Five Guys closes four California locations, laying off 55 workers

Four Five Guys locations in California are set to shut down, and about 55 workers are on the losing end of the schedule cuts, transfer uncertainty, and sudden job loss that come with a permanent closure.

Public WARN filings show the burger chain will close stores in Whittier, City of Industry, Merced, and Hanford between May 25 and July 2, 2026. The Whittier location at 10140 Carmencita Road affected 13 employees, was noticed on May 3, 2026, and has a layoff date of May 25, 2026. Other reported closure dates are May 26 in City of Industry, June 26 in Merced, and July 2 in Hanford.

For restaurant workers, that kind of timeline matters because it turns a corporate decision into a calendar of lost shifts. A store can look open and busy right up until the end, while cooks, cashiers, shift leads, and managers are suddenly deciding whether to chase a transfer, stretch a commute, or start over in a local job market that may already be tight. One report said the affected jobs will not be transferred to other Five Guys locations, which makes the blow sharper for hourly employees who were hoping the closure would at least come with an internal move.

Five Guys reportedly cited financial hardship for the shutdowns, a reminder of how quickly unit economics can turn against a familiar brand. When food, rent, and labor costs stay high and customer spending stays cautious, underperforming stores often become the first place operators cut. In practice, that means the people on the floor usually absorb the shock first, even when the problem starts in the balance sheet.

California’s WARN rules require 60 days’ written notice before a mass layoff, relocation, or termination at a covered establishment. The California Employment Development Department also says that, new for 2026, WARN notices must explain how laid-off workers will be supported, including whether employers will coordinate with a local workforce board or other services. The agency says its Rapid Response and Work Sharing programs are designed to help employers and workers handle layoffs and reduced hours with less disruption.

The bigger signal for restaurant workers is not just that one chain is shrinking. It is that even a national burger brand can move from routine operations to store closures fast, and when that happens, the first visible cost is usually measured in lost hours, lost seniority, and a team suddenly forced to scatter.