KFCPhoto byKFC

Author’s Note

This article is based on corporate postings and accredited media reports. Linked information within this article is attributed to the following outlets: EatThis.com, ScrapeHero.com, KFC.com and NRN.com.

Introduction

About 25 KFC restaurants permanently closed in recent days with scant warning to the public. Several of the now-closed restaurants were in the state of Illinois.

KFC was founded in 1930 and is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, which also owns the Pizza Hut and Taco Bell chains.

For perspective, per ScrapeHero.com's most recently updated company location count: There are 4,269 KFC restaurants in the United States as of June 25, 2024. The state and territory with the most number of KFC locations in the US is California, with 460 restaurants, which is about 11% of all KFC restaurants in the US.

Let us explore.

KFC, 2024

According to an August 21 report from NRN.com, the abruptly shuttered Illinois KFC locations were owned by a single franchisee.

As excerpted from the report: About 25 KFC restaurants have abruptly closed in various markets in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. All of the restaurants are owned by franchisee EYM Chicken, the company confirmed in an email Wednesday evening.

Per EatThis.com, among the multiple Illinois KFC locations that have closed this week are the following:

• 1106 Peoria St., Washington
• 8905 N. Allen Road, Peoria
• 5601 S. Washington St., Bartonville
• 927 W. Jackson St., Morton
• 3485 E. Court St., Pekin
• 1831 W. Reynolds St., Pontiac
• 3150 S. Sixth Street, Springfield
• 1502 Kilburn Ave., Rockford
• 3035 11th St., Rockford
• 1586 West Lane Road, Machesney Park
• 1160 N. State St, Belvidere

It should be noted no replacement entities have yet been announced for the shuttered KFC locations.

Conclusion

This is a developing story. In the event of pertinent updates to this matter, inclusive of official announcements regarding replacement entities and milestone dates thereof, I will share them here on NewsBreak.

Thank you for reading.