor and comedian Kevin Hart.
A few chains affected by these economic patterns are Red Lobster, Cracker Barrel, Denny’s, and Subway, all of which have closed numerous locations nationwide.
Inflationary pressure has caused fast-casual restaurant closures from “both sides of the menu,” according to retail expert Mitchell Olsen, who previously spoke to The U.S. Sun about the impact of rising costs.
On the one hand, the increasing salary and food expenses make running a restaurant more costly. However, with menu prices always rising, it’s getting harder and harder to pass those greater operating costs on to customers,” he said.
“Consumers are starting to push back against the high cost of dining out by thinking twice about that appetizer or going to a restaurant in the first place.”
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A competitor of Olive Garden and Alegendary restaurant has succumbed to the shutdown trend, closing its doors suddenly after patrons noticed signage being taken down.
Additionally, a competitor of Denny’s faces the possibility of losing an 85-year-old eatery that is a “cultural touchstone.”
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