Beloved Fast Food Chain Abruptly Closes Over 40 Stores
For many people, a stop at Dairy Queen is practically a summer tradition. But for customers in several states, that tradition just got a little harder to keep.
The beloved fast-food chain has quietly closed more than 40 locations in less than two years, with the largest wave of shutdowns hitting Texas. More recently, several Dairy Queen restaurants in Alaska also abruptly closed, leaving just one remaining location in the entire state.
According to the Anchorage Daily News, stores in Anchorage, Wasilla, and Palmer all shuttered last week. "The franchise owner of the Anchorage, Wasilla, and Palmer locations recently closed them," an email from the chain read, per the outlet. While an official reason wasn't announced, the remaining location's owner in Soldotna suggested the high cost of operating in Alaska plays a major role. "We pay freight to get stuff up to Alaska, where Oregon, Washington, you know, they've got the distributors an hour away," he told the outlet.
Many of the earlier closures in 2025 were tied to a single Texas franchise operator, Project Lone Star. Court documents previously obtained by KETK showed the company had been warned its franchise rights could be terminated if required remodels weren't completed. At the time, Dairy Queen described the closures as "an isolated event."
More beloved chains are closing their doors
Dairy Queen isn't the only familiar name trimming its footprint. Business Insider reports that several major fast-food and fast-casual chains have announced significant closures this year as they navigate inflation and higher labor costs.
Wendy's said it plans to close roughly 5 to 6 percent of its U.S. restaurants (around 300 locations) while working to improve long-term performance. Pizza Hut is also in the process of shuttering 250 underperforming U.S. locations, and Papa John's has announced plans to close about 200 North American restaurants as part of a broader turnaround strategy. Jack in the Box is likewise expecting 50 to 100 closures while focusing on remodeling stores and improving customer experience.
Related: Buc-ee's Announces 15 New Store Locations: Is One Opening Near You?
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This story was originally published July 13, 2026 at 2:37 PM.