6 Major Food Chains to Close in 2024: Are Missoula Locations at Risk?

Applebee's has been around for a long time. I can remember going to Applebee's after Little League baseball games. I would always order the "RIBLETS" and make the biggest barbecue sauce mess on my baseball outfit.

Fast forward a few years, and I can remember struggling to not get any barbecue sauce on my face during a dinner date. Now that I think of it, I haven't stopped in and destroyed a plate of riblets in a long time.

Maybe that is why Applebee's is continuing to close restaurants all over the country... NO! Not because I haven't had any riblets in a while. They are just not making the same money that they used to.

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The same goes for other national chains like Applebee's. We have heard of places like Outback Steakhouse and Even Hardee's downsizing their locations.

According to a recent article from Eat This, Not That

In some cases, the closures are directly tied to financial difficulties and may even coincide with bankruptcy filings. However, not all closures are a sign that a brand is in trouble. Some have cited other considerations, like the underperformance of specific stores.

Of the 16 chains listed in the report, 6 of them have locations in Montana.

• Hardee's (6 locations)
• Outback Steakhouse (3 locations)
• Cracker Barrel (2 locations)
• MOD Pizza (3 locations)
• Noodles and Company (2 locations)
• Applebee's (7 locations)

The economy seems to be slowly pulling out of the recession. Let's hope that means more hungry people can keep these places open. I don't know if I can live without an occasional mushroom swiss burger from Hardee's