Nearly half of Dickey's Barbecue Pit locations were closed or sold during the 2024 fiscal year. That leaves only 366 locations across the U.S. still open for business under the name.
The restaurant industry continues to struggle as more Americans live paycheck to paycheck and have difficulty going out to eat.
Even large chains with huge brand recognition can't survive without customers who can afford their meals, and this is causing many well-known restaurant chains to file for bankruptcy or otherwise adjust their business strategies.
See how America's biggest barbecue brand got to this point.
Earn $200 cash rewards bonus with this incredible card
There's a credit card that's making waves with its amazing bonus and benefits. The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card(Rates and fees) has no annual fee and you can earn $200 after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
The Active Cash Card puts cash back into your wallet. Cardholders can earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases — easy! That's one of the best cash rewards options available.
This card also offers an intro APR of 0% for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers (then 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% Variable). Which is great for someone who wants a break from high interest rates, while still earning rewards.
The best part? There's no annual fee.
History
Dickey's Barbecue Pit was founded in Dallas, Texas, in 1941. It took more than 50 years for the restaurant to begin franchising, and by 2012, it was dubbed the fastest-growing restaurant chain in the U.S.
Customers love the meat smoked on-site, which uses wood-burning hickory pits to create a rich barbecue flavor. Their menu also offers home-style sides like fried okra, barbecue beans, and green beans with bacon that taste like they came from a home picnic.
Failures
Along with closing physical locations, nearly all of Dickey's virtual restaurants have been closed. Virtual restaurants are also called "ghost kitchens," and customers hate them. These misleading "restaurants" rose to prominence during the pandemic, using different names through online platforms to sell the same chain food to customers.
Dickey's operates eight different brands, including Wing Boss, Big Deal Burger, Trailer Birds, and Barbecue at Home.
Future
Dickey's Barbecue Pit may be struggling financially, but its subsidiary, Wycliff Douglas Provisions, is growing exponentially.
WDP is a meat processing company that delivers ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook meats to restaurants, retail stores, and private-label clients. Its sales have increased 105% year over year, and its customer base has grown even larger.
Stop overpaying when you shop online
Shopping online has its perks. It's super convenient, but it can be time consuming to find the best deals. Instead of hunting for coupon codes (that don't always work!) and opening tons of browser tabs comparing prices, you can try Capital One Shopping.
Capital One Shopping makes saving money effortless. Just add the browser extension and when you check out, it'll scour the internet for coupon codes to help you save cash. And before you check out at 25+ major retailers, Capital One Shopping will notify you with a friendly pop-up if the item you're buying is available cheaper somewhere else.
Capital One Shopping is free to use and won't show you ads. Add it today and stop overpaying!1
Bottom line
Dickey's Barbecue Pit is far from the only restaurant chain facing bankruptcies and closures this year. Places like Red Lobster, White Castle, Boston Market, and other recognizable brands struggle to stay relevant to American diners.
Families struggling to move beyond living paycheck to paycheck have little choice but to cut pleasures such as dining out from their budgets.
More from FinanceBuzz:
- 7 things to do if you’re barely scraping by financially.
- Are you a homeowner? Get a protection plan on all your appliances.
- 6 genius hacks Costco shoppers should know.
- Learn how you can escape the paycheck-to-paycheck grind.
Lucrative, Flat-Rate Cash Rewards
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Current Offer
$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
Benefits
- Low spend threshold for its welcome offer — $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
- Cell phone protection benefit (subject to a $25 deductible)
- Can redeem rewards at an ATM for literal cash
Drawbacks
- Foreign transaction fee of 3%
- No bonus categories
- Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
Subscribe Today
Want extra-cash moves to come right to you?
Stop browsing endlessly. Get proven ways to earn pocket money, help cover rent, and crush your debt — sent to your inbox daily.