Restaurants

Why America's Largest BBQ Chain Is Failing Faster Than You Can Say 'Brisket' By Rolland Judd Sept. 22, 2025 12:00 pm EST

It may not be one of the BBQ joints Anthony Bourdain called the best , but Dickey's Barbecue Pit has been a favorite among meat lovers for years. Still, things haven't been all sunshine and roses for the chain in recent times. After a steep rise in success from 2008 through 2017, when it had 564 locations across the country, it began rapidly closing restaurants. The company now has under 400 restaurants comprising its nationwide footprint.

The question is, how could a business that seemed to be expanding without an end in sight be met with such overwhelming failure? In a word, franchising. More to the point, the chain has drawn the ire of the f

See Full Page