Number of US McDonald’s Restaurants Shrinks for First Time in Decades

There may be fewer Golden Arches in the United States soon, with McDonald’s announcing that the number of its domestic stores has been shrinking for the first time in decades.

The world’s biggest burger chain has about 14,300 locations across the US, but with sagging sales, McDonald’s has been shutting down its restaurants at a faster pace than it has in decades. In a recent statement, the company announced it expects to close more of its restaurants than it opens domestically which, according to the Associated Press, hasn’t happened since 1970.

McDonald’s spokeswoman Becca Hary declined to provide a specific figure on the restaurants that will be shut down or the locations, but said the reduction was part of a strategic review for future growth.

"In the US, we will have a net reduction in restaurants, but the impact is minimal in comparison to the 14,000 restaurants we operate across the country, which serve 27 million customers per day," she said in statement, "We consistently review our restaurant portfolio and make strategic decisions to better position our business for the future."

McDonald’s, which has enjoyed rapid expansion for much of its history, has been struggling to realign its business model as it faces competition from fast-food chains such as Chipotle Mexican Grill and Shake Shack, which have become more appealing to a generation concerned with healthier and higher-end fast-food.

The company’s executives conceded they have failed to keep up with changing tastes and CEO Steve Easterbrook, who took the position on March 1, has laid out plans to overhaul the company’s management and remove layers of bureaucracy, to return the focus to the customer and modernize the brand.

Despite the announcement, McDonald’s will likely easily remain the country’s biggest hamburger chain, as it still owns more than twice as many restaurants as the No. 2 chain, Burger King. The burger company is still growing globally, with plans to add more than 300 restaurants to its worldwide total of over 36,000.