Last remaining Denny's in major US city forced to close after 25 years - and customers are getting the blame READ MORE: Pennsylvania county's last remaining Denny's shuts after 45 years By Alice Wright For Dailymail.Com Published: 14:43 EDT, 19 August 2024 | Updated: 15:09 EDT, 19 August 2024 e-mail 2 View comments Another iconic Denny's restaurant has closed its doors for the last time, stripping a California city of the chain's last location. Denny's has closed more than 70 of its restaurants in the last two years, including 15 this summer alone .
Among the recent closures is the last bastion of the fast-casual chain in San Francisco. The 24-hour restaurant in the city's Union Square district ran for 25 years before closing on August 1 as a result of rising crime . The franchise's operator Chris Haque told the San Francisco Gate the restaurant 'operated until the last day that we could.
' San Francisco has lost its last remaining Denny's location The 24-hour restaurant in the city's Union Square district ran for 25 years Read More America's favorite diner is shutting more locations across the country The location in San Francisco's crime-riddled downtown was reportedly effected by frequent 'dining and dashing', where customers order, eat and then leave without paying. 'The cost of doing business is tremendous. There's vandalism, and people come and eat and walk away, and there's no one to stop them,' Haque told the publication.
'It's a beautiful city - we love it, we have been there so many years,' Haque said. 'But I think [city officials] should make it more business-friendly.' The decline in conferences and conventions has also hit the business hard, according to Haque.
In-person business conventions nosedived during the pandemic and in its aftermath. Despite improvement in recent years the numbers have not yet recovered. 'We echo Chris Haque's sentiments that Denny's loves San Francisco and the Bay area, and closing a restaurant location is never an easy decision,' the company said of the downtown closure.
'Denny's offers its heartfelt thanks to the team members and the local community for their love of the Denny's brand; it has been a pleasure serving you.' It comes as the popular chain has been shuttering restaurants across the US. Another of Denny's recent closures was the final remaining Denny's in Bucks County, Pennsylvania .
Another popular Denny's store was closed in Ashland, Ohio last month. The location in San Francisco's crime-riddled downtown was reportedly effected by frequent 'dining and dashing' (Pictured: A San Francisco Police Department vehicle drives through a homeless encampment) San Francisco is reeling from soaring crime, an emptying downtown, and residents moving away to safer and cheaper areas Denny's has closed more than 70 of its restaurants in the last two years Robert Verostek, Denny's executive vice president and chief financial officer, blamed inflation as a significant factor for closures when he spoke to investors earlier this year. He pointed out that the breakeven point for a restaurant to remain open had jumped from $1 million to $1.
2 million due to higher costs for food and wages. In an attempt to attract customers, Denny's is joining other fast casual stores in the value wars. Restaurants and fast food chains have increasingly looked to offer value options to lure in inflation-weary customers who have cut back on dining out.
Applebee's has also released value deals as it too has faced mass closures . In an attempt to lure in Americans fed-up with increasing fast food prices, Applebee's launched the 'Whole Lotta Burger' with fries for $9.99.
The move to compete with fast food chains echoes that of Chilli's, which also launched a $10.99 burger meal that is bigger and cheaper than the Big Mac. Share or comment on this article: Last remaining Denny's in major US city forced to close after 25 years - and customers are getting the blame e-mail Add comment.
