Largest Barbecue Chain in U.S. Quietly Shuttering Locations
Largest Barbecue Chain in U.S. Quietly Shuttering Locations
ribs being basted with bbq sauce on a grill with a basting brush
Getty ImagesThe largest BBQ chain in the U.S. has seen closures after a rough start to 2024.
The Bad News
Several chains face rising food and labor expenses and Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is not an exception. Once, there were over 500 Dickey's Barbecue Pit restaurants in the U.S. The first store opened in Dallas in 1941, and the brand became a nationwide business, according to its website. "Coupled with the closures, this means that 46 percent of Dickey's restaurants were either shuttered or changed hands during the 2024 fiscal year," stated Eat This, Not That!
How Many Are Involved
The Street noted that Dickey's closed 97 restaurants but opened 12 for a net closure of 85. The site labeled it "the steepest decline in franchise restaurant units since its peak." After the closings, Dickey's has 357 locations. Taste of Country says, so far in 2024, we've had several recognizable names among chain restaurants shuttering locations for a variety of reasons with some even declaring bankruptcy. Those closing locations include:
