New York’s favorite burger chain flames out in California as it abruptly shuts nine restaurants

Shake Shack will close nine restaurants in the US over the next month, more than half of which are in California.

The New York City-based chain has announced that six underperforming locations in the Golden State, including its only restaurant in Oakland, will close their doors.

The chain will close two more restaurants in Texas and one in Ohio before September 25.

It’s the first time the chain has closed restaurants for reasons unrelated to construction, according to Restaurant business.

The chain still has about 330 locations nationwide and more than 20 in California, where it competes with major chains and local favorite In-N-Out.

Shake Shack, known for its burgers, crinkle-cut fries and milkshakes, is closing five locations in the Los Angeles area, including in Koreatown and Silverlake.

In Texas, locations in Houston Galleria and Montrose will close, and in Ohio, a restaurant in Polaris will close, the company said.

The burger joint, which opened its first location in New York’s Madison Square Park in 2004, said in a statement that it has no plans to close any additional locations in the near future.

“After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to close a small group of Shacks due to several factors, including disappointing performance,” Shake Shack CEO Rob Lynch said in a statement obtained by Today in the US.

“We remain focused on supporting our team members during this transition period and look forward to continuing our growth and opening many more locations across the country.”

It’s coming in the midst of widespread restaurant closures and bankruptcies in the US in recent months, as food prices have risen inflation and high operating costs continue to be a problem for companies.

Fellow hamburger chain BurgerFi confirmed earlier this month that it is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.

BurgerFi, which also owns Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, expects to report a staggering loss of $18.4 million for the second quarter of this year.

The losses left the company with only $4.4 million available on August 14.

BurgerFi told the SEC in its most recent filing that it would need further creditor support to remain solvent.

If that fails and the bank cannot raise sufficient funds from other lenders or by selling its assets, it can “seek protection under applicable bankruptcy laws.”

Shake Shack, known for its burgers, crinkle-cut fries and milkshakes, is closing five locations in the Los Angeles area, including in Koreatown and Silverlake

The chain still has about 330 locations nationwide and more than 20 in California, where it competes with major chains and local favorite In-N-Out

Mediterranean fast-food chain Roti filed for bankruptcy protection on August 23, the latest in a series of restaurants to do so this year.

Roti currently has 19 locations in Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington DC, serving Eastern Mediterranean bowls, salads and pitas.

CEO Justin Seamonds said in the bankruptcy filing that this was the best way for the company to address the challenges, including higher costs and difficult market conditions.

Seafood chain Red Lobster also filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May, citing a failed $20 all-you-can-eat shrimp promotion.

The chain closed more than 100 locations following the announcement and is set to close another 23 locations in 15 states by August 31.

Mexican chain Rubio’s Coastal Grill has also declared bankruptcy, as has pItalian restaurant Buca di Beppo, after it suddenly closed 13 underperforming locations across the country earlier this month.