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Papa John’s to Shutter 300 Underperforming North American Stores by 2027

Management says the pullback targets weak units to lift profitability by redirecting orders to healthier locations.

Overview

  • About 200 locations are slated to close in 2026, with roughly 100 more planned in 2027.
  • Executives said targeted restaurants are not meeting brand expectations or lack a path to sustainable improvement, with sales expected to shift to nearby stores.
  • Many affected sites are franchise-owned, more than a decade old, and generate under $600,000 in annual sales, according to the CFO.
  • Papa John’s will cut roughly 7% of corporate roles and simplify operations by trimming the menu, including removing Papadias and Papa Bites.
  • North America same-store sales fell 5.4% in Q4; the company says the planned closures represent about 21% of global sales and has not named specific locations.