Jack in the Box closures made headlines in 2025, and if you are applying for a job there now, it is a fair thing to worry about. Nobody wants to get trained at a store that shuts down three months later. The short version: the closures are real, they are targeted at a specific group of older restaurants, and the chain is still hiring across more than 2,000 locations.
JACK on Track at a glance
- Announced: April 23, 2025
- Planned block closures: about 150 to 200 underperforming restaurants
- Most of them: open for more than 30 years
- Restaurants at the end of fiscal 2025: 2,136 in 22 states, 93% franchised
What the company actually announced
On April 23, 2025, Jack in the Box Inc. laid out a plan it calls “JACK on Track.” The company’s own release said about 150 to 200 underperforming restaurants would close, and that most of them had been open for over three decades. Roughly 80 to 120 were scheduled to close by the end of 2025, with the rest following as their franchise agreements run out. After that, the company expects about 1% of restaurants to close each year, which is normal churn for a chain this size.
The same plan cut the shareholder dividend, put money toward paying down debt, and led to the sale of Del Taco, which closed in December 2025. Remodels and new ordering technology are still on the list.
How big the chain still is
According to the company’s annual report for fiscal 2025, Jack in the Box ended that year with 2,136 restaurants in 22 states. About 70% of them are in California and Texas, and the company is still headquartered in San Diego. Even at the high end of the closure range, the vast majority of restaurants stay open.
What Jack in the Box closures mean for applicants
Ninety-three percent of Jack in the Box restaurants are franchised. That means the business that hires you, pays you and sets your schedule is usually a franchise group, not the corporate office in San Diego. A closure decision often comes down to an old building or a lease ending, not to how hard the crew works.
Before you accept an offer, it is reasonable to ask the manager two things. Is this location company-run or franchised? And if it is franchised, how many other restaurants does that group operate nearby? An operator with several stores in your area can usually move you to another location if one closes.
Signs a location is in good shape
You can learn a lot from the outside. A recent remodel, a busy drive-thru at lunch, and posted hiring signs for multiple shifts are all good signs. A dated building with a short-staffed late-night shift is not a reason to skip it, but it is worth asking how long the store has been in its current lease.
Should you still apply?
Yes. The closure list targets a small slice of older stores, and every remaining restaurant still needs cashiers, cooks and shift leaders around the clock. Start with our Jack in the Box application guide, and if late shifts suit you, read up on Jack in the Box night shift jobs.
Jack in the Box Careers is an independent informational website and is not affiliated with Jack in the Box Inc. or any of its subsidiaries. For official openings and applications, please visit the official Jack in the Box website.