Denny’s has announced that some of its Minnesota and Wisconsin locations have now closed, marking another set of restaurant closures.
According to Fast Company, franchisee M15 Inc. said it has accumulated unsustainable debt and plans to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
In an emailed statement, Denny’s Inc. said it was “saddened to learn of the closure” and that it is “working with urgency alongside our franchise network to explore every viable path to reopen as many of these restaurants as we can.”
According to a local news report, Denny’s employees have been notified that the company will be closing its restaurants in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
The effective date of Denny’s Minnesota and Wisconsin closures was Thursday, September 3.
What Will Happen to Denny’s Employees At Minnesota and Wisconsin Locations?
Denny’s Closures 2026.
The company reportedly apologized for the restaurant closures at its Minnesota and Wisconsin locations, but some uncertainty remains.
Denny’s warned that it could not guarantee it would have sufficient funds to cover all outstanding and payroll obligations.
The company also stated that employees with unpaid wages would be able to file a claim against franchisee M15 Inc. through the bankruptcy court.
Which Denny’s Minnesota and Wisconsin Locations Closed?
Which Denny’s closed in Minnesota and Wisconsin?
Below is the list of Denny’s locations that have closed in Minnesota and Wisconsin:
Minnesota:
255 Century Ave N, Maplewood, MN 55119
12950 Aldrich Ave S, Burnsville, MN 55337
2045 Twin Lakes Pkwy, Roseville, MN 55113
38681 Tanger Dr, North Branch, MN 55056
Wisconsin:
1000 Gateway Blvd, Hudson, WI 54016
In a statement provided to Fast Company by Denny’s Inc., Manny Trewn, the franchisee group’s representative, said, “We are deeply saddened to have made the difficult decision to close five Denny’s restaurants in Minnesota and Wisconsin.”
Trewn also said, “It is our sincere hope that these locations will have the opportunity to reopen under new ownership and continue serving their communities as Denny’s restaurants.”
A Restaurant Chain Trend with History
Denny’s recent Minnesota and Wisconsin restaurant closures aren’t surprising.
The restaurant chain has a history of closing underperforming locations, a trend that seems to be growing in popularity over the past few years.
For example, the latest Denny’s closures add to the 150 closures in 2024 and 2025.
Denny’s said at the time that it was trimming the lowest “performing fifth” of its portfolio to “increase average unit volumes from $1.9 million to a target of $2.2 million per store.”
In 2025, Denny’s shuttered 4.5% of its locations and sales declined by 2%, according to Technomic data.
Denny’s Minnesota and Wisconsin locations have now closed, and this trend might continue as the restaurant chain focuses on consolidating and upgrading specific locations.
But I’m curious to know what you think — leave your thoughts below.
Frank Nez is an American entrepreneur, journalist, writer, and investor. Frank's work has been cited by SEC and Congressional reports. Franknez.com is a personal finance and market news publication, dedicated to publishing content on money, investing, entrepreneurship, and retail investor news.
