Dairy Queen, one of America’s most recognizable fast-food and ice cream chains, has experienced a growing number of restaurant closures across the country since early 2025, with dozens of franchise-owned locations shutting their doors. Among the most notable closures is a longtime Atlanta restaurant that served customers for nearly six decades.
Although the closures have attracted widespread attention, the company says they are the result of individual franchise decisions rather than a nationwide corporate plan to reduce locations.
Dozens of Dairy Queen Stores Have Closed Nationwide
Since the beginning of 2025, at least 46 Dairy Queen restaurants across the United States have permanently closed.
One of the latest rounds of closures occurred on June 30, 2026, when three Dairy Queen restaurants in Alaska—located in Anchorage, Wasilla, and Palmer—ceased operations. Following those closures, only one Dairy Queen location remains open in the state…