As restaurant closures piled up across the U.S. in recent years, one brand stood out for its resilience: McDonald's. While competitors downsized locations, trimmed menus, or filed for bankruptcy, McDonald’s continued to outperform much of the fast-food industry. The reasons reveal how unique its business model really is. A business built on real estate, not just burgers Unlike many rivals, McDonald’s makes a significant [...]
After 50 years, a beloved Wisconsin health-food restaurant is closing
For decades, Beans & Barley has been a familiar name to generations of Milwaukee diners seeking vegetarian, vegan, and health-focused meals. Now, the longtime East Side restaurant and market has announced it will close, marking the end of an era for one of the city’s most recognizable independent food businesses. The closure adds to a growing list of Wisconsin food and beverage establishments that have shut their doors [...]
“I learned here and I loved it here”; Houston restaurant closes after 27-year run
As 2025 came to a close, so did many beloved restaurants, many closing for good on New Year’s Eve. One such restaurant – a beloved Italian-American gem in the Montrose area in Houston – was one of these establishments, though a sweet part of its legacy went to live on in the New Year. A beloved local institution bows out Paulie’s, a longtime Houston favorite known for its Italian-American comfort food and cozy [...]
Beloved South Carolina restaurants are disappearing — here are the closures rocking the state
South Carolina’s restaurant industry has seen an array of notable closures over the past year, from beloved local icons to long-time national chains. These shutdowns reflect evolving economic pressures, shifting customer demand, and changing market dynamics across the Palmetto State. Columbia loses long-standing casual dining landmark One of Columbia’s most familiar dining fixtures, Shoney’s, officially closed its last [...]
More than 2,500 jobs lost as three longtime California food plants shut down
For generations, these factories helped feed the country and supported thousands of California families. Now, three major food manufacturing closures are leaving entire communities reeling as decades-old facilities go dark. Leprino cheese factory closure ends a long era One of the most impactful closures involves Leprino Foods’ mozzarella production facility in Lemoore. The plant, which had been operating for more than a [...]
California’s 115-year-old cheese plant closes, leaving 300 workers without jobs
For generations, one of the Central Valley’s most enduring industrial landmarks turned gallons of milk into mozzarella for some of America’s biggest pizza chains. Now, that storied role is coming to an end as Leprino Foods, the world’s largest mozzarella producer, winds down operations at its Lemoore East facility, affecting hundreds of workers and underscoring larger shifts in the food manufacturing industry. Leprino Foods [...]
