MJP –
Wendy’s, one of central Ohio’s largest fast-food chains, has announced plans to close 140 underperforming and outdated locations by the end of the year.
The decision was confirmed by Wendy’s President and CEO, Kirk Tanner, who emphasized that the closures are part of the company’s strategy to focus on expanding and modernizing its restaurant network.
“We’re focused on opening new restaurants because they consistently perform better than older, underperforming locations,” Tanner said. “Our goal is to enhance the customer experience with the best restaurants.”
Wendy’s, headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, currently operates 6,012 locations nationwide. Ohio, with 405 Wendy’s locations, ranks third in the country, following Florida and Texas, which have 520 and 470 locations, respectively.
Although the company has not disclosed which locations will be closed, including whether any Ohio stores will be affected, a spokesperson for Wendy’s shared that the company is on track to open 250 to 300 new restaurants across the U.S. this year.
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The spokesperson noted that closures are a standard part of maintaining a healthy system and that the company expects net unit growth in 2024 to remain roughly flat.
Wendy’s first opened in Columbus, Ohio, in 1969 on East Broad Street. The original location, which lacked a drive-thru and had limited parking, was closed in 2007.
The company now focuses on modernizing its restaurant portfolio as part of its long-term strategy.
