Posted on 10/29/2026 10:24:47 AM PDT by Red Badger
Wendy’s could see up to 60 more restaurants closed across the United States through mid-November as one of its largest franchise operators battles bankruptcy, according to USA Today.
Meritage Hospitality Group, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on September 17, has already shuttered 33 restaurants since entering bankruptcy proceedings and could reportedly shut down dozens more by November 13.
Meritage previously closed 60 underperforming locations before filing for bankruptcy. Reports differ on whether the 33 closures since the filing count toward the up-to-60 figure, so the total could reach roughly 120 or more.
The restaurant company operated 314 Wendy’s restaurants across 15 states when it filed for bankruptcy.
Meritage reported a $31.5 million net loss in 2025, followed by another $23.1 million loss during the first half of 2026, according to QSR Magazine.
The franchisee blamed weak sales, aggressive discounting and what it described as less effective Wendy’s marketing under the chain’s previous leadership. The financial pressures have been compounded by stubbornly high beef prices, which the Trump administration has struggled to bring down despite aggressive efforts to boost imports.
In February, President Donald Trump authorized an additional 80,000 metric tons of tariff-free beef imports from Argentina. Moreover, the White House in August allowed another 300,000 metric tons of foreign beef trimmings into the country at reduced tariff rates in hopes of lowering hamburger prices. However, the measures have delivered little relief so far. Ground beef prices have climbed over 22% since Trump returned to office.
Meritage’s bankruptcy has also triggered a bitter financial dispute between the restaurant company and Wendy’s, with the fast-food chain claiming the operator owes approximately $147 million in royalties, fees and other contractual charges.
The latest development has only made Wendy’s already difficult few years go from bad to worse. The burger chain has suffered over 300 net restaurant closures since 2024, including 245 during the first half of 2026, according to NRN.
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Wendys is yuck. I only eat Culvers if I get a burger out.
Best burgers in the fast food world.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Agree. And a burger for about $3.. Can’t beat it!
Wendy’s has been doing poorly for decades.
McDonald’s too.
I didn’t make note of the order number because I was foolishly relying on the integrity of the system (which I had used several times before.)
I gotcha. You played a role whcich compunded the problem. Easy enough to happen.
YUP
I USE THAT COMPARISON—WAGES-—THEN I TELL PEOPLE TO REVIEW HOW MUCH THEY THINK THOSE WORKING ON BUILDING A HOUSE SHOULD EARN.
“The black b**ch manager said she couldn’t do anything about it. I was out the money, until I contested the charge to my bank.”
i can actually believe that ... but you have the correct solution: never go back ..
“A good burger needs some seasoning as it cooks.”
without such seasoning [salt, pepper], most meats have very little flavor ...
I thought it was just ME that noticed that burgers are a lot drier than they used to be. I had assumed it was to try to manage a low-ish calorie count. So they drain them, and get as much grease as possible out of them.
But it COULD be that the fillers are absorbing the grease, or repelling the grease or something. But I’m right there with you. Even freshly cooked burgers are dry.
Wendy’s near me is full dine-in and clean with ordering kiosks. However, it obviously isn’t meant for in house dining as going inside is a minimum 20 minutes to get any food and that is if you are the only person in the pleace. And it’s. Usually closer to 30 minutes. If you go through the drive thru its super-fast. 5 minutes tops. They don’t want you to come inside!
Grandkids love Wendy’s so...
Wendy’s left here a decade ago. Did like their jr. bacon burgers.
Lol! The nearest Wendy's to me is 205 miles away, I only go there when I drive down to see my kids.
How is that ‘surge pricing’ for hamburgers working out for Wendy’s?
Sorry, they said they weren’t doing surge pricing, it was ‘dynamic pricing’ with the higher prices at high demand times being the regular pricing and the lower pricing the rest of the time being discounts.
Even Whataburger has gone downhill since the Chicago crowd took it over. But it still beats Wendy’s.
I agree. Loved those Frostys too. Stopped eating fast food years ago, but I used to like Wendy’s and BK whoppers.
They can’t help it, beef and other prices are thru the roof. No relief since Covid unlike other consumer items. Their burgers are a signature size. A lot of burger joints have gone down to 3.2oz or lower burgers, stacked them into a double or triple and fooling people. Burger biz is hard right now, and has been for 3 years.
Roger that
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