Iowa store closures — October 2026

50 food and drink plants in 25 states have closed or set a 2026 closing date. Of the 34 whose source gives a reason, 14 are moving the work to other plants, the most common reason.

Between Sept. 26 and Oct. 24, our weekly checks found 275 stores that 44 chains removed from their own online store locators, across 42 states.

The brands are not filing; their operators are. Twenty-six franchisee bankruptcy filings by 21 operators this year across Popeyes, Applebee's, Subway, Hardee's, Carl's Jr., Wendy's, Denny's, Village Inn and more, every one anchored to a court docket.

At least 117 brewery and taproom locations in 33 states closed, announced a closing or filed for bankruptcy in 2026. Many are a single taproom of a brewer that is still in business.

At least 12 hemp and THC retailers closed or announced closings in 2026 and pointed to new state or federal rules on THC products. Together they covered 21 storefronts in 8 states.

At least 9 RV, boat and trailer manufacturing sites in 7 states closed, are closing, were consolidated into other plants or were liquidated in 2026. They belong to six companies.

Seventeen branches have a closing date a source actually gives, between now and December 4, at Great Southern, Simmons and Huntington. Bigger programs exist without dates.

Nineteen independent hardware stores, lumber counters and home centers closed or announced closing this year across 15 states, plus two Ace operators in Chapter 11. Most closed for want of a buyer, not for want of trade.