Alert Top Story
Joseph S. Pete
It's no longer finger-licking good in the Region.
At least five Northwest Indiana KFC restaurants abruptly closed Friday with little warning.
The KFCs in Valparaiso, Gary, Portage, Hobart and Michigan City all shuttered. They were owned by Texas-based EYM, which is the same franchisee that recently shuttered 15 Pizza Hut locations all across Northwest Indiana after going deep into debt and defaulting on payments.
Employees said they only got three days' notice and were not getting severance payments. Workers estimated more than 150 people lost their jobs at the six restaurants.
EYM Chicken owned the KFCs at 2402 N. Calumet St., Valparaiso, 900 Broadway, Gary,6140 Central Ave., Portage, 7770 E Ridge Road, Hobart and 4359 Franklin St., Michigan City.
People are also reading…
The KFC restaurants in Hammond, Munster, Griffith, Schererville, Merrillville, Crown Point, DeMotte, Lowell and LaPorte have different owners and remain open.
EYM Chicken did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The franchisee also owned KFC restaurants in Wisconsin and Illinois, where abrupt closures were also reported.
Back in June, EYM abruptly closed its Pizza Huts in Hammond, Munster, Griffith, Schererville, Merrillville, Crown Point, Hobart, Lowell, Cedar Lake, Winfield, Valparaiso, Chesterton, Portage and Michigan City with no warning. It's been embroiled in a legal dispute with Pizza Hut, which it accused of failing to innovate and leaving its franchisees at a competitive disadvantage to Dominos and other pizza chains.
EYM Group is a Texas-based franchisee of different national restaurant brands it owns across the country. It operates Pizza Hut, KFC, Panera Bread and Denny's restaurants in Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Texas, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.
KFC was once the dominant chicken fast food restaurant but has since been been surpassed by Chick-fil-A. It has faced increased competition, including from Popeyes Louisiana Chicken, Churches Texas Chicken, Dave's Hot Chicken, Buffalo Wild Wings, Buffalo Wings and Rings, Wingstop, Wing Snob and other restaurants, especially in the Buffalo wing and and premium chicken sandwich spaces.
Louisville-based Yum Brands owns both KFC and Pizza Hut, as well as Taco Bell. It also previously owned Long John Silver's, which also just closed its location on North Calumet Avenue in Valparaiso, near the KFC that just closed Friday.
"Long John Silver’s announces the closure of its 2805 N. Calumet location, effective Aug. 11. The closure is a strategic decision by the quick-service restaurant as it continues to evaluate its national footprint and plans for the future," spokesman Jack Messenger said. "The N. Calumet location set sail in 1978, bringing Long John Silver’s seafood offerings to the Valparaiso area. While closing a restaurant is never an easy decision, Long John Silver’s is thankful for the guests and crew members who sailed with the restaurant over the years."
A look back at Northwest Indiana businesses that closed in 2023
A look back at Region businesses that closed in 2023
Local News
Alert Top Story Urgent
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
- 0
Beer Geeks, one of the Region's first, most beloved and most influential craft beer bars, closed after more than a decade and is being reimagined as a new concept.
Local News
Alert Top Story Urgent
88-year-old White Castle in Whiting, one of Chicago area's first, coming down to be replaced with new restaurant
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
- 0
The landmark 88-year-old castle-shaped White Castle in Whiting is coming down to be replaced with a newer, larger, more modern White Castle restaurant.
Local News
Editor's Pick
Silver Bullet Bar in downtown Crown Point closes
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
A longtime staple in downtown Crown Point poured its last drink.
Local News
Alert Top Story Urgent
Westforth Sports gun shop in Cal Township closing after 66 years
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
The longtime Westforth Sports gun shop is closing.
Local News
Alert Top Story Urgent
Lansing plant to close, laying off 274 workers
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
The Silver Line Building Products plant at16801 Exchange Ave. will be shuttered permanently.
Localbusinesses
Highland's Brewfest to pour last beer, eying move to Lowell
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
Brewfest in Highland will close in what's been called "an end of an era."
