In a significant change for Bucks County residents, the last Denny’s in the area has closed its doors.
The closure, which occurred on June 19, was announced quietly with a sign posted on the front door of the restaurant located on East Lincoln Highway in Langhorne.
Fans of Denny’s famous breakfast sandwich Moons Over My Hammy now face the inconvenience of traveling to neighboring areas like Lehigh Valley, Delaware County, or even crossing state lines to New Jersey to satisfy their cravings.
The Langhorne closure is part of a larger trend affecting Denny’s across the country, with 25 locations shuttered this year alone.
This adds to the 57 closures in 2023 and 60 in 2022, as reported in the company’s 2023 annual report.
According to Denny’s corporate statement, the decision to close restaurants is a difficult but routine aspect of business operations.
Robert Verostek, Denny’s executive vice president and chief financial officer, attributed the closures partly to inflationary pressures.
He noted that rising costs for food and wages have raised the breakeven point for restaurants, making it harder to sustain operations.
Verostek mentioned in February to investors that these inflationary pressures continue to necessitate additional closures.
Denny’s, which operates approximately 1,550 locations nationwide, reflects broader challenges facing the restaurant industry in recent years.
Rising crime rates, inflation, and increased operational costs have compounded difficulties for many restaurant chains.
This has led to a trend of price increases, which, while necessary to offset costs, have also deterred some customers.
National Impact on Restaurant Chains
The struggles are not unique to Denny’s; other major chains like Applebee’s, TGI Fridays, and Boston Market have also faced closures recently.
Smaller chains such as BurgerFi have similarly felt the impact.
Red Lobster’s bankruptcy filing in May resulted in the closure of nearly 100 restaurants, underscoring the industry-wide challenges.
Regional Challenges in California and Beyond
States like California, where the minimum wage for fast-food restaurants recently increased to $20 per hour, have seen particularly acute impacts on restaurant chains.
In June, Rubio’s, a popular Mexican chain, closed 48 locations in the state and filed for bankruptcy, highlighting the regional variations and challenges within the industry.
In conclusion, while the closure of the Langhorne Denny’s marks the end of an era for local patrons, it also reflects broader economic and operational challenges facing the restaurant industry nationwide.
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