IN A JAM
‘It was the go-to spot,’ cry diners as Denny’s pulls out of city & warns of more closures after shutting 15 restaurants
Denny's has shut its doors on a popular location as stores and restaurants struggle across the US
DENNY'S customers are mourning the closure of the diner-style chain's last restaurant in a major city.
The beloved restaurant company has already closed 40 locations this year as it warns of more shutdowns.
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Denny's fans took to social media to mourn the San Francisco closure in response to a post from KTVU, a Fox-owned television station.
"Denny's was the go-to spot after the club or breakfast with the family but sadly, it's become too pricey to eat out frequently, so homemade breakfast it is!" one fan wrote on Facebook.
"That's unfortunate. So many good memories," another said.
"I haven't been to Denny's in a while but it really hits the spot at 3 am when nowhere is open but Jack in the Box," a third wrote.
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One customer referred to another Denny's closure in her response, writing, "Was so sad when they closed Serramonte, now the only closest is at South City."
Another consumer pointed out the widespread shutdowns, commenting, "They are closing all over the country."
However, others criticized the diner chain, taking jabs at its food, pricing, and service.
"Haven't been to one in over 18 years ... they became overpriced and the food was better blah," one wrote.
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"Cost too much for subpar food. Plus don't let you sit in [past] a certain time anymore who wants to take Denny's to go?" another said.
DOORS CLOSE AFTER DECADES
The last San Francisco Denny's was located on Mission Street near Union Square and had been in business for 25 years, KTVU reported.
Denny’s permanently closes restaurant doors and shares final goodbye with customers – after CFO’s stark shutdown warning
Franchise owner Chris Haque told SFGate that crime, including dining and dashing, was a major factor behind the California location's closure.
Dining and dashing led to a decline in the restaurant's profit margins, according to Haque.
"The cost of doing business is tremendous. There’s vandalism, and people come and eat and walk away, and there's no one to stop them," he said.
Haque also cited issues with the business culture in San Francisco.
Restaurant closures in 2024
BOSSES at major dining chains have announced a series of restaurant closures. The U.S. Sun has compiled a list of the chain's affected.
- 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.
- 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.
- Denny's: Two restaurants in Boise and Nampa, Idaho, have closed.
- 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.
- Taco John's: Shuttered a restaurant in Minnesota and put the building up for sale in May.
- 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.
Speaking of the city, he said, "It's a beautiful city — we love it, we have been there so many years.
"But I think [city officials] should make it more business-friendly."
OTHER CLOSURES
The San Francisco closure comes months after another major California loss.
In January 2024, the last Oakland Denny's shut its doors, also due to crime.
KTVU captured footage of chickens roaming the property of the former restaurant location.
Denny's blamed inflation after closing 15 locations across the US in the second quarter of 2024.
The restaurant chain axed 57 locations in 2023.
However, Denny's CEO Kelli Valade told investors the situation could improve soon.
The chain will relaunch its $2-$4-$6-$8 value menu during the summer of 2024, which she said could bring in customers.
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"This was a value platform unique to Denny's that launched years ago with amazing results, and it's a unique entity only we have," she said on an earnings call.
"We're thrilled to bring back this consumer-friendly, traffic-driving platform based on extensive testing and reengineering," she added.
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