Top rated restaurants in the California High Desert
The Daily Press has compiled a list of the top 10 restaurants in the High Desert to serve as your go-to guide for the next time you don’t know what to eat for dinner.
- Two Arby’s locations in the High Desert have permanently closed.
- Arby’s has not officially stated why the specific High Desert locations were shuttered.
While fast food chain Wendy’s recently announced the closing of hundreds of stores by year’s end, customers are wondering why Arby’s has permanently closed two restaurants in the High Desert.
At the Arby’s near the Home Depot on Bear Valley Road in Victorville, Maria Leon looked frustrated as she drove through the empty parking lot.
“I came here because the Hesperia Arby’s is closed and now this one is closed,” Leon told the Daily Press on Friday. “I don’t come through this area very often, but I was in the mood for a Beef ‘N Cheddar sandwich.”
Luevano, who lives in Hesperia, said her other options for an Arby’s sandwich include visiting a location on Bear Valley Road in Apple Valley or on Highway 395 in Victorville.
In September, permanently closed signs were posted at the Arby’s on Main Street just east of Interstate 15 in Hesperia.
Employees at nearby businesses told the Daily Press the Hesperia Arby’s closed at the end of August.
At that time, the shuttered Hesperia Arby’s sported a sign that read, “Sorry for the inconvenience, but this location is permanently closed. Please visit our Apple Valley location.”
A second sign directed Arby’s employees to “Pick up checks in Victorville, Arby’s on Bear Valley (Road).”
Arby’s shutters stores
Arby’s closed nearly 50 restaurants in 2024, according to Nation’s Restaurant News.
Last year, Arby’s iconic and old-school giant neon hat went dark after the restaurant on Sunset Boulevard was shuttered after 55 years.
Arby’s general manager blamed the eatery’s closure on the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation and the minimum wage increases, CBS News reported.
Arby’s officials did not return messages as to why the stores were shuttered.
Arby’s customer Sabrina Ortez of Victorville shared her opinion as to why Arby’s stores have closed.
“When you’re paying close to $40 for two combo meals, you tend to eat at Arby’s less often,” Ortez told the Daily Press. “I know prices have increased because food costs and minimum wage have gone up, but paying high prices for regular fast food is ridiculous.”
Wendy’s
After shuttering 140 Wendy’s locations in 2024, company officials on Friday announced they plan to close over 200 more stores.
Company interim CEO Ken Cook told investors that the company would be closing a “mid single-digit percentage” of locations.
With around 6,000 locations still operating nationwide, this would amount to roughly 240 to 360 stores. One investor estimated the number at about 300 locations during the earnings call, USA TODAY reported.
“When we look at the system today, we have some restaurants that do not elevate the brand and are a drag from a franchisee financial performance perspective,” Cook said. “The goal is to address and fix those restaurants.”
Wendy’s has not yet responded to questions about the shuttered and open stores in the High Desert.
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on X @DP_ReneDeLaCruz