Popular US pizza chain quietly closing stores in several states amid rival pressure

Papa Johns has quietly closed dozens of stores in several states as it struggles to compete with other fast food chains. The popular pizza joint told investors in February that it would shutter about 300 underperforming stores in North America by the end of 2027. About 200 of these locations would close this year, the company said at the time.

Papa Johns appears to be delivering on that promise as 44 stores across 17 states shuttered this year, according to an analysis by business media outlet Fast Company. One of the reasons for declining sales is competition from other fast food joints, with younger consumers being drawn to chicken-centric restaurants like Raising Cane’s and Dave’s Hot Chicken, Fast Company reported. open image in galleryPapa Johns has quietly closed dozens of stores in several states as it struggles to compete with other fast food chains (Getty Images)Texas has been hit particularly hard by the store closures, with a dozen locations shuttering in the Lone Star state.

Arizona, California and Florida also saw a handful of Papa Johns restaurants close, including locations in Phoenix, Los Angeles and San Diego. The Independent has reached out to Papa Johns for comment. Papa Johns Chief Financial Officer Ravi Thanawala said during the company’s earnings call in February that the stores expected to shutter were “not meeting brand expectations or lack a clear path to sustainable financial improvement, as well as locations where we can effectively transfer sales to a nearby restaurant,” per CNN.

open image in galleryPapa Johns announced in February that it would shutter about 300 underperforming stores by the end of 2027 (Getty Images)Sales for Papa Johns’ North America locations were down 2 percent in 2025, the company announced in February. In the final quarter of last year, sales dropped 5 percent year over year.Earnings for the first quarter of 2026 looked even grimmer with North American sales dipping 6.

4 percent from a year ago. Pizza restaurants appear to be struggling. There are now more coffee shops and Mexican food joints than pizzerias, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Yum! Brands also announced in February that it would be closing 250 underperforming Pizza Hut stores during the first half of 2026. Despite the dozens of closures from underperforming stores, Papa Johns opened eight new restaurants in North America in the first quarter.

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