Industry headwinds, including rising labor and food costs, increased rents, and declining foot traffic, have led several casual restaurant chains to close underperforming locations.
Among the chains that have closed locations in recent months are Applebee’s, Ruby Tuesday, Red Robin, and Mimi’s Cafe.
French-inspired, casual dining chain Mimi’s Cafe closed another location on Aug. 16, 2026, in Folsom, Calif., about three months after the company shuttered its last Colorado location in Colorado Springs.
The restaurant chain’s owner, Groupe Le Duff, did not give a specific reason for closing the restaurants. The owner was not immediately available for comment.
Mimi’s Cafe downsizes chain
Mimi’s Cafe’s closure in Folsom near Sacramento continues the chain’s downsizing, which began after France-based investor Groupe Le Duff acquired the 145-unit restaurant chain from Bob Evans in 2013, according to the Sacramento Bee.
Groupe Le Duff has reduced Mimi’s Cafe’s footprint by 106 locations since purchasing the chain and now operates 39 restaurants in 10 states.
Mimi’s has closed all but one of its Sacramento-area restaurants with its last remaining SacTown-area location operating in Elk Grove, Calif. The restaurant chain closed locations in Sacramento’s Arden Arcade neighborhood in 2025, one in the Roseville suburb in 2024, and another in the South Natomas neighborhood in 2015.
Colorado Springs unit closes
The Colorado Springs Mimi’s temporarily closed down in February 2026 after failing a routine health inspection that identified 25 health code violations, KRDO13-TV reported. The restaurant was subsequently closed permanently on May 20 with an announcement posted on its front door.
Mimi’ Cafe was founded in 1978 in Anaheim, Calif., near Disneyland by three partners known as SWH Corporation. The restaurant’s success led to the opening of a second location in Garden Grove, Calif., in 1981 and a total of 11 restaurants in Southern California by 1989, according to FundingUniverse.
The restaurant chain had about 80 locations when SWH Corporation was sold to Columbus, Ohio-based Bob Evans Farms in 2004.
Mimi’s Cafe offers an extensive breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu with French-inspired items, such as omelets, quiches, crepes, French pot roast, and Chicken Cordon Bleu. The restaurant offers a variety of beverages, including soft drinks, juices, coffee, tea, and wines. Mimosas, but no beer or liquor, are included on the menu.
Rent hike forces closure
Mimi’s Cafe isn’t the only casual restaurant chain closing locations.
An Applebee’s franchisee closed a 30-year-old location in Ballwin, Mo., on July 24 after the restaurant’s landlord raised the rent by about 30%, according to the St. Louis Business Journal. The franchise operator said shrinking sales combined with rising costs had made the location unsustainable.
Ruby Tuesday, which has about 174 operating locations, closed locations at 2504 Augusta Road and at 7490 Garners Ferry Road, in Columbia, S.C., in July, according to The Post and Courier. The restaurant chain has closed 771 underperforming locations since its peak of 945 units in 2007, according to Restaurant Business.
Number of closings uncertain
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc. said it plans to close 20 restaurants in 2026 as leases expire after closing 23 locations in 2025.
The company is not certain of the total number of restaurants it will close.
“At this time there is no confirmed number for potential closures, as the company is continuing to work on performance and could continue to see that number decrease,” a Red Robin spokesperson told TheStreet in an email.
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