An American pizza chain has shuttered numerous restaurants nationwide after previously announcing the closure of hundreds of locations earlier this year.
Papa Johns International, known for its pizza delivery and takeout services, has shut down establishments in 17 states across the US in 2025. With a total of 3,487 locations in North America as of March, the majority of these are operated by franchisees.
In a February statement, the company disclosed plans to shut down a maximum of 300 locations by the conclusion of 2027, with about two-thirds of these closures anticipated to occur this year.
Papa Johns has faced challenges due to declining sales attributed to evolving consumer preferences away from pizza, escalating operational expenses, and a more cost-conscious customer base.
Similarly, Pizza Hut, a competitor of Papa Johns, has also closed numerous outlets, prompting its parent company, Yum Brands, to consider selling the chain.
According to its 2025 annual report, Papa Johns experienced a 2% drop in North American same-store sales. Fast Company reported an additional 6.4% decline in North American same-store sales for the first quarter of this year.
Papa Johns International’s stock has fallen approximately 21% year-to-date, contrasting with the broader S&P 500 index, which has risen by nearly 8% during the same period.
Over the past five years, the pizza chain’s stock price has plummeted by nearly 70%.
Fast Company reported that more than 40 Papa Johns locations have closed thus far this year. The affected US states include:
Papa Johns has not disclosed the specific locations targeted for closure in its restructuring plan or the potential number of job losses.
