On a business trip to Orlando back in the mid-1990s, I dined at a Shoney’s restaurant for the first time after the chain had expanded to about 1,300 locations in 34 states over the years.
The food at the time was a basic buffet-style breakfast and not very high quality. I was not impressed with the biscuits and gravy. In the three decades since my Shoney’s visit, the chain closed a significant number of locations in its Midwest and Southeast territories.
In 2000, Shoney’s filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after settling a racial discrimination lawsuit and facing a large debt load, according to court papers. The restaurant chain, which was established in 1947, closed over 800 locations and by the end of 2006, the chain had 282 locations.
Former Church’s Chicken franchisee David Davoudpour purchased the company in 2007, with a goal of returning Shoney’s to its glory days, according to the company website. The financial crisis began after the acquisition in 2008, and the company ceased opening new locations.
Family dining chain Shoney’s is looking to revitalize its brand and sign more franchise agreements.
Alexander Spatari / Getty Images
Shoney’s continued closing locations
Shoney’s closed another 130 locations from 2007 through 2013 because of the economic downturn. The company began seeking new franchises beginning in 2013 and had 150 locations by 2016, according to court papers.
The dining chain, which currently has 45 locations in 11 states according to its website, continued closing restaurants over the last 10 years, including one in West Virginia in August 2026.
Restaurant reopened after 5 years
Shoney’s closed its location at 242 Mall Road in Oak Hill, W.Va., permanently on Aug. 23, 2026, after reopening the restaurant on July 24, 2025, as a buffet-only establishment. The chain had closed the restaurant for renovations for five years before it reopened last year, according to LootPress. The reopening had been delayed several times.
The dining chain also closed several locations in 2025, including its Waynesville, N.C., restaurant at 3334 Asheville Road in October 2025, WLOS-TV reported.
“Due to many months of staffing issues, Shoney’s of Waynesville is permanently closed. Thank you, Waynesville, for 40+ amazing years,” a note on the restaurant’s front door read.
Shoney’s earlier closed its restaurants on Airport Boulevard in Springdale, S.C., and at 7335 Garners Ferry Road in Columbia, S.C., in August 2025, The State reported.
Looks to grow through franchising
After hundreds of restaurant closures, Shoney’s said it looks to reverse course and to return to its “glory years,” seeking to grow through franchising following an extensive revitalization, according to a company statement.
“Shoney’s is offering franchising opportunities to qualified single- and multi-unit candidates to ensure even better days ahead for America’s Dinner Table,” the company said in the statement.
New restaurant design coming
In September 2026, the restaurant chain presented its franchisees with a forward-thinking architectural blueprint for its new-look restaurant, which is expected to serve as a model for all new and existing locations.
Shoney’s is hoping to capitalize on its ranking of the 5th Best Buffet Chain as ranked by Newsweek’s 2025 Reader’s Choice Poll. Shoney’s was ranked behind the No. 1 Best Buffet Chain, Golden Corral, No. 2 Fogo de Chao, No. 3 CiCis Pizza, and No. 4 Ponderosa/Bonanza Steakhouse. Newsweek’s 2026 poll had not been released at last check.
