Usually, restaurants go out of their way to make sure customers feel comfortable. Someone greets you at the door, shows you to your table, and politeness generally rules the day.

That, however, is not the case at all restaurants. A handful of chains have built their business around treating customers badly.

This, of course, isn’t actual bad treatment. Nobody spits in your food and the poor treatment should be seen as playful, not mean.

That has been the calling card for one 40-year-old chain, which has fallen upon some challenging times.

“Having a reputation for bad customer service is enough to put most restaurants out of business, but this isn’t the case for Dick’s Last Resort. The brand has built its name by insulting its guests in all kinds of creative ways that keep them coming back for more. The chain is so beloved that many people plan birthdays and bachelorette parties there,” Mashed reported.

Not everyone enjoys this. My one Dick’s Last Resort experience in Las Vegas was unpleasant, as I had no idea how the chain operated. I wanted a simple meal by myself and was not overly pleased with the hacky schtick, but most patrons enter knowing what to expect.

“Dick’s is famous for creating rude, tall hats and placing them on guests’ heads as they eat their meals,” The Daily Aztec reported. “The best part is you have no idea what you’re going to get and there is a moment of horror as you eye your dining companions while they read what was just placed on you. There is usually an eruption of laughter and camera flashes.”

People, it seems, have different definitions of “best part,” but Dick’s Last Resort has been a crowd-pleaser for decades. Those crowds, however, have dwindled, and that chain has closed multiple locations, including its first-ever location, which was in Dallas.

Dick’s Last Resort closing locations

Dick’s Last Resort near American Airlines Center closed on Nov. 30, according to Culturemap Dallas.

“The restaurant, known for its ‘saucy’ smack-talking waiters and a marketing story about a dude named Dick who failed at his big plans and resorted to opening a bar-staurant, offered endless riffs and merch built around dick jokes,” The Dallas Observer reported.

And, while it started in Dallas, the chain grew to 12 locations at its peak.

Dick’s locations that have closed since 2020

• Dallas, TX: Original location (2211 N. Lamar St., West End) Closed: Nov. 30, 2025

  Notes: First-ever Dick’s, open since 1985, closed after 40 years.

  Source: Dallas News

• Boston, MA: Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market Closed: 2020 (summer)

  Notes: Permanent closure amid Covid pandemic.

  Source: Boston.com

• Baltimore, MD: Power Plant / Inner Harbor Closed: 2020 (Aug./Sept.)

  Notes: Closure tied to pandemic-era downturn for Inner Harbor tourism and business.

  Source: WBAL TV

• Chicago, IL: Marina City (Marina City Towers) Closed: Late 2024

  Notes: Space slated to be replaced by another restaurant.

  Source: Yahoo News

Dick’s is famous for being rude to customers.

Shutterstock

Why is Dick’s Last Resort shrinking?

The Boston and Baltimore closures were clearly related to the lack of customers during the Covid pandemic. That period also made customer interactions more challenging and limited due to social distancing rules, which interfered with the Dick’s concept.

According to a representative from the Nashville-based chain, the final day for the Dallas location was November 30.

“Business at that location had been declining, and they were facing an increase in rent, so they made a decision to close,” the representative told CultureMap.

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The company also cited rising rents as a reason for closing its Dallas flagship, Dallas Business Journal reported.

Locations in Florida, Las Vegas, and other high-tourism locations remain open.

Dick’s is not the only chain that’s struggling

A number of major chains have stumbled in 2025. On The Border filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy and was purchased by Pappas Group. Successful chains including Subway and Domino’s have closed hundreds of locations globally, and many chains have closed selected locations.

A survey of 5,000 restaurant owners conducted by RestaurantDive shared why chains are having problems.

“Food and labor costs remain top concerns. An overwhelming 91% of operators reported rising food costs, while 89% said the same for labor. Inflation hasn’t cooled, and ongoing supply chain disruptions have made ingredient prices more volatile than ever,” according to the report.

Restaurants are also facing rising labor costs, which some are trying to solve with technology.

“We’re testing voice AI in the drive-thru to cover hard-to-staff shifts, adding throughput staff to boost traffic and reevaluating management structures so wage increases actually drive better service,” shared Kristen Sandhurst, CFO of Edotto Brands and Taco John’s of Iowa.

“Labor is going to be the No. 1 challenge” for 2025,” California restaurant owner Ross Pangilinan told the Los Angeles Times.

His biggest challenge is that larger restaurants can poach staff.

“The restaurants can pay higher wages. They are paying their cooks over $20 an hour and smaller restaurants are trying to compete with that,” Pangilinan said. “We’re a tiny restaurant at Terrace — 70 seats or so. We’re not backed by a big corporation or big investors.”

Restaurants have also suffered as consumers move away from cash.

“Swipe fees are one of the most expensive costs restaurant operators have to manage – behind food and labor costs – and being able to accept credit cards is essential to running a restaurant,” said Sean Kennedy, executive vice president of Public Affairs for the National Restaurant Association.

Related: 59-year-old casual steakhouse chain closed all its locations