Wisconsin is losing a Lake Country favorite this month. Zesti in Hartland is set to close June 28, 2026, after 12 years serving the community. The closure comes after other Wisconsin restaurant losses, including a 45-year-old hidden gem that abruptly shut down. The restaurant at 130 E. Capitol Drive opened on January 13, 2015, under chef Michael Feker, who built it around the idea of "Flavor Moments" — dishes inspired by [...]
Florida could become one of Buc-ee’s biggest expansion states
Florida already has two Buc-ee's locations, but the state may be heading for a much bigger role in the chain's national expansion. Buc-ee's official location list currently shows two Florida stores: Daytona Beach and St. Augustine. That gives the state two major I-95 travel stops and puts Florida firmly inside Buc-ee's growing highway expansion strategy. Both existing stores make sense. Daytona Beach pulls in beach [...]
From Red Lobster to Smokey Bones, restaurant bankruptcies continue nationwide
Rising food costs, inflation, debt, and shifting consumer habits have pushed several major fast food and restaurant chains into bankruptcy in recent years. While some brands are attempting comebacks, others have permanently shuttered locations across the United States. Red Lobster files for Chapter 11 One of the biggest restaurant bankruptcy stories came on May 19, 2024, when Red Lobster filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy [...]
Controversial restaurant chain launches family-friendly rebrand after bankruptcy
Florida-based restaurant chain Hooters is trying to reinvent itself after bankruptcy, restaurant closures, and years of declining sales. Now, the company says its future depends on returning to a more “family-friendly” image while closing weaker locations and rebuilding customer trust. Bankruptcy and closures reshape the chain Hooters of America filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on March 31, 2025, as the [...]
3 decades-old Michigan restaurants closing their doors before the end of June
Michigan diners are losing several longtime restaurants this month, and each one comes with its own kind of local heartbreak. From a comfort food restaurant in Roseville to a nearly 50-year Big Boy in Mason and an East Lansing institution tied to generations of Michigan State University students, these closures are not just ordinary business updates. They are the kind of goodbyes that change local routines. The latest [...]
The 3 most beloved Georgia restaurants that closed within the past month
Georgia's dining scene has taken several recent hits, especially around metro Atlanta. The closings follow a year in which Georgia diners have already said goodbye to longtime favorites, including a beloved Georgia restaurant that closed after 40 years. From a 36-year fondue restaurant to a longtime steak-and-seafood spot and an East Cobb restaurant relocating after rent pressure, these losses show how quickly familiar [...]
