Minnesota Long John Silver's Closes
Minnesota's Final Long John Silver's Location Closes After 18 Years, Franchisee Files for Bankruptcy
Minnesota's last Long John Silver's has closed for good. The seafood chain's final outpost in the state — inside the Mall of America in Bloomington — shut its doors in June 2024 after 18 years, according to Y105FM. The counter closed quietly, with no formal public announcement from the brand.
A month later, the franchisee behind the location, Uplifted Foods LLC, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. That means the company is not trying to reorganize — it is liquidating everything to pay off its debts. There are now zero Long John Silver's restaurants left in Minnesota.
Franchisee Buried Under Millions in Debt
The bankruptcy filing tells a stark story. Uplifted Foods LLC reported total liabilities of between $1 million and $10 million, according to KROC AM. Its total assets? Less than $50,000. The company listed between 1 and 49 creditors, with the Mall of America and several food suppliers among the primary claimants.
The Mall of America is one of the most expensive food court locations in the country. Rising labor and supply costs hit the franchisee hard in the years before the closure. Chapter 7 means Uplifted Foods LLC will cease to exist entirely — making a surprise comeback by this operator extremely unlikely, KRFO FM reported.
18 Years at the Mall, Then Silence
Long John Silver's opened its Mall of America location in 2006 in the food court on the mall's north side. For nearly two decades, it served fried fish and shrimp to tourists and locals alike. Other Minnesota locations — including standalone spots in Burnsville and Bloomington — had already closed in the years before, slowly shrinking the brand's footprint in the state.
The MOA location was the last one standing. When it closed on June 4, 2024, fans found the counter shuttered without warning. Social media reactions ranged from nostalgia to a shrug — many said they had not visited in years, even if they remembered it fondly.
Fast-Food Seafood Struggles to Stay Afloat
Long John Silver's has faced a tough road nationally for over a decade. The chain was once co-branded with A&W Restaurants under Yum! Brands. After both brands were sold in 2011, many dual-branded locations could not survive as standalone seafood units. Minnesota's market shifted toward fast-casual options — poke bowls, grilled fish, and sushi — leaving fried seafood chains behind.
Mall of America has also been pushing to upgrade its dining options. Retail analysts say the mall wants more trendy, local, and "Instagrammable" brands that charge higher prices. The loss of a legacy fast-food name like Long John Silver's clears space for exactly that kind of tenant.
Iowa Holds On, But Minnesota Is Now a Seafood Desert
The brand has not disappeared from the region entirely. Nine Long John Silver's locations still operate in Iowa, according to KRFO Radio. But for Minnesota fans of the chain's signature battered fish and "crumblies," the nearest option is now across state lines in Iowa or Wisconsin.
Long John Silver's corporate, based in Lexington, Kentucky, has not announced any plans to return to Minnesota with a company-owned store. For now, the North Star State has zero locations — and with the franchisee fully liquidated, there is no clear path back anytime soon.
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