HAYWARD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 14: A view of a Denny’s restaurant on February 14, 2025 in Hayward, California. Restaurant chain Denny’s announced plans to close up to 90 underperforming restaurants in 2025. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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Hugh Cameron

By Hugh Cameron

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The diner chain Denny’s is close to completing its previously announced plans to close more than 150 stores nationwide.

The company, often referred to as "America’s diner," last year said it would be closing 150 underperforming restaurants by the end of 2025. In February, executives said that Denny’s had shuttered 88 restaurants in 2024 and aimed to close an additional 70 to 90 by the end of this year.

Newsweek has contacted Denny’s via email outside of regular hours for comment

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Why It Matters

Denny’s has also announced plans to open new restaurants as it comes to the end of the footprint-reduction plan, which it said was necessary to improve financial efficiencies and strengthen the brand.

However, the ongoing closures have received renewed attention following the company’s recent acquisition announcement. In early November, Denny's said it had entered into an agreement to be sold for $620 million to TGI Fridays-owner TriArtisan Capital Advisors, Treville Capital Group and Yadav Enterprises, an owner-operator of around 550 restaurants across the U.S.

The closures are unconnected to the recent announcement, Denny’s has said.

What To Know

Denny’s has struggled this year, last month reporting a 2.9 percent year-over-year decline in same-store restaurant sales in the third quarter. The company has been closing stores since 2023 as it attempts to get back on firm financial footing, and its CEO Kelli Valade said it aims to return to "net flat to positive growth by 2026."

Following its second quarter results, executives highlighted the need to be "proactive" in closing "lower-volume restaurants," and in its most recent earnings call, Denny’s said its strategy had boosted revenues and helped to "improve the overall health of the brand."

A Denny's restaurant in Hayward, California on February 14, 2025.

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Which Denny’s Locations Have Closed?

While Denny’s has not released a list of which stores will or have closed as part of this effort, AOL has tracked and confirmed a number that have shuttered in recent weeks.

California

Idaho

Massachusetts

Ohio

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Texas

What People Are Saying

Denny’s CEO Kelli Valade, during an earnings call in August, said: "The surgical and methodical approach, which began in 2023 and will be completed by the end of this year, was specifically designed to optimize and enhance the overall health of the franchise system with the goal of returning to net flat to positive growth by 2026. Rationalizing the portfolio was the right thing to do, and we’re seeing the results that we wanted and expected from this process."

What Happens Next

The $620 million acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, Denny’s said last month, but remains subject to regulatory and shareholder approval. The Denny’s board of directors unanimously approved the deal.

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