4 Popular Fast Food Chains That May Say Goodbye to Illinois This Year

Alright Illinois, we might need to prepare ourselves for some burger-less meals ahead, because rumors are swirling about four national fast-food chains calling it quits in 2024.

Favorite Fast Food Chains

Does your family have a go-to favorite when it comes to fast food? Since I have young kids, Taco Bell and McDonald's tend to be where we go the most, but we also don't have many places to choose from where we live.

Having limited options helps my family NOT eat fast food too often, but rising costs and tighter budgets are putting the hurt on many fast-food chains all across the nation, and we may see more restaurants closing in 2024.

Fast Food Chains Closing In Illinois

I think it's safe to say that every person has their favorite fast-food joint to grab a bite to eat on the go, and I'm willing to bet many people will not like the news I'm about to share from Finance Buzz.

According to Finance Buzz's article, there are 7 national fast food chains that had a rough 2023, and 2024 isn't looking to much brighter. Here are 4 of them you probably visit often in Illinois...

1. Hardee's

Several Hardee's restaurants in Illinois have already closed, but 84 are still open in this state according to Hardee's website. Will the one on S Main St. in Rockford survive long enough to ring in 2025? We'll just have to wait and see.

2. Burger King

According to Finance Buzz; "Burger King closed hundreds of stores in 2023. The high number of closures was linked to three different franchisees filing for bankruptcy and many more shuttering unprofitable stores."

Illinois comes in at #6 for the top 10 states with Burger King locations in the United States, so if the string of closings continues through 2024, I'm assuming Illinois locations will be on the chopping block.

3. Steak 'n' Shake

Steak 'n' Shake nearly declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2021, but an investment group stepped into prevent it and began switching the brand's focus to counter-serve and drive-thru which worked...for a little while.

4. White Castle 

Whenever we ask Rockford area residents which restaurants or businesses they would like to see open here, White Castle is always at the top of the list, but after reading this from Financial Buzz, I'm pretty sure a store won't be opening here anytime soon.

White Castle faces a judgment of a staggering $17 billion for scanning employees’ fingerprints without consent. Media reports have speculated that a ruling of this magnitude could jeopardize the long-standing restaurant’s future.

If you love any, or all, of these 4 national fast food chains, you better make a point to start eating there more...just in case.