Long John Silver’s Closes 110 Restaurants Since 2023

Long John Silver’s, the quick-service seafood chain, has experienced a substantial reduction in its U.S. store count, with numbers falling to approximately half of its 2019 peak. As of the end of last year, the company operated 479 locations, marking a decrease of 23 stores from the previous year. Since the beginning of 2023, the chain has seen a net decline of 110 restaurants.

The company's latest franchise disclosure document, issued in June, provides insight into the health of its franchise system. While no franchisees were terminated in 2025, six did not renew their agreements, and an additional 19 left the system for unspecified reasons. Furthermore, Long John Silver’s closed six company-owned stores during this period. These closures occurred across 18 states, with some states experiencing multiple restaurant shutdowns.

A spokesperson for Long John Silver’s, Laura Ellis, stated that the closures were due to location-specific operational factors such as lease expirations and routine business decisions, rather than a broad initiative to reduce the chain's footprint. Ellis emphasized that these were "individual market decisions and not part of a broad-based closure initiative."

Notable closures in 2025 included three locations in Arizona, two in Colorado, two in Connecticut, and one in Florida, among others. The chain, known for items like fish and chips and popcorn shrimp baskets, has been privately held by a group of franchise owners since its acquisition from Yum Brands nearly 15 years ago. The franchise disclosure documents offer a rare glimpse into the operational trajectory of the business.