Ohio-based fast food chain to close up to 350 U.S. restaurants

Your Baconator might be in jeopardy.

Wendy’s is preparing to close between 200 and 350 restaurants nationwide as part of its “Project Fresh” turnaround strategy, according to the company’s Q3 2025 earnings report released Friday. The closures target underperforming or outdated restaurants as the company refocuses on stronger markets and modernized operations.

Executives said the goal isn’t to shrink the brand, but to “strengthen the system” – consolidating resources so franchisees can reinvest in better-performing stores and upgrade facilities with new technology, digital platforms and next-generation store designs. Wendy’s CEO Kirk Tanner described it as “a necessary reset to position the brand for growth over the next decade.”

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Ohio is home to approximately 400 Wendy’s restaurants and the company’s global headquarters. The Buckeye State could see some impact, though no specific sites have been identified. Founded in 1969, Wendy’s remains deeply tied to Central Ohio – its corporate campus sits just up I-270 in Dublin, where hundreds of employees manage operations, marketing and menu innovation for more than 6,000 restaurants worldwide.

In recent years, Wendy’s has made headlines for its tech-forward ambitions. The chain launched tests of AI-powered drive-thru ordering systems – known internally as FreshAI – in partnership with Google Cloud. It also experimented with kitchen automation and dynamic pricing pilots. The initiatives were billed as the future of fast food: quicker service, fewer errors and smarter operations.

The restaurant closures are set to begin later this year and continue into 2026.

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