Fast-food chains across the U.S. have been trimming restaurant counts as operators respond to weaker traffic and higher costs. In Washington, that trend has now reached Everett, where Jack in the Box has confirmed one of its restaurants will shut down this fall. The closure also triggers a local layoff notice affecting two dozen workers.
Jack in the Box confirms Everett closure and 24 job cuts
Jack in the Box confirmed through a Washington Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filing that its restaurant at 1505 S.E. Everett Mall Way in Everett will permanently close on October 10, 2026. The WARN filing was recorded on August 12, 2026, and lists the action as a closure with 24 affected employees. Reporting based on the filing shows workers received written notice on August 11.
The scale of the layoff is specific and fully identified in the public notice. The 24 affected workers include 20 team members, three team leaders, and one restaurant manager, according to reporting that cited the filing. For readers tracking the timing, the WARN effective date is October 10, 2026, which is when layoffs can begin under the notice.
The Everett closure is not being presented as a temporary suspension or remodel. Public reporting and WARN tracking records describe it as a permanent shutdown tied to the restaurant location itself. As of now, the Everett Mall Way unit remains listed on Jack in the Box’s store locator, but that is expected to change once the closure takes effect.
What is confirmed in Washington, and what is still unknown
The confirmed Washington impact is limited, at least publicly, to the Everett restaurant at 1505 S.E. Everett Mall Way and the 24 workers tied to that site. The company has not released a comprehensive list of additional Washington restaurants slated for closure as part of this announcement. That means it is not yet possible to say from company statements alone whether more shutdowns in the state are imminent.
What is clear is that Jack in the Box is not exiting Everett or Washington altogether. The company’s location listings still show other Everett restaurants, including units on Evergreen Way, Everett Avenue, and 132nd Street Southeast. For customers, that means the Everett Mall Way closure does not end the brand’s presence in the city.
The worker notice also gives residents a clearer picture of the local effect than a typical corporate restructuring headline does. In this case, the address, city, worker count, and effective date are all public. What remains unconfirmed is whether employees may be offered transfers to nearby stores, because that has not been detailed in the WARN filing or in public company statements tied to this location.
Why the company is shrinking its footprint
Jack in the Box has linked these closures to a broader restructuring effort aimed at improving performance and reducing pressure on the business. In company materials describing its “JACK on Track” plan, the chain said it expected to close about 150 to 200 underperforming restaurants by the end of 2026. The company has also said many of those restaurants are older locations that no longer meet current return expectations.
Financial filings add more context to that strategy. In its fiscal 2025 reporting, Jack in the Box said the closure program was intended to improve cash flow, strengthen franchise economics, and reduce spending on weaker units. Company disclosures from fiscal 2026 also showed net restaurant count declines, with closures outpacing openings during the period.
Broader restaurant conditions help explain the timing. Industry reporting has pointed to softer customer traffic and rising operating costs, while recent coverage of Jack in the Box has also noted pressure from higher beef prices and debt reduction efforts. For Washington residents, the practical takeaway is narrow but clear: the Everett Mall Way restaurant is scheduled to close on October 10, 2026, while other nearby Jack in the Box locations remain open unless the company announces otherwise.