I know of 3 Arby's that have closed down already. One is in Waukegan, and there is another 2 around me. Plus, there is yet another one with a sign that says for lease in front of it, and there is another one which I think is closed because looking from the street, there is no menu board, and the sign outside doesn't say anything on it.

So, about 5 Arby's I know of either have closed, or are mostly likely going to close. So, if you like Arby's, I would get out to your local Arby's, and buy something because they are gone for good. Arby's is the corporation that bought Wendy's, but I don't see anymore Wendy's close after the one in Gurnee closed. So, I don't think Wendy's is in trouble.

Arby's is okay to me. It's nothing wonderful at all. They have a drive-thru by us, and it painstankly slow. I could definitely live without it as there are just so many restaurants or fast food places I like. One time I counted how many fast food or restaurants I like (Of course, some are snack places like Auntie Anne's, and Cinnabon), and I think it's around 30, so if Arby's is gone, it's gone. At least, it's not Mcdonald's, Taco Bell, or one of my favorite pizza places.

The Arby's in Bolingbrook closed recently as well. Which is fine, because i've probably gone there ten times in the last twelve years. Ironically, it's in the same parking lot as the Walmart. That same lot has also seen Aldi, KFC, a Chinese Restaurant, and a few other stores close in the past few years. No wonder, it's next to the worst neighborhood in Bolingbrook.

Arbys suck i wouldn't care if they left for good.

Arby's has one of the BEST Cheese Sticks I've ever had. I've not been there for a couple years.

Arby's is owned (or was) by Wendy's which since its founder Dave Thomas passed away hasn't exactly been breaking any records.
However, the worst franchise by far has to be Quizno's. (Which Wendy's is also involved with as a major franchisee.) They have had numerous legal battles with franchisee's and several of their franchisee's have actually commited suicide because of the terrible legal issues.
Almost every business that was just getting by during the good times is now going under. That's the thinning of the herd that occurs during economic downturns. There are some businesses that just have bad timing. Krispy Kreme was a huge thing in the south for many years. Just as they began to expand into the midwest and northern markets the all protein Atkins and South Beach diets were all the rage and they got slammed.
On my 20th birthday I was set to buy a new franchise (at the time) called TCBY. It was a frozen yogurt shop in Rochester Minnesota. My father heard about it and said who the "F" is going to buy ice cream in Minnesota in the winter? Needless to say, I withdrew my offer.
Owning any business is tough. If your business is tied to economic trends, it's even tougher. That's why I quit doing home construction and general contracting years ago and now only do specialty stuff typically for amusement parks, theaters, commercial endeavors and motion picture and television industries.
The bottom line is that you will see a great deal of closures over the course of the next 3 to 5 years.

Again, in my opinion is that Arby's doesn't have the greatest food in the world, and with so much competition I don't think they can survive. They just kind of seem desperate with all the stuff them and Wendy's are trying. They put these goofy sandwiches on the menu, and than they are gone next month.

For Krispy Kreme, I do agree with you a little bit about the diets being a huge problem, but the thing to me is that Krispy Kreme never adapted to the diets. Dunkin Donuts is a HUGE success being almost at every corner. They expanded their menu having bagels, cookies, sandwiches, a bunch of frozen drinks, different types of coffee, and so much more.

Krispy Kreme to me only had donuts, a couple frozen drinks in which they said uh we don't know how to make it or the machine is broke (I think I got turned down 2 times with that frozen drink trying to get it, and for one person is was like their first time making it. They didn't really know what they were doing. It's not like I got that drink a lot either.). Also, giving away free donuts all the time is stupid. Maybe, in the first weeks Krispy Kreme is open you give people away donuts to try, but after that, forget it. People are going to buy less donuts if you are giving them free donuts all the time (Maybe, not all the time but most of the time - free donuts - when the sign is lit).

More competition is coming in to IL. Just because these places are going out, doesn't mean there isn't more coming in. Culver's are coming in more than they were before, Sonic is coming in, and so is Chick Fil-A. Out of the 3, I really don't like Culver's, but that's my opinion, and when I went I did see it kind of packed. Heck, even Little Ceasar's have started expanding more places than they were before. I wouldn't surprised if they put one in Gurnee very soon.

Before, though there weren't Quizno's, and Jimmy Johns, and all these sandwich places like Corner Bakery, and Panera Bread. Since they came in, people change the places they are going, and something has to go. Even for pizza places, and ice cream. I have never even heard of Cold Stone Cremey until it made it's way to Six Flags, and Papa Johns is farely newer. I think Red Robin is newer around this area. Maybe, they are going to open up more of them. Longhorn Steakhouse is kind of new also, and that's probably why some of Lone Star Steakhouses were closing down.

