An American pizza chain has shut down multiple restaurants nationwide shortly after revealing plans to close numerous locations earlier this year.
Papa Johns International, known for its pizza delivery and takeout services, has shut down establishments in 17 states across the US in 2025. The company had a total of 3,487 locations in North America as of March, with the majority being franchised.
In February, Papa Johns announced intentions to shut down about 300 locations by the end of 2027, with the majority of closures expected to occur this year.
The company has been facing challenges due to declining sales attributed to various factors like evolving consumer preferences away from pizza, escalating operational expenses, and a more cost-conscious customer base.
In a similar trend, Pizza Hut, a competitor of Papa Johns, has also closed several outlets, with its parent company, Yum Brands, reportedly considering a sale of the chain.
Papa Johns reported a 2% decrease in North American same-store sales in 2025, with an additional 6.4% decline in the first quarter of this year, as per Fast Company.
The stock value of Papa Johns International has dropped by approximately 21% year-to-date, contrasting with the S&P 500, which has seen an increase of nearly 8% during the same period. Over the past five years, the pizza chain’s stock price has plummeted by nearly 70%.
According to Fast Company, more than 40 Papa Johns locations have closed in the current year. The closures have been observed in various states across the US.
Papa Johns has not disclosed specific locations targeted for closure as part of its restructuring plan, nor has it provided details on potential job losses.
