Popular Restaurant Chain Suddenly Shuts Down 48 Locations Across California

Yet another restaurant chain is shuttering several locations across The Golden State.

According to KTLA , Rubio’s Coastal Grill, famous for their delicious fish tacos among other unmatched fast-food cuisine, recently announced that they would be closing 48 California locations due to the "rising cost of doing business" and the " current business climate ."

As part of the announcement, Rubio's revealed that they will be shutting down 11 Northern California locations, 13 San Diego locations, and 24 Los Angeles area locations. KTLA obtained a statement from the restaurant chain's spokesperson detailing Rubio's strategy for the future once the closures are said and done.

“Making the decision to close a store is never an easy one … While painful, the store closures are a necessary step in our strategic long-term plan to position Rubio’s for success for years to come."

KTLA noted that Assembly Bill 1228, which increased minimum wage for fast food workers beginning in April 2024, immediately impacted businesses across the state.

Their response? To lay off workers and raise menu prices. While Rubio's did not directly cite this bill as a reason for shuttering four dozen locations across the Golden State, the bill does play into the factors mentioned above.