An American pizza chain has shuttered numerous establishments across the United States shortly after revealing plans to close a significant number of locations earlier this year.
Papa Johns International, known for its pizza delivery and takeout services, has shut down outlets in 17 states in the US in 2025. The company had a total of 3,487 locations in North America by the end of March, with the majority being operated by franchisees.
In an announcement made in February, Papa Johns stated its intention to close around 300 locations by the end of 2027, with a significant portion of these closures expected to occur within the current year.
The pizza chain has been facing challenges with declining sales due to various factors, including evolving consumer preferences away from pizza, increasing operational expenses, and a more price-conscious customer base.
Similarly, Pizza Hut, a competitor of Papa Johns, has also shut down multiple stores, prompting its parent company, Yum Brands, to consider selling the chain.
Papa Johns reported a 2% drop in same-store sales in North America in 2025, with an additional 6.4% decline in the first quarter of this year, according to Fast Company.
The stock value of Papa Johns International has fallen approximately 21% year-to-date, contrasting with the broader S&P 500 index, which has seen an almost 8% increase during the same period.
Over the past five years, the pizza chain’s stock price has plummeted by nearly 70%.
Fast Company has reported that over 40 Papa Johns locations have closed thus far in 2025. States where closures of Papa John’s outlets have been observed include:
Papa Johns has not disclosed the specific locations targeted for closure as part of its restructuring plan, nor has the company revealed the potential number of job losses associated with these closures.