Wendy’s is facing more store closures: See an updated list of shuttered locations from franchise bankruptcy

Wendy's, a prominent fast food chain, is set to close more of its stores due to its franchisee, Meritage Hospitality Group, undergoing bankruptcy. The latest wave of closures took effect on Friday, adding to a series of store closures that began last weekend. Meritage, which operates a significant number of Wendy's restaurants across the United States, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in mid-September, citing multiple business challenges including soaring beef prices, disruptions due to winter weather, and ineffective marketing strategies by Wendy's.

According to the court docket, five additional stores located in Indiana, Oklahoma, Georgia, and Florida will be shut down permanently this weekend. These closures bring the total number of stores closed by Meritage to at least 10 over the past two weekends. The company had previously shuttered around 60 locations before filing for bankruptcy.

Moreover, Meritage is required to close at least 30 more underperforming locations as part of a cash collateral agreement with its primary lender who is owed $135 million. The closures are seen as a necessary step to protect the lenders' interests. The bankruptcy filing has also strained the relationship between Meritage and The Wendy's Company, with Meritage taking issue with Wendy's reduced marketing efforts.

Despite the challenges, Meritage continues to operate 314 Wendy's locations across 15 states, employing approximately 9,000 people. As the closures continue, more details about the affected locations and the reasons behind them are expected to emerge in the coming days.