Local News
Alert Top Story Urgent
David's Bridal files for bankruptcy, could close all stores
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
- 0
David's Bridal filed for bankruptcy and could close all stores if no buyer emerges to save it.
Whiting News
Alert Top Story Urgent
88-year-old Whiting White Castle will end up on display in museums in Illinois and Indiana
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
- 0
The 88-year-old Whiting White Castlewill be remembered with displays at museums in two different states.
Local News
Alert Top Story Urgent Topical
88-year-old Whiting White Castle serves last sliders to nostalgic crowd
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
- 0
For years, the "millionaire's club" met every morning in the corner booth of the historic 88-year-old White Castle at Indianapolis Boulevard and 119th Street in downtown Whiting. The landmark restaurant served its final slider Tuesday.
Local News
Alert Top Story Urgent
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
- 0
One of Northwest Indiana's most popular and enduring hobby shops is looking for a buyer after the longtime owner died.
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
- 0
J&L This N That Consignment Shop, a popular thrift store, closed in downtown Whiting after a run of several years.
Local News
Alert Top Story Urgent
Calumet Fisheries temporarily closed after failing health inspection
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
A Calumet Region institution, Calumet Fisheries on the far South Side of Chicago, is temporarily closed after failing a city health inspection.
Local News
Alert Top Story
Calumet Fisheries suffers fire shortly after reopening after health inspection closure
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
Just days after reopeningafter city health inspectors shut it down, Calumet Fisheries suffered a major fire.
Local News
Alert
Pepe's Mexican Restaurant is no mas in Valparaiso after 43 years
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
Pepe's Mexican Restaurant is no mas in Valparaiso.
Local News
Alert Top Story Urgent
Former Beer Geeks bar closes after rebranding
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
Beer Geeks in Highland rebranded as B-Side Bar & Lounge and then closed within a few months.
Business
Top Story Urgent
Bed Bath and Beyond to close Valparaiso store and multiple Chicagoland locations, leaving just one Region location left
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
- 0
Troubled retailerBed Bath and Beyond will permanently close its Valparaiso location as it shutters more stores nationwide as it looks to restructure and shrink its footprint to save the struggling business.
Local News
Alert Urgent
Peoples Bank closes downtown Hammond branch
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
- 0
Peoples Bank has shuttered its branch in downtown Hammond.
Business
Editor's Pick
Viking Artisan Ales to close Merrillville taproom
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
Viking Artisan Ales will soon pour its last craft beer at its Merrillville taproom.
Local News
Alert Top Story
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom is closing after 15 years at one of Northwest Indiana's most prominent highway interchanges.
Local News
Urgent
Walmart closing Homewood store
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
- 0
Walmart is closing its big-box store in Homewood.
Local News
Alert Top Story
Chicago Auto Show returns with smaller footprint, no Camp Jeep track
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
The Chicago Auto Show, the nation's largest auto show, returns to McCormick Place Saturday, running through Feb. 19.
Local News
Alert Top Story
Munster-based Land O'Frost laying off 215 workers in Chicago
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
Munster-based Land O'Frost, the packaged lunchmeat giant, is laying off 215 workers in Chicago and shuttering a plant it acquired two years ago.
Local News
Urgent Editor's Pick
Ginuwine to trot out hits like 'Pony' at Festival of the Lakes
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
Ginuwine will trot out hits like "Pony" at Festival of the Lakes.
0 Comments
'); var s = document.createElement('script'); s.setAttribute('src', 'https://assets.revcontent.com/master/delivery.js'); document.body.appendChild(s); window.removeEventListener('scroll', throttledRevContent); __tnt.log('Load Rev Content'); } } }, 100); window.addEventListener('scroll', throttledRevContent); }
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter.
Joseph S. Pete
Business Reporter
- Author facebook
- Author twitter
- Author email
Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!
{{description}}
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Followed notifications
Please log in to use this feature
Log In
Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
