Papa Johns Plans Big Changes With 200 Store Closures, What About the Capital Region?

The Papa Johns pizza brand is expected to close hundreds of stores in 2026. How many New York locations will be part of this restructure?

As of 2023, Papa Johns was the 4th largest pizza delivery restaurant chain in the United States. Travelers and residents around the world could get a Papa Johns pizza in 49 different countries and territories. It appears those lofty numbers are about to change.

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In 2019 Papa Johns added NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal to its Board of Directors and added the "shaq-a-roni" pizza in his honor. In 2021 Papa John's removed the apostrophe from its name and rebranded the logo. Now, in 2026, it's time to start downsizing.

According to Fox Business, Papa Johns is expected to close 200 underperforming North American locations in 2026, with more closures expected in 2027. The majority of these closures will be locations that are more than 10 years old, franchise-owned, and struggling to generate sales.

There are nearly 100 Papa Johns locations spread throughout the Empire State, including stores in Buffalo, Elmira, Ithaca, Newburgh, Niagara Falls, Port Chester, and Syracuse to name a few. The identity of which New York locations are expected to close has not been revealed as of yet.

Read more; Six Flags Great Escape In Queensbury Goes Through Ownership Change, What to Expect in 2026

While we wait to learn which New York locations will be closing, here are a couple of the Capital Region Papa Johns locations:

• Albany - 571 New Scotland Avenue
• Schenectady - 412 Balltown Road