{
  "id": 16660962,
  "title": "Wendy’s store closures: Franchisee could close another 60 locations in Chapter 11 bankruptcy",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/26/wendys-store-closures-franchisee-could-close-another-60-locations-in",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-26T21:10:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fast Company",
    "slug": "fast-company",
    "url": "https://www.fastcompany.com/91629791/wendys-closing-stores-list-shuttered-locations-likely-to-grow"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Meritage Hospitality Group, a major Wendy's franchisee, is planning to potentially close up to 60 more restaurants, according to a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. This move comes on top of the 33 underperforming stores they have already closed this year, which began in Q4 2025. The closures are expected to take place over the next few weeks through November 13, 2026, across nine states. The specific locations to be closed have not been disclosed yet, but the franchisee will determine and announce these later. Meritage Hospitality Group, based in Michigan, had already shut down around 60 underperforming stores before filing for bankruptcy on September 17, 2026. They are seeking approval to close between 20 and 60 stores, with the closures to be made through November 13. This additional closure could result in Meritage losing nearly a third of the 314 locations it had under its belt when it filed for bankruptcy protection.",
  "summary": "One of Wendy’s biggest franchisees is moving to potentially close as many as 60 restaurants, adding to the dozens of stores that it has already closed this year. The move comes after the franchisee, Meritage Hospitality Group, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Michigan on September 17, 2026. At the time of its September…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Restaurant Dive",
        "title": "What this Wendy’s operator bankruptcy can teach franchisees",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/26/what-this-wendys-operator-bankruptcy-can-teach-franchisees",
        "published": "2026-10-26T15:11:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}