Cheesecake Factory Closes Restaurants Amid Aggressive Growth

The Cheesecake Factory initiated closures of several of its restaurants at the beginning of 2026, a move that contrasts with the company's stated objective of undertaking its most expansive growth year to date. The restaurant chain currently manages a total of 218 Cheesecake Factory-branded establishments within the United States. California leads in location count with 38, followed by Florida with 24, and Texas with 20.

On January 24, 2026, the company executed a significant operational adjustment by simultaneously closing two long-established sites. These included a waterfront restaurant in Baltimore's Inner Harbor, which had been in operation for 29 years, and a location in Friendship Heights, Washington, D.C., that had operated for 34 years. In addition to these closures, the parent company also shuttered two other restaurants in Houston around the same period. One of these was a Grand Lux Cafe, a casual-dining chain established by the founders of The Cheesecake Factory. The other was Blanco Cocina + Cantina, which represented the sole Texas location for this particular brand under Fox Restaurant Concepts and ceased operations after seven years in the Galleria area.

The closure of the Baltimore restaurant occurred as part of a larger trend of businesses departing from the Inner Harbor area, a situation linked to the planned redevelopment of Harborplace. Notably, Pizzeria Uno and Hooters had also exited the same waterfront strip in the preceding year. In a statement, the company indicated that it was assisting affected staff with transitioning to alternative employment opportunities, specifying that the closures impacted 115 employees. The statement conveyed appreciation for the company's 29-year tenure within the Inner Harbor community.

Concurrently, The Cheesecake Factory is actively pursuing an ambitious expansion strategy, with plans to inaugurate 26 new restaurants across its entire portfolio in 2026. This portfolio encompasses The Cheesecake Factory brand, as well as North Italia, Flower Child, and the various brands under Fox Restaurant Concepts. This expansion continues a growth trajectory that has been consistent since 2023. The company expressed confidence in its capacity to meet its development targets, citing a robust pipeline of opportunities. Furthermore, the company articulated a long-term objective to expand The Cheesecake Factory brand alone to 300 domestic locations.