8 Failed Restaurant Chains That Disappeared in the 2020s

On May 7, 2020 Garden Fresh announced it would shut about 97 locations and soon filed Chapter 7 liquidation, citing the pandemic as the final blow to a buffet model already under pressure. Souplantation, the California sibling, went down with it. Fans mourned the salad bar and fresh-baked muffins, but the all-you-can-eat format simply could not survive social distancing mandates.

The August 2020 closure wiped out nine locations overnight. The company cited pandemic pressures and financial difficulties. Regulars lost their go-to spot for Japanese curry comfort food, a reminder that even beloved niche chains can vanish without warning when circumstances turn against them.

Born in 2005 and long a Portland darling with James Beard acclaim, Pok Pok announced in 2020 that many locations would not reopen. Chef Andy Ricker cited pandemic economics and personal burnout. The Thai street food concept that once symbolized Portland dining culture became another casualty of the times.

The seafood chain that once defined casual dining filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May 2024. Before filing, they shuttered over 100 locations practically overnight. The culprit? An aggressively priced "Endless Shrimp" promotion that became, as the new CEO put it, "the final nail in the coffin." The company was sold to Fortress Investment Group, but the damage was done, over 120 restaurants closed for good. You might still find one near you, but the glory days of affordable lobster fest are over.

The arcade-restaurant hybrid struggled for years before the pandemic delivered the final blow. Locations closed as foot traffic disappeared and entertainment dining lost its appeal. The concept that once seemed innovative became a relic of a different era in dining and entertainment.

The soup and salad chain quietly closed its remaining locations in 2020. Once a Manhattan staple for quick healthy lunches, Hale and Hearty could not survive the collapse of office lunch traffic. Remote work killed the customer base that sustained it.

The iconic orange-roofed chain that once defined American road trips dwindled to a single location. Decades of decline culminated in near-total disappearance. The brand that once meant reliable roadside dining became a nostalgic memory for older generations.

The pandemic accelerated the decline of buffet dining across the industry. Self-serve food bars became impossible to operate safely. Chains like Sizzler, Hometown Buffet, and Ryan's either closed permanently or drastically reduced their footprints, marking the end of an era in American casual dining.