Red Robin to close 70 locations; Pennsylvania likely to be impacted

Several Pennsylvania communities are likely losing familiar dining spots as Red Robin Gourmet Burgers & Brews moves forward with a wave of restaurant closures. Tied to company restructuring and ongoing financial pressures, the restaurant chain is expected to close 70 underperforming locations over the next several years – some of which are likely to occur in Pennsylvania. 

Sweeping closures

Red Robin, a casual dining chain known for its burgers and bottomless fries, confirmed that it will be closing around 70 of its locations (14% of its restaurants nationwide) over the next five years.  Red Robin has not released a full public list of affected sites at this time.

Given that Pennsylvania is home to more than 30 Red Robins (the third-most in the entire United States), it could potentially be at a greater risk of losing some of its locations. For some towns, the closures will represent the loss of a long-standing sit-down restaurant that served as a go-to spot for birthdays, team celebrations, and casual family dinners.

Moving forward

The shutdowns are part of a broader effort by Red Robin to reduce underperforming locations and improve its financial outlook. Company executives have acknowledged that rising labor costs, inflation, and shifts in consumer dining habits have made it difficult to sustain certain restaurants, particularly those with declining foot traffic or higher operating expenses.

For employees, the impending closures trigger uncertainty, as workers will be laid off or offered opportunities to transfer to other locations where available. Local economies may also feel the impact, with vacant storefronts adding to challenges already facing shopping centers and commercial landlords across Pennsylvania.

Red Robin says it plans to focus future investment on stronger locations while continuing to evaluate its footprint. It goes to show that not just independent restaurants are at risk of closure – the bigger chains are, too.

Links on this page may be affiliate links, for which the site earns a small commission, but the price for you is the same