Domino's Closed 13 Locations Across Ohio
A regional franchisee shut down multiple stores, leaving the brand to seek new operators for the sites.
Updated on Sept. 18, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Domino's shuttered 13 locations in Ohio after a franchisee, Mile High Pizza, terminated staff via text message on September 4. The company is now working to transition these stores to new ownership.
Why it matters
The mass closure stems from an isolated operational failure within a franchisee's portfolio. For operators, this highlights the critical nature of maintaining franchisor-franchisee oversight to prevent sudden service gaps and brand disruption.
Domino's closed 13 locations in Ohio, representing more than half of the 25 stores reportedly owned by franchisee Anthony Satterwhite. It is currently unknown how many total staff members were affected by the abrupt cessation of business.
The players
Domino's
A global quick-service restaurant chain that operates through a model of corporately-owned and independently franchised locations.
Mile High Pizza
A Domino's franchisee entity that operated 25 locations in Ohio prior to the closure of 13 units.
Anthony Satterwhite
The franchisee reportedly responsible for the ownership and management of the affected Ohio-based Domino's stores.
The details
The closures occurred after Mile High Pizza abruptly terminated employees via text message. Domino's is currently seeking new owners to take over these sites in cities including Mansfield, Akron, and Galion. The transition process is intended to restore local operations, with potential re-employment opportunities for former staff once new ownership is secured.
Timeline
September 4, 2026: Employees at affected locations were notified of their termination via text message.
Market Landscape
The 2023 abrupt closure of over 100 Boston Market locations remains the primary industry benchmark for how national chains manage the sudden collapse of a major franchisee unit. This event follows a pattern where national brands must rapidly intervene to manage the operational fallout of a franchisee's localized failure.
Business owners should review their own franchise agreements or supply contracts for sudden termination triggers and mitigation requirements. Operators should prioritize diversifying their management risk to avoid similar service disruptions if a key partner exits the market.
The takeaway
Large-scale franchisee failures represent a significant risk to brand continuity and local market presence. Operators should monitor the progress of the store transitions in Ohio to understand how the brand handles regional market recovery after a partner defaults.
Further reading
For more on shifts in the local retail and restaurant sector, see our coverage of Openings & Closings.
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