Red Robin has shut restaurants in Illinois, New Jersey, Maryland and North Carolina during 2026. The closures are part of a broader effort to improve performance and reduce debt, although some restaurants being sold to franchise operators are expected to keep operating under the Red Robin name.
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews is trimming parts of its restaurant network as it pursues a turnaround. The chain has targeted underperforming locations while selling company-owned restaurants to generate cash and strengthen its balance sheet.
In February 2026, CEO David Pace said the company expected to close around 20 restaurants during the year, the Peoria Journal Star reported. The closures come after Red Robin previously outlined plans to review underperforming locations as part of a longer-term cost-cutting effort.
Which Red Robin Locations Have Closed in 2026?
The following restaurants have been identified in local news reports as permanently closed during 2026.
Illinois
- Orland Park: The restaurant at 15503 LaGrange Road closed on January 25. A notice posted at the location confirmed the final day of business, as reported by Patch.
- East Peoria: The restaurant at 314 W. Washington Street closed on May 24. The closure ended Red Robin's presence in the immediate Central Illinois area, leaving customers to travel to more distant locations. Local reporting from WMBD covered the announcement.
New Jersey
- Clifton: The restaurant on Route 3 East, near the La Quinta hotel, closed on January 25. The shutdown reduced Red Robin's presence in New Jersey. The New Jersey business publication NJBIZ reported the planned closure in January.
Maryland
- Frederick: The restaurant at 5582 Spectrum Drive, near Francis Scott Key Mall, closed on May 24 after almost 15 years in operation. The closure was confirmed in local reporting by The MoCo Show.
North Carolina
- Cary: The restaurant at 2260 Walnut Street near Crossroads Plaza has also closed. The property was sold for about $3.3 million to developer Capital Growth Buchalter, with redevelopment plans reported by the Triangle Business Journal. The location's closure was also noted in an August roundup of Triangle restaurant closures.
These locations are among the publicly reported Red Robin closures in 2026. There is no comprehensive company-issued list confirming every restaurant that may close later in the year, so additional locations should not be treated as confirmed without further reporting.
The closures fit a wider pattern in the restaurant industry. Other chains are also reviewing their store networks, including locations covered in Wealthier Today's reports on Wendy's franchise restructuring and Pizza Hut's planned US closures.
Red Robin Is Also Selling Restaurants to Franchise Operators
Not every change in Red Robin's restaurant footprint means a location is permanently shutting down. In May and June 2026, the company announced refranchising agreements covering 116 company-owned restaurants.
Red Robin said the restaurants involved in the transactions would continue operating under its brand after transferring to new franchise owners. The deals were valued at approximately $96 million and were intended to help reduce debt and support the company's broader turnaround strategy.
In a September 1 update, Red Robin said it had completed the substantial majority of the transactions, selling 108 restaurants for about $89.4 million. Eight additional restaurant sales were expected to close by the end of the company's 2026 fiscal year, generating a further $6.6 million. The company's investor relations announcement outlines the transactions.
Red Robin subsequently completed a refinancing of its secured credit facility on October 2. The October 5 company announcement said the new facility totaled $115 million and replaced the previous credit agreement.
The distinction matters for customers. A restaurant sold to a franchise operator may continue serving diners, while a permanent closure removes that location from the chain's operating network. The company's sale announcements should therefore not be read as a list of restaurants that are disappearing.
Red Robin continues to face the challenge of improving the performance of its remaining restaurants while managing its debt. The effect on customers will vary by market: some communities have lost their nearby location, while restaurants transferred to franchise operators may remain available under the same brand.
Customers seeking the latest status of a restaurant can check Red Robin's official location directory before planning a visit. The company's public announcements and local reporting remain the best way to distinguish confirmed closures from potential future changes.