Fried chicken restaurants were the most popular subsector of the fast-food industry in 2025 as traffic to chicken dining establishments rose by 3% for the year ending September 2025.
Traffic to all other fast-food concepts dropped by 1% compared to the previous year, according to market research firm Circana, as reported by Fast Company.
Despite the popularity of fried chicken, restaurant franchisees closed underperforming locations, and in some cases, filed for bankruptcy protection.
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Popeyes franchisee closes in New York
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen has closed more locations, as a restaurant at 7980 Brewerton Road in Cicero, N.Y., closed permanently on April 30, less than four years after opening in September 2022.
The restaurant’s franchisee, Liberty Restaurants Holdings, which had plans to open 30 Popeyes restaurants in Upstate New York, posted a notice on the store’s window stating: “Thank you, Cicero. We are grateful for your support over the years. This location will be permanently closing effective April 30, 2026,” Syracuse.com reported.
“But we’re still nearby and ready to serve you,” the message continued. “Visit us at: 3609 Brewerton Rd., Syracuse, NY, 13212. On the same street, just 10 minutes south. We’d love to see you there.”
Restaurant failed health inspection
The franchisee did not provide a reason for closing the location, but the store had a history of failing health inspections in late 2022, not long after opening, according to WSYR-TV.
Health inspectors cited “potentially hazardous foods” not being held at proper temperatures at the time, but WSYR did not report any additional violations after those in 2022.
The Cicero Popeyes was the second restaurant in the chain in the greater Syracuse area to close in less than two months.
Popeyes closed another New York location
The Popeyes in the town of Oswego, N.Y., abruptly closed on March 15 and ceased all operations, giving employees only 24 hours’ notice, the store’s former manager Mike Ward confirmed to WSYR.
The Popeyes store, which only opened four years ago, will be demolished and replaced with a new 7 Brew drive-thru coffee location.
7 Brew was founded in Rogers, Ark., in 2017 and operates about 724 locations in 38 states, according to its website.
The coffee chain’s name comes from its original seven drink flavors: Blondie, Sweet & Salty, Cinnamon Roll, Brunette, Banana Bread, Smooth 7, and Cookie Butter, Oswego Now reported.
Franchisee filed bankruptcy, closed stores
Liberty Restaurants Holdings did not file for bankruptcy, but other Popeyes franchisees have faced more severe financial distress and needed to file for Chapter 11 protection.
Popeyes franchisee Sailormen Inc., which faced more unfortunate circumstances, was forced to file for Chapter 11 protection on Jan. 16, 2026, and subsequently closed 20 locations and rejected their leases.
The Miami, Fla.-based franchisee, a wholly owned subsidiary of Interfoods of America Inc., believed that closing the 20 unprofitable locations would reduce the debtor’s selling, general, and administrative expenses by more than $1 million annually, according to court papers.
