WPBN: Only a closed sign pinned to the front doors remained after the fast food giant’s sudden move. According to WDTN, that’s how Ohio consumers discovered the Wendy’s restaurants in Miami and Beavercreek earlier this week.
According to images captured by the publication, there was a paper notice in the window of the Miami shop that said, “This location is permanently closed.”
In addition, U-Haul box trucks were parked outside, the lights were out, and the drive-thru menu signage had been removed. A cursory Google search for the Wendy’s locations in Beavercreek and Miami now returns “permanently closed,” too.
Additionally, each has been removed from Wendy’s comprehensive list of its 5,996 locations around the country.
Given that Wendy’s announced at the end of October that it would close 140 “poor performing” and “outdated” restaurants nationwide by the end of the year, it isn’t totally shocking.
According to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, it has already closed 111 in the first nine months of 2024.
In an earnings call, Wendy’s CEO Kirk Tanner promised investors and consumers that the closures would only serve to fortify the business’s already “incredibly healthy” structure and pave the way for “elevated growth in 2025 and years to come.”
Since 2022, Wendy’s has opened over 500 new locations, according to Tanner.
The Price Problem
Despite this, the majority of customers expressed no dissatisfaction with the closures and asked Wendy’s to implement a number of adjustments in order to regain their business by 2025.
The first item on that list was lower prices
A disgruntled Wendy’s fan posted on Facebook, “Maybe start charging fast food prices for fast food like it always has been and still should be lol,” in reference to the closing outlets.
Reduced costs. Another person remarked, “I can go to a sit-down dinner at a restaurant for the same amount.”
According to a third, “The food is bad and expensive,”
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Fight for Food
Several others reiterated criticisms of Wendy’s food and beverages, saying that since the late CEO and chain creator Dave Thomas passed away in 2002, the quality has significantly worsened.
A customer added, “Better ingredients and no seed oils…”
According to NBC News, Wendy’s only made major changes to their burger recipe once, in 2011, when it added a thicker beef batty, buttered bun, extra cheese, whole-fat mayo, and eliminated mustard.
Wendy’s eagerly awaited Krabby Patty sandwich, which was inspired by SpongeBob SquarePants, has caused controversy recently. Following the release of a new Frosty flavor last month, consumers are also requesting the return of a beloved fall taste.
