Eat'n Park

Mostly found in Ohio and Pennsylvania and known for their Superburgers and Smiley cookies, these places have something of a cult following. While the name suggests that you eat in your car, that's not the case. Six locations closed in 2019. There are still 61 left, but fans may be seeing fewer if the trend continues.

Friendly’s

This used to be the spot for a family-style dinner and delicious ice cream. At one time, there were around 500 locations, but they filed for bankruptcy in 2011. That was was supposed to help but only produced more damage. They are working on a revamp, but customers have already abandoned them. There are only 167 locations left, mostly on the East Coast.

Fuddruckers

Launched in Houston with "the world's greatest hamburgers," the chain was incredibly popular. However, it got badly hit in the 2008 financial crisis and is now owned by Luby's, which is on the verge of liquidation. There are just 150 locations still in operation, and it's hard to tell if they will survive.

Golden Corral

One of the oldest around, the chain originally opened in the early 1970s. The all-you-can-eat buffet is no longer a big hit in the days of health awareness, and hundreds of locations have closed with just 500 remaining. Rebranding and remodeling is their latest effort.

Hard Rock Cafe

In May, the downtown Houston location permanently closed, and restaurants in Phoenix and California also called it quits. Still, there are branches to visit in more than 70 countries. The chain has been operating for nearly 50 years.

Hometown Buffet

Buffet style restaurants have long been on their way out, with many diners being more health conscious. So Hometown Buffet has had to file for bankruptcy no less than three times. They recently closed 92 locations.

Hooters

In the age of female empowerment, Hooters has seen a slow and steady decline. And the outfits don't do much to help their cause. In an attempt to get with the times, some locations are now "Hoots," where the waitresses dress more conservatively. More than 7% of the locations have closed, losing millions in earnings.

Houlihan's

Houlihan's was a happy hour go-to spot, but they seem to be unable to attract younger demographics. The former owners filed for bankruptcy in 2019 and were bought out by Landry's for around $40 million, the amount of their debt. There used to be 84 locations, but now there are just 47. It's not looking good.

IHOP

The International House of Pancakes has been around since 1958, but desires for healthier food has brought this chain to its knees. In 2018, the company tried to rebrand itself as a diner rather than than an all-day breakfast place. Even jokingly renaming themselves the International House of Burgers didn't work, and nearly 50 locations have closed.

Jack in the Box

Jack badly trails the success of its major competitors Burger King and McDonald's. They've been focused heavily on customer experience and food quality, but a company report says several hundred locations have been operating at a loss for years.

Joe's Crab Shack

About a decade ago, there were nearly 140 locations nationwide. Today, around 60 are left, operating at a $16.6 million loss. The chain filed for bankruptcy in 2017 and shut down 41 locations without giving employees any notice. Angry tip-free employees and higher prices for customers have pushed all parties to a point of no return. They are just about toast.

Krystal

Krystal has a menu similar to White Castle. They had around 360 locations but closed many due to financial hardship. The chain, up to $100 million in debt, filed for bankruptcy in January. Some feel the chain will disappear within the next two years.

Kona Grill

This Asian-cuisine chain opened in 1998 and remained very profitable until 2015, when sales began to drop. Costs were cut on nearly everything, affecting food quality and service. By the end of 2019, the chain had filed for bankruptcy and 19 locations have been closed so far. A buyer is being sought.

Le Pain Quotidien

Famous for communal tables, the international chain of bakery restaurants has been in the United States since 1997, but it has shut down more than half of its branches due to the coronavirus. The company filed for bankruptcy in May, but operators in New York have been okayed to reopen 35 of 98 locations.

Luby's

The Texas-born chain has always been known for deep-frying just about everything. Before the health revolution, it seemed you could find one of the cafeterias on nearly every corner. But, as a result of people becoming more health-conscious, more than 85 locations have closed. The company is on the verge of liquidation, so it's expected more will follow.

Marie Callender's

You probably know this name from the microwave fare sold at grocery stores. Marie was a real person, and her pies were so popular in the 1940s that she opened up a restaurant. It eventually became a chain which recently filed for bankruptcy due to massive debt. There used to be 50 Marie Callender's - today there are just 24.

McCormick & Schmick's

This steak-and-seafood restaurant was bought out in 2016 by the same company that owns Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. Sales have plummeted since the purchase, and the original 85 locations have been reduced to just 36. The future looks bleak.

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