Restaurants Offering 24-Hour Service Fell 18 Percent From 2020 to 2024

U.S. restaurants offering 24-hour service declined 18 percent between 2020 and 2024, according to Yelp data. U.S. Department of Agriculture reported. Many operators shortened operating hours to cut costs, and those shorter schedules have largely remained in place.

Rising food, labor, rent, insurance and energy costs have made overnight shifts less profitable, David Henkes of Technomic told Fox News Digital. “The underlying consumer demand just isn’t there the way it was pre-pandemic,” he said. Bryan Gildenberg of Retail Cities noted that higher wages have changed the economics of keeping locations open with minimal staff.

“Today, with wages orders of magnitude higher than they were ten years ago, those economics no longer work,” he said.

Post-pandemic shifts in habits have also reduced late-night traffic. Gildenberg observed that younger customers drink less alcohol and are less likely to seek fast food after midnight. Some chains have begun to extend hours again. Wendy’s reported that about 90 percent of its locations now close at midnight or later.

McDonald’s announced plans last year to lengthen operating hours and hire more than 300,000 employees. Burger King added late-night hours at additional locations, and Taco Bell introduced its “Encore Hours” program in 2025. Demand for overnight dining remains strongest near highways, airports and large cities, while smaller markets show weaker interest.