Wendy’s plans to close hundreds of locations nationwide during the first half of 2026, a move that could impact the swift-food chain’s presence in Wisconsin. The company currently operates 57 restaurants throughout the state, according to its store locator.
The closures were initially announced during a November 7 earnings call, with Interim CEO Ken Cook stating the company planned a reduction of 5% to 6% of its roughly 5,969 U.S. Locations, as reported by USA Today. Cook later confirmed on February 13 that 28 restaurants had already closed in the final quarter of 2025 as part of this plan.
As of Saturday, February 21, 2026, a Wendy’s spokesperson has not released a list of specific restaurants slated for closure. “A list of affected restaurants is not yet available,” the spokesperson told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in an email. The uncertainty leaves Wisconsin customers and employees awaiting further details.
In Milwaukee, nine Wendy’s locations currently operate, including a restaurant at 11201 W Silver Spring Dr, which opens at 6:30 AM daily. The potential impact on these Milwaukee locations remains unknown.
The planned closures follow the shuttering of 140 Wendy’s restaurants in 2025, signaling a broader restructuring effort within the company. The scale of the closures – potentially impacting between 300 and 600 stores – represents a significant shift in Wendy’s operational strategy.
