These Chain Restaurants, Stores Closed In Florida In 2020
FLORIDA — It’s been a difficult year for businesses, including corporate chains. These chain restaurants, retailers and grocery stores were affected by the pandemic this year. Some closed a portion of their stores, while others filed for bankruptcy and shut down most of their locations.
Here’s what closed in 2020.
A.C. Moore
This arts and crafts supply chain closed all of its stores, including four in Florida this year. There were locations in Davie, Fort Walton Beach, Jacksonville and Port St. Lucie.
Ascena Retail Group
The company that owns and operates Ann Taylor, LOFT, Lou & Grey, Lane Bryant, Justice, Catherines and Cacique announced in July that it would close about 1,1o0 underperforming stores, including some in Florida.
Bar Louie
This chain gastro pub filed for bankruptcy, closing 38 restaurants across the country, including its Midtown Miami location.
Dunkin’
In July, the coffee chain announced the closure of 450 East Coast locations in Speedway gas stations.
Earth Fare
This specialty grocer bashed in Asheville, North Carolina closed all stores earlier this year, including 14 in Florida.
Golden Corral
The largest Golden Corral franchisee announced the closure of 33 locations in Florida and Georgia during the pandemic.
JCPenney
The department store filed for bankruptcy in June and announced the closure of 149 stores, including a handful of Florida locations. More closures are expected next year.
Lord & Taylor
Lord & Taylor LLC and its parent company filed for bankruptcy in August and announced the closure of its remaining stores, including its final Florida location in Boca Raton.
Lucky’s Market
This Colorado-based grocery chain targeted Florida in recent years, opening 21 stores. Then, in January, it abruptly announced the closure of all but one — the West Melbourne location — and also scrapped plans for 14 future stores in the Sunshine State.
McDonald’s
This fast-food behemoth announced earlier this year that it would shut down 200 of its 14,000 locations in the U.S. Half of these locations are low-volume restaurants in Walmart stores, reports said.
Pizza Hut
With its largest franchisee filing for bankruptcy, Pizza Hut announced in August that up to 300 locations will close.
Pier 1 Imports
At the start of the year, Pier 1 Imports said it would close half of its stores. By May, though, because of the pandemic the company was filing for bankruptcy and closing all of its locations nationwide.
Ruby Tuesday’s
This eatery filed for bankruptcy and announced the closure of 185 restaurants in October. They’ll continue to operate 236 company-owned locations.
Starbucks
Earlier in the year, the chain coffee shop announced it would close 400 locations. In November, the corporation added another 100 shops to that tally.
Steak ‘n Shake
With sales plunging during the pandemic, this Indianapolis-based burger chain closed more than 100 locations nationwide earlier in the year, including some in Florida, and another round of closures in November.
Stein Mart
This Florida retailer, based in Jacksonville, announced in August that it was filing for bankruptcy and has closed its 281 stores across 30 states.
Sweet Tomatoes
Salad lovers said goodbye to buffet chain Sweet Tomatoes this year. San Diego-based Garden Fresh Restaurants announced the closure of Sweet Tomatoes and Souplantation restaurants nationwide, including its Florida locations in May.
Wahlburgers
The Central Florida franchisee of this burger chain from entertainment mogul brothers Mark, Donnie and Paul Wahlberg closed the handful of Orlando-area locations it operated over the summer. The chain’s Key West eatery remains open.
Are we missing a chain that closed this year? Email Patch at Tiffany.Razzano@Patch.com.
This article originally appeared on the Miami Patch
