Denny's closing 150 restaurants, reducing menu, dropping 24 hour requirements

[Brian Lutz]

https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.co ... h-strategy

150 Denny's locations (about 10% of the chain) will be closing by the end of 2025. There will also be significant menu reductions and incentives for franchisees to remodel their restaurants to newer decor. Also, Denny's corporate will no longer be pushing restaurants to return to 24-hour operation, as the article indicates 1/4 of locations have yet to do so.

[Jeff]

I've already noticed a location that closed recently:

Hacienda Heights. This location was open last week as there was a shooting there. Was open when I drove by last week and this week its closed.

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/loca ... s/3576257/

[grocerywatcher]

Denny’s to close dozens more restaurants in 2025

https://thehill.com/homenews/nexstar_me ... s-in-2025/

(NEXSTAR) — Denny’s was already planning on closing 150 low-performing restaurants by the end of 2025, but now the company says even more locations will shutter this year.

In October, the company indicated that the 150 closures — about half of which occurred in 2024 — were part of an attempt to turn around its flagging sales. At the time, Stephen Dunn, Denny’s executive vice president and chief global development officer, said that some of those restaurants were no longer in good locations.

“Some of these restaurants can be very old,” Dunn said during the October investor meeting. “You think of a 70-year-old plus brand. We have a lot of restaurants that have been out there for a very long time.”

In an update to investors on Wednesday, Denny’s said 88 restaurants were closed throughout all of 2024, with 30 coming during the fourth quarter.

In 2025, the company plans to close between 70 and 90 restaurants. A list of exact locations expected to close was not immediately available.

[storewanderer]

Denny’s to close dozens more restaurants in 2025

https://thehill.com/homenews/nexstar_me ... s-in-2025/

(NEXSTAR) — Denny’s was already planning on closing 150 low-performing restaurants by the end of 2025, but now the company says even more locations will shutter this year.

In October, the company indicated that the 150 closures — about half of which occurred in 2024 — were part of an attempt to turn around its flagging sales. At the time, Stephen Dunn, Denny’s executive vice president and chief global development officer, said that some of those restaurants were no longer in good locations.

“Some of these restaurants can be very old,” Dunn said during the October investor meeting. “You think of a 70-year-old plus brand. We have a lot of restaurants that have been out there for a very long time.”

In an update to investors on Wednesday, Denny’s said 88 restaurants were closed throughout all of 2024, with 30 coming during the fourth quarter.

In 2025, the company plans to close between 70 and 90 restaurants. A list of exact locations expected to close was not immediately available.

What is strange in my area is the "oldest" Dennys are the ones still open, generally speaking. 70's era unit in South Lake Tahoe did close.

90's era units in Fallon and Minden are long closed.

00's era units in Sparks and South Reno are long closed.

Old 80's era units in Sparks, Carson City, and Reno, and an old 70's era unit in Reno, are still going. And all appear to do fairly well.

[Super S]

I ate dinner at my local Denny's about a week ago. I get that they are known for breakfast all day. But they have reduced the dinner options considerably. I had no issues with the food or service, but the dinner menu reminded me of the last time I ate at Shari's.

It was a little slow, but I know some people don't really like breakfast for dinner, and this could be keeping people away.

[storewanderer]

I ate dinner at my local Denny's about a week ago. I get that they are known for breakfast all day. But they have reduced the dinner options considerably. I had no issues with the food or service, but the dinner menu reminded me of the last time I ate at Shari's.

It was a little slow, but I know some people don't really like breakfast for dinner, and this could be keeping people away.

Did you notice if they had much activity on the Door Dash orders? I have heard some locations have built a fairly good delivery business in the evenings, especially later at night. Not sure how true it is, just something I've heard.

When I ordered food there last year I thought the menu seemed like it had gotten a bit too large.

[Super S]

Did you notice if they had much activity on the Door Dash orders? I have heard some locations have built a fairly good delivery business in the evenings, especially later at night. Not sure how true it is, just something I've heard.

When I ordered food there last year I thought the menu seemed like it had gotten a bit too large.

I honestly wasn't paying attention to that. I personally do not use the service.

[SamSpade]

Did you notice if they had much activity on the Door Dash orders? I have heard some locations have built a fairly good delivery business in the evenings, especially later at night. Not sure how true it is, just something I've heard.

When I ordered food there last year I thought the menu seemed like it had gotten a bit too large.

They do have the 3 "ghost kitchen" concepts going that they've said do well for them (burgers, but not "Denny's burger", fried chicken, but not "Denny's", and something else).

The article I'd read on this mentioned them, so I assume they were brought up in the investor call.