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O’Charley’s Closes Last 50 Locations Nationwide
Confirmed
In Short: The 55-year-old casual dining chain O’Charley’s is shutting down its remaining 52 locations, marking the end of an era for the Nashville-founded restaurant.
Casual dining chain O’Charley’s is reportedly closing its remaining locations nationwide, according to employees who spoke with local news outlets, bringing the 55-year-old restaurant chain’s run to an apparent end.
Managers at six of the chain’s eight remaining Middle Tennessee locations told Nashville-based WKRN that employees had been informed the restaurants would close Wednesday at 8 p.m., though O’Charley’s has not publicly announced the closures and did not respond to multiple inquiries from WKRN.
The reported shutdown comes as the Nashville-founded chain has struggled with declining customer traffic and sales, with guest counts at the restaurant chain falling 23.8% during the second quarter of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier, according to Cannae Holdings Inc., which owns a 65.4% equity interest in O’Charley’s.
What's confirmed
- Casual dining chain O’Charley’s is reportedly closing its remaining locations nationwide, according to employees who spoke with local news outlets, bringing the 55-year-old restaurant chain’s run to an apparent end.
- Managers at six of the chain’s eight remaining Middle Tennessee locations told Nashville-based WKRN that employees had been informed the restaurants would close Wednesday at 8 p.m., though O’Charley’s has not publicly announced the closures and did not respond to multiple inquiries from WKRN.
- The reported shutdown comes as the Nashville-founded chain has struggled with declining customer traffic and sales, with guest counts at the restaurant chain falling 23.8% during the second quarter of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier, according to Cannae Holdings Inc., which owns a 65.4% equity interest in O’Charley’s.
What's still developing
- Cannae said in its second-quarter update that O’Charley’s continued to face challenges maintaining customer traffic.
- Management had been working to stabilize the business through menu changes, improvements to guest service and the closure of underperforming restaurants.
- The Las Vegas-based investment company also said it was continuing to explore "strategic alternatives" for its restaurant group as part of a broader portfolio transformation strategy.
- O’Charley’s was founded in 1971 by Charles Watkins on 21st Avenue near Vanderbilt University in Nashville.
- O’Charley’s operated 250 locations at the height of its business O’Charley’s operated 250 locations at the height of its business After 55 years in operation, O'Charley's is shuttering its remaining 49 company-owned locations.
- That company's CEO, Ryan Caswell, said in February that Cannae would focus on sports and entertainment assets instead of restaurants going forward.
- Restaurant Dive called two locations in Kentucky that were open as recently as Tuesday and were met with automated phone messages saying they were closed.
- “Hello. Thank you for calling O’Charley’s. Our restaurant has closed for business. For questions please contact ocguestrelations@ocharleys.com. Thank you for your patronage," the message reportedly said.