Papa John’s closed 44 restaurants in North America during its first quarter (Dec. 28, 2025–Mar. 29, 2026), including five company-owned and 39 franchised units across 17 states. This advance moves the chain toward its goal of shuttering 300 underperforming locations by end-2027, with about 200 closures slated for 2026.
During the first quarter ending March 29, 2026, Papa John’s permanently closed 44 locations in North America. The tally comprised five company-owned restaurants and 39 franchised units across 17 states, including Texas, California, Florida, Arizona, Michigan, North Carolina and Virginia.
The closures form part of a broader initiative to exit 300 underperforming restaurants by the end of 2027, with roughly 200 scheduled in 2026. Targeted sites are primarily franchise-owned, over ten years old and generating less than $600,000 in annual sales.
Management expects the streamlined portfolio to boost profitability and franchisee health by reallocating resources to higher-yield markets. A similar strategy in the U.K. lifted average sales by 17%, and Papa John’s aims to offset rising food and labor costs through more efficient operations and supply chain savings.
