Famous Dave’s Closes 2 Washington Locations Despite Recent Renovations

Famous Dave’s, the well-known barbecue chain celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, has abruptly closed two of its Washington locations. The closures, which occurred on December 4, affect the chain’s last two remaining restaurants in Western Washington—Tacoma and Tukwila.

Despite one of the locations having undergone a remodel just earlier this year, both restaurants have been permanently shut down. Fans of the popular barbecue joint were informed of the closures through a social media post by Ascend Hospitality Group, the franchise owner. The post expressed gratitude to the loyal customers, thanking them for the memories shared over meals and marking the closures as bittersweet.

“For many years, we’ve had the honor of serving this community, sharing countless memories over plates of classic ‘que and good company,” the message read. “As we step into this holiday season, we carry with us the cherished memories and connections that made Famous Dave’s BBQ a special place for so many. Thank you for everything!”

Although the exact reasons behind the closures remain unclear, the timing has been surprising, especially given the recent remodeling of the Tacoma location. That restaurant, located in the Tacoma Place plaza, underwent updates earlier in 2024, including new flooring and other improvements. It had even reopened with a celebratory event in April after a brief closure.

The closures come at a time when many fast food chains and restaurants are facing significant challenges due to ongoing inflation and reduced consumer spending. As prices for dining out continue to rise—up 0.3% from October and 3.6% year-over-year—several restaurants have struggled to stay afloat, and some, like Famous Dave’s, have been forced to shut down locations.

As of now, the Famous Dave’s website lists the Tacoma and Tukwila restaurants as “permanently closed,” with the Yakima location now marked as the last Famous Dave’s in Washington state. While the number of employees impacted by the closures is not yet known, they were reportedly provided compensation and support in finding new job opportunities.

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