Famous Dave’s BBQ Chain Shutters Two Washington Locations in 2024
Famous Dave’s, the popular national barbecue chain celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, has unexpectedly closed two of its locations in Western Washington. The closures, which occurred on December 4, 2024, marked the end of Famous Dave’s presence in the region, as the Tacoma and Tukwila locations were the last remaining restaurants in Western Washington.
Despite the Tacoma location undergoing a remodel in early 2024, the two restaurants were shut down abruptly, and the reasons behind the closures have not been disclosed. The Tacoma restaurant, located in the Tacoma Place plaza alongside WinCo Foods, had just been updated with new flooring and other repairs earlier in the year. The restaurant had temporarily closed from late January to mid-April for the renovations and even hosted a celebratory reopening event with a country music party.
Fans of Famous Dave’s were informed of the closures through a heartfelt social media post by Ascend Hospitality Group, the franchise owner. The post expressed gratitude to loyal customers, acknowledging the memories made over meals shared at Famous Dave’s. “For many years, we’ve had the honor of serving this community, sharing countless memories over plates of classic ‘que and good company, and for that, we are grateful,” the message read. It also offered support to impacted employees, who received compensation and job-seeking assistance.
The closures are part of a larger trend in the restaurant industry, with many establishments closing locations due to rising inflation and shifting consumer spending habits. The cost of dining out increased by 0.3% from October to November 2024, and food prices for eating out have risen by 3.6% year-over-year, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Famous Dave’s now lists the Tacoma and Tukwila locations as permanently closed on its website, with the Yakima location now standing as the last remaining Famous Dave’s restaurant in Washington state. The abrupt closure of these two locations adds to the ongoing trend of restaurant closures across the country, as even well-established chains face challenges in an uncertain economic climate.
