The restaurant sector has faced location closings since the Covid-19 pandemic devastated the industry in 2020, as economic challenges have led to financial distress for many dining establishments.

Top restaurant concepts that have been on the chopping block lately have included Mexican restaurants, pizzerias, and brewpubs.

Among the Mexican restaurants to close locations in 2024 and 2025 have been On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, which closed 40 restaurants, Abuelo’s Mexican Restaurant, which closed more than half its locations, and Tijuana Flats, which closed 11 restaurants. All three chains filed for bankruptcy protection.

Pizza chains that have closed locations this year have included Domino’s Pizza franchisees closing over 200 stores globally, Little Caesars pizza franchisees in Nebraska, Virginia, and North Carolina, and Mod Pizza closing 27 locations.

Craft breweries close locations

Breweries that have faced closures include 21st Amendment Brewery, which said it will close its San Francisco-based brewpub and its San Leandro, Calif., brewery and taproom in the East Bay by Nov. 4, but has not filed for bankruptcy.

Atlanta-area craft brewery Jekyll Brewing, which operated four locations in Georgia and one in Florida, shut down all of its locations at the close of business on May 11, 2025. The brewer’s owner Michael Lundmark confirmed the closure of all Jekyll Brewing locations in a post on Atlanta Beer Society’s members-only Facebook page, TheStreet’s Daniel Kline reported.

The brewery also did not indicate any plans to file for bankruptcy.

Popular Sacramento craft brewery taproom chain Device Brewing Company suddenly shut down all three of its locations on April 27, 2025, after a landlord filed a lawsuit against the company over $23,000 in unpaid rent, Fox40.com reported.

Craft brewery closings in 2025

  • Device Brewing Company, Sacramento, April 27, 2025.
  • Jekyll Brewing, Atlanta, May 11, 2025.
  • 21st Amendment Brewery, San Francisco and San Leandro, Calif., Nov. 4.

Closings are not limited to those popular concepts, as other specialty cuisines close locations for a variety of reasons, and not necessarily for financial distress.

This Is It soul food restaurant closed its historic Houston location after 66 years.

This Is It restaurant closes after 66 years

Legendary Houston soul food restaurant This Is It has closed its historic original location at 2712 Blodgett St. after a 66-year run to make way for a sister establishment, Mikki’s Soulfood Cafe.

This Is It, which opened the original location in 1959, shut its doors for the last time on Oct. 12. Mikki’s Soulfood will open its doors in the Blodgett location on Oct. 26, according to KHOU-TV 11.

The soul food restaurant lives on, however, as its other This Is It location at 1600 Bypass Road West in Humble, Texas, remains open for fans of the restaurant.

More closings:

  • Major trucking company closes Home Depot distribution facility
  • 63-year-old bankrupt retail chain closes all stores permanently
  • Discount retail chain closes half its store locations

“Thank you to every guest who walked through our doors, every vendor who stood by our side, and every neighbor who cheered us on through the years,” the restaurant said in a Facebook post.

“For over 66 years of business, we have cherished the memories and lessons each season brought,” the Facebook post said. “As we close this chapter, we carry with us the memories of shared meals, celebrations, and the enduring spirit of family.”

This Is It focuses on rebranding, Humble location

“From the heart of Fourth Ward to the historic 3rd Ward, we now say goodbye and we look forward to focusing on growth, rebranding, and innovation at our Humble location,” the restaurant said in the post.

This Is It was founded by Frank Jones in 1959 and later inherited by his grandson, Craig Joseph, who has trained his children to take over the restaurant business going forward.

The restaurant has been visited by several celebrities, including singing sensation Beyoncé, fellow Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland, and former First Lady Jill Biden, the Houston Chronicle reported.

This Is It soul food menu entrées

  • Oxtails
  • Ham hocks
  • Chitterlings
  • Chicken and dumplings
  • Smothered chicken
  • Smothered pork chops
  • Beef short ribs
  • Fried fish
  • Pepper steak

Among the soul food entrées listed on the This Is It menu are oxtails, ham hocks, chitterlings, chicken and dumplings, smothered chicken, smothered pork chops, beef short ribs, fried fish, and pepper steak.

Sides include black-eyed peas, pinto beans, greens, okra and tomatoes, and candied yams. Desserts include peach cobbler and sweet potato pie.

The restaurant also specialized in serving a variety of daiquiris, including watermelon, electric lemonade, hypnotical, purple stuff, as well as margaritas and hurricanes.

Related: MOD, Little Caesars, and more pizza chains close 100s of restaurants