A Five Guys restaurant in Southern California briefly closed following a health inspection that identified a serious sewage and wastewater disposal problem. The incident is similar to a previous restaurant closure from a different chain linked to sewage trouble, although the Northridge Five Guys has since been cleared to reopen. Five Guys Burgers & Fries #1326, at 8850 Tampa Avenue in Los Angeles' Northridge neighborhood, [...]
Iowa pizza chain gets new owners four years after bankruptcy
An Iowa pizza-and-ice-cream chain known for taco pizza and birthday parties has new owners, four years after going through bankruptcy under its previous owner. Happy Joe’s is the latest restaurant brand undergoing an ownership shakeup, with a group of Quad Cities investors taking over the business. The acquisition was announced September 30, 2026. The chain’s new leadership says customers should expect menu updates and more [...]
The 10 states that shockingly have the most Wendy’s restaurants
Florida has more Wendy’s restaurants than any other state, but West Virginia is the surprising winner per capita. With attention already on Wendy’s restaurant closures, the chain’s uneven distribution across states tells another revealing story. A July 2026 location dataset puts Florida ahead of Texas, with Ohio (Wendy's birthplace) third. But the picture changes once restaurant counts are divided by population. Some of the [...]
Arkansas’s second Buc-ee’s is now targeted for 2029 after another delay
Arkansas welcomed its first Buc-ee’s in Benton on August 17, but road-trippers waiting for the state's second travel center have more time to wait. Buc-ee's currently lists West Memphis for 2029, later than the June 2028 estimate reported last winter. That revision matters to anyone planning a stop along Interstate 40. The proposed store would sit near North Seventh Street, just across the Mississippi River from Memphis, [...]
Burger King is serving a pretzel-bun burger with nacho cheese—and fans have another option
Burger King has brought stadium-style food to its drive-thrus with a new pretzel-bun burger layered with bacon, crispy onions and nacho cheese sauce. The chain also added a nacho-cheese dipping option for Chicken Fries as part of the same Game Day Menu. The additions arrived October 6 at participating U.S. restaurants, giving the chain a different pitch than the combo-price debates that have recently frustrated some Burger [...]
Beloved New Mexico Route 66 diner closes after 58 years
Another longtime New Mexico dining institution is disappearing from Albuquerque's Central Avenue, following other recent restaurant closures around the state. Kap's Coffee Shop & Diner announced October 11, 2026, as its final day, bringing a 58-year family restaurant tradition on historic Route 66 to an end.The diner served New Mexican breakfasts and lunches to generations of customers along Route 66. The owners gave [...]