Back to the donut place, I haven't gotten a donut in awhile, and it's NOT because I'm against bread. I guess I'm not a breakfast person much. I barely get it.

These are just chain places. What about more local type of stuff? They are probably opening up some local places too. For instance, there is a Superdawg newly made in Wheeling.

Before any of the Subway's and Quizno's there was Blimpies and Mr. Submarine. The problem with those is the problem that Dunkin Donuts still faces. They lost control of the franchisees. You can go into some Dunkin Donuts and the stuff is so stale it's almost inedible. Now they did help themselves out when they co-branded with Baskin-Robbins ice cream. But ice cream is a seasonal thing here by and large. This idea was originally put into effective use by Tricon Global (Which is now Yum Brands) who owned Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and KFC and now also owns Long John Silvers, Wingstreet and A&W Rootbeer. Giving more choices under one roof.
Although I don't like their food, Little Caesars has a very good business model and I expect them to really expand in numbers but to leave the menu pretty much the same. The constant menu tweaking is one of the largest problems in that industry. Remember "New Coke?'" People like consistency more than change.
Chick-Fil-A is overly optimistic about their potential here in the Midwest. Boston Market was originally called Boston Chicken and had a similar offering. The Midwest is the land of meat and potato's. Chicken (except wings and fried) just doesn't do that well.

McDonald's, Burger King, and even Wendy's killed Arby's.

If I want roast beef, there is a really great place called Brandy's near me. Arby's whole deal with killing chicken on the menu made me not step foot in one for 5 years. Sure their curly fries were good, but nothing else appeals me.

Onto the whole competition thing. Now that Little Caesars has invaded Des Plaines, Dominick's Pizza is dead, Dominios is dead. Competition is A GOOD THING. It just gets out of hand. McDonald's is trying to kill Starbucks, although I prefer Starbucks.

It's a mad-fight. McDonalds used to sell a burger and fries, now it sells EVERYTHING.

A few times, McDonalds even attempted to sell pizza.

Even pizza at McDonalds makes more sense than apple slices and veggie burgers at Burger King. The whole healthier lifestyle thing has gotten way out of hand! Pretty soon they'll just offer little "meal pills" like on the Jetsons.

Vaguely on topic, but I had Carl's Jr. for the first time in a long time today. It's the out west equivalent of Hardees I think. They need them in the Chicago area, closest comparison I can think of would be Steak and Shake, but they have a lot more emphasis on melts and actually good tasting food instead of dessert.


McDonald's attempt to get rid of Starbucks has failed miserably. Their coffee is disgusting. Not that I really enjoy Starbucks, but at least their coffee is drinkable, and somewhat good. IMO they should stick to burgers, hasn't stopped Burger King. In fact, their $1 double cheeseburger (which no longer exists): gave McDonalds quite the challenge. Somehow that price point really sells. Sure they have the $1 McDouble, but order one and you'll see how much good that extra piece of cheese brings.

Carl's Jr. and Hardee's are the same company.

"Onto the whole competition thing. Now that Little Caesars has invaded Des Plaines, Dominick's Pizza is dead, Dominios is dead. Competition is A GOOD THING. It just gets out of hand. McDonald's is trying to kill Starbucks, although I prefer Starbucks." by David

Dominick's Pizza to me always stunk. I never liked it, and I don't care if they ever sold it again. For Domino's I never really liked. It was okay, but than they came out with this new pizza, and I've heard that it's spicy so I haven't tried it. What bugs me about Domino's is that they want you to try their pizza - 2 for $10.99 special they had-, but yet they want you to buy 2 of them. If you are going to try their pizza to see if you like it, why would you tell people to buy 2 of them??? I really like Domino's Philly Cheesesteak Sub. It tastes just like Hooters. Very good!

For Mcdonald's, they are really slow going with this McCafe. To me, I don't really think the Coffee is working for McDonald's. They are constantly advertising it, and it seems like it's overboard. I don't think people like their McCafe coffee basing on how much they charging for it - $1, and how much they are advertising it. They don't have faith in it, and they don't want to reverse it, and say they failed with it. Each Mcdonald's that has it put in a new counter for it. I have tried the Frappe Mocha, and I do like it, but it really just is the Dunkin Donuts Colutta. Their new Hot Chocolate is terrible! I don't like it one bit. I used to like the old Hot Chocolate they had. I'm not getting that Hot Chocolate anymore from them.