Dairy Queen’s The Latest Chain To Close Stores

The last few years have been especially tough for restaurants everywhere, and not even the biggest fast food chains around have been safe. 2025 and 2026 have seen a slew of closures from the likes of Subway, Wendy’s, and Pizza Hut, with the latter ultimately changing hands in June following a sale by Yum! Brands. While some of these closures have been billed as brand repositioning, there’s no denying that things feel more precarious than ever. 

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We got that feeling yet again this week, following the news that Dairy Queen has closed over 40 of its stores recently. Here’s what we know. 

Dairy Queen Store Closures

Yesterday, Parade reported that more than 40 Dairy Queen locations have shut up shop over the last two years – and while this number is a mere fraction of its portfolio (the chain boasts well over 4,000 locations across the United States), it speaks to, perhaps, the slightly more tumultuous moment we find ourselves in. The few dozen Dairy Queen stores that have closed were primarily in Texas and Alaska, with several locations in the latter state doing so at the start of July. Anchorage Daily News reports that restaurants in Anchorage, Wasilla and Palmer were all closed by their franchise owner, without any clear explanation – although the cost of shipping items to the state could have been a factor. 

These Alaska closures mark a reversal in the fortunes of the brand in the state, which just a few decades ago was on the way up. There’s now only one location left in Alaska, in Soldotna. The Texas closures, meanwhile, took place in 2025, following a warning from the brand to the stores’ franchise owners, stating that remodels would need to be completed if it was to continue operating.

The Future Of Dairy Queen

As mentioned, these closures are a drop in the ocean in terms of Dairy Queen’s true size, and they’re unlikely to have a significant impact on the restaurant’s immediate future – particularly as it’s announced plans to grow elsewhere. Just a few weeks ago, we reported on Dairy Queen’s expansion to Puerto Rico, with 20 restaurants set to open in the next 10 years. However, these closures do reflect a moment in fast food culture that feels especially rocky, and where once-successful franchise operations are now seemingly unable to keep up with modern operating costs. With the climate being more uncertain than ever, and food and transport prices not going down any time soon, further closures may lie ahead.