K&W Cafeterias has Closed All Locations After 88 Years of Business

K & W Cafeteria, an iconic Southern cafeteria-style restaurant chain that had served homestyle comfort food for 88 years, permanently closed all of its remaining locations on December 1, 2025. The announcement came abruptly on the company’s social media, thanking customers for their decades of loyalty while expressing deep regret at ending this long-standing chapter in Southern dining. The closures marked the end of a beloved institution once known for hearty meals and family traditions in North Carolina, Virginia, and the surrounding region.

Years before closing, K&W Cafeteria faced serious financial trouble and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2020, a sign that the company was struggling to pay its debts and operate profitably. Although it emerged from bankruptcy with fewer locations, the business never fully bounced back, and ongoing financial strain eventually led to the complete shutdown of all its restaurants.

The COVID‑19 pandemic was especially damaging to a self‑serve, cafeteria‑style restaurant, because many customers avoided buffet and cafeteria formats and shifted to takeout, delivery, and drive‑thru options instead. At the same time, overall foot traffic declined and more people chose other dining styles, which reduced K&W’s customer base and made it difficult to generate enough revenue to stay open.

Ownership changes and shifting consumer preferences also played roles. After being acquired by Piccadilly Restaurants (owned by Falcon Holdings) in 2022, the chain continued to diminish in size, operating only eight North Carolina locations and one in Virginia by 2025. Sales reportedly declined year over year prior to the final closure, reflecting wider challenges in maintaining customer demand for cafeteria-style dining.

After operating for about 88 years, K&W Cafeteria announced that all remaining locations were closed permanently, effective December 1, 2025, without giving a detailed, single official reason in its public statement. News reports and timelines explain that this final decision came at the end of years of financial struggles, bankruptcy, and declining customer numbers, which together made it no longer possible for the chain to continue.