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THE owner of a shuttered Denny’s location has blamed vandalism and theft for the restaurant’s closure.
After 25 years at the California location, the last Denny’s restaurant in San Francisco closed its doors earlier this month.
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The diner-style chain operates at over 1,600 locations in the US and abroad but now has no spot to call home in the major city of San Francisco.
Franchise owner Chris Haque told local outlet SFGATE that rampant crime was to blame for the shutdown.
“We’re the only store left, and we operated until the last day that we could,” Haque said.
“The cost of doing business is tremendous.
“There’s vandalism, and people come and eat and walk away, and there’s no one to stop them.”
DINE AND DASH
He told the outlet that dining and dashing was popular at the location on Mission Street, which led to the diner’s financial loss.
Haque also said that the spot’s popularity had dwindled in recent years due to the city’s culture.
He added that there were fewer conventions in the area than in previous years – which the 24-hour restaurant often depended on for business.
“It’s a beautiful city — we love it, we have been there so many years,” Haque said about the city.
“But I think [city officials] should make it more business-friendly.”
The location’s sign was painted over by August 12, according to SFGATE.
In 2022, the outlet reported that the now-shuttered location was the most expensive Denny’s in all of California.
Despite the reported high prices, fans of the location mourned the diner when the closure was announced by local Fox affiliate KTVU.
“Denny’s was the go-to spot after the club or breakfast with the family but sadly, it’s become too pricey to eat out frequently, so homemade breakfast it is!” one former diner said on Facebook.
DENNY’S CLOSURES 2024
Some of the Denny’s locations that have closed so far this year include:
- Boise, Idaho
- Chubbuck, Idaho
- Nampa, Idaho
- Oakland, California
- San Francisco, California
- Lubbock, Texas
- New Braunfels, Texas
- Ontario, Oregon
- Worcester, Massachusetts
- Middletown, Pennsylvania
- Bucks County, Pennsylvania
- Ashland, Ohio
- Ontario, Ohio
“That’s unfortunate. So many good memories,” another wrote.
Haque was previously the franchise owner of a Denny’s in the city’s Fisherman’s Wharf, but it closed in 2019.
SPECIAL MENU RETURNS
Denny’s has already closed 15 locations this year as it warns of more shutdowns after closing 57 locations in 2023.
CFO Robert Verostek said the company was still struggling to recover from financial losses during the pandemic and blamed inflation for the closures.
However, Denny’s CEO Kelli Valade, told investors that things could be turning around for the restaurant as it launches new menus.
The $2, $4, $6, and $8 special value menu will return soon in hopes to drive more traffic to the South Carolina-based restaurant chain.
