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The Quiet Collapse of the American Restaurant

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The Quiet Collapse of the American Restaurant
A Papa Johns restaurant in Austin, Texas, on Feb. 27, 2026. Papa Johns international is preparing to close 300 of its North American stores by the end of 2027 in an effort to further turn around business amid nationwide ongoing pizza sector struggles. Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Mollie Engelhart
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Commentary

I have lost multiple restaurants over the past few years. The final two closed last year in California.

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Mollie Engelhart
Mollie Engelhart
Author
Mollie Engelhart, regenerative farmer and rancher at Sovereignty Ranch, is committed to food sovereignty, soil regeneration, and educating on homesteading and self-sufficiency. She is the author of “Debunked by Nature”: Debunk Everything You Thought You Knew About Food, Farming, and Freedom—a raw, riveting account of her journey from vegan chef and LA restaurateur to hands-in-the-dirt farmer, and how nature shattered her cultural programming.