53-year-old dining chain franchisees close stores, no bankruptcy
By Kirk O’Neil
Published on April 25, 2026.
A slowdown in sales last year by chain restaurants has led to unit closings in some cases. The industry faced challenges including weak consumer confidence, increased use of weight-loss drugs, bad weather, and an immigration crackdown. Chain restaurant sales slowed to their lowest growth rate for the Top 500 chains since the Great Recession of 2008, dropping to 3% growth compared to 3.5% in 2024. Golden Corral Buffet & Grill, which ranked No. 46 in the Technomic Top 250 Chains report in 2025, closed locations this year due to staffing issues. The popular family-style buffet restaurant chain also closed locations in Alton, Ill., and Canton, Ohio for undisclosed reasons.
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