Popular breakfast chain Denny's abruptly shuts beloved store and moves to close neighboring location amid fears more are on the chopping block

The abrupt closure of a celebrated Denny's shop successful Ohio has sparked fears much locations will soon beryllium connected nan chopping block.

The Ashland branch, located connected Route 250, lies astir 60 miles southwest of Cleveland and was permanently unopen down past week. 

The closure appears to beryllium portion of broader plans, pinch nan meal concatenation having unopen down a number of locations complete nan past year. 

It besides appears a sister Denny's successful nan neighboring towns of Akron, Ontario and Mansfield are besides group to close.

Denny's operates astir 1,600 locations crossed nan country, according to its website. 

Locals shared their disappointment online pinch 1 server saying they were grieving its closure.

'It’s nan very extremity of 13 years astatine Denny’s, truthful galore awesome group on nan way. I’m truthful sad!' wrote server Ashley Gregory. 

'I can’t judge it’s really existent but I can’t definitive really thankful I americium to person had a occupation that long, moving pinch my schedule.'

'As a server arsenic good arsenic managing and cooking passim my time, it’s really a sad time. This was not only my 2nd location but for illustration family also. I americium grieving for illustration I mislaid someone!', Gregory shared.

'Sad time successful Ashland, nan Denny’s is closed. Permanently', wrote Don Bigelow.

'Yesterday I learned that Ashland Denny's is closed permanently. Ohh nan nosy stories that could beryllium told from going location aft nan bars unopen down for nan night. I'm conscionable hoping for a Waffle House to return its place,' added Bob Egyedi.

Ashland's appears to beryllium portion of a larger inclination affecting Denny's locations crossed Ohio and Michigan. 

Denn-Ohio, a franchisee successful nan region, revenge for bankruptcy past autumn and subsequently unopen down 10 stores, including respective successful Ohio. 

Elsewhere, a Denny's successful Pennsylvania precocious closed, arsenic did 1 of nan 2 locations successful Lubbock, Texas. 

Last month, nan past remaining Denny's successful Bucks County successful Pennsylvania officially closed its doors. 

The closure connected June 19 was softly announced pinch a motion posted connected nan beforehand doorway of nan edifice connected East Lincoln Highway successful Langhorne.

Fans of nan chain's meal sandwich Moons Over My Hammy will now request to recreation to nan Lehigh Valley, Delaware County, aliases New Jersey to fulfill their cravings. 

The Langhorne location is among 25 Denny's that person shuttered this twelvemonth alone.

That is connected apical of 60 closing successful 2023 and different 60 successful 2022, according to nan company's 2023 yearly report.

Robert Verostek, Denny's executive vice president and main financial officer, blamed ostentation arsenic a important facet starring to nan closures erstwhile he said to investors successful February. 

He pointed retired that nan breakeven constituent for a edifice to stay unfastened had jumped from $1 cardinal to $1.2 cardinal owed to higher costs for nutrient and wages.

'So, we are continuing to activity done immoderate further closures arsenic a consequence of those inflationary pressures,' Verostek said.

Denny’s is undergoing respective changes successful an effort to revamp its brand, including rolling retired a caller menu, an updated loyalty programme pinch monthly challenges, and moreover virtual brands. 

In February, a 54-year-old branch of Denny's successful Oakland shut owed to soaring  crime in nan Bay Area.

Restaurants person progressively been struggling this year. 

Inflation is partially to blasted pinch prices steadily expanding complete nan past 2 years pinch higher costs passed connected to customers. 

Perhaps inevitably these value hikes person led to a autumn successful visitant numbers. 

Bigger chains specified arsenic Applebee's, TGI Fridays and Boston Market person have each precocious shuttered restaurants, arsenic person smaller chains for illustration BurgerFi. 

Red Lobster revenge for bankruptcy successful May and besides shuttered almost 100 restaurants. It is considering shutting arsenic galore arsenic 135 more.

Chains person been worst deed successful California wherever nan minimum costs for accelerated nutrient restaurants jumped to $20-an-hour from April 1. 

In early June, Mexican concatenation Rubio's unopen 48 locations in nan authorities and besides revenge for bankruptcy. 

Also successful June, BurgerFi - which touts itself arsenic an upmarket McDonald's - sparked concerns of wide closures aft revealing it is considering bankruptcy.

Bosses are looking astatine Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which would let it to get retired of leases for its worst performing restaurants and waste disconnected nan contents - as Red Lobster did past month.

National java and upmarket market chain Foxtrot said astatine nan commencement of April it will unopen all its stores pinch contiguous effect - leaving unit and customers stunned.

Meanwhile, retailer Express - a promenade staple - revenge for bankruptcy successful April and said it would unopen 95 outlets. 

The closures shape portion of a larger downturn successful US unit as almost 2,600 stores person already closed so acold this year. 

Big names including Macy's, Walmart, Walgreens, Foot Locker and 7-Eleven person each said they are closing shops.

Discount stores for illustration Family Dollar and bankrupt 99 Cents Only person been worst hit, arsenic person drugstores for illustration CVS and Rite Aid.

If nan closures were to proceed astatine nan aforesaid complaint for nan remainder of nan twelvemonth they would full 7,800 successful 2024 - almost 40 percent much than nan full successful 2023.

Bricks-and-mortar locations are struggling successful nan look of title from online.