Wendy's Franchisee Meritage Shutters 10 More Locations After Chapter 11 Filing

Meritage Hospitality Group, one of Wendy's largest U.S. franchisees, closed 10 underperforming restaurants on Oct. 9, continuing a planned shutdown of 60 stores following its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing last month. The Grand Rapids, Michigan-based operator cited profitability issues and record beef prices in court documents. The latest closures span Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Oklahoma. Meritage previously operated 314 Wendy's locations, concentrated in Florida, Georgia and Michigan. Days before the closure date, Wendy's proposed an alternative list of restaurants to shut in Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, North Carolina and Texas and offered to help cover closing costs, but Meritage declined, saying the change would cost more. The franchisee closures come alongside Wendy's own planned reduction of about 300 U.S. stores. The company reported 44 U.S. restaurant openings during the first two quarters of 2026.