Major Pizza Chain Shutters Locations Nationwide, Including In CA

Over 40 Papa John’s locations have closed so far in 2026, including at least five in California, according to a recent analysis by Fast Company.

Papa John’s executives said in February that about 300 underperforming locations would close by the end of 2027, with 200 shuttering by late this year, National Restaurant News and CNN Business reported at the time. The chain had about 3,500 locations at the end of 2025.

Closings in 2026 have affected locations in at least 17 states, Fast Company reported, adding Papa John’s disclosed in May financial filings that it had shuttered 44 restaurants in North America as of March and that it had also laid off 7 percent of corporate workers.

RELATED: Major Pizza Chain Closing 300 Locations: What To Know In CA

Fast Company’s analysis looked at local media, online reviews and postings, and the Papa John’s store locator tool, according to the publication, which reported that it had identified over 40 restaurants that appear to have closed in 2026, a number it characterized as “certainly an undercount.” Papa John’s has not publicly shared which locations will be shuttered, according to Fast Company.

For California, Fast Company’s analysis identified that locations in Los Angeles, Glendale, Manteca, Yorba Linda and San Diego have closed this year.

Papa John's rival Pizza Hut announced earlier in 2026 it planned to close 250 underperforming locations across the country in the first half of the year.

Read more from Fast Company.

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