Fuddruckers became the 'Blockbuster' of burgers, and now it's nearly gone

Fuddruckers, founded in 1979 and once operating 200-500 locations, now has only 44 restaurants. The chain struggled through multiple ownership changes, including a 2010 acquisition by Luby's and a 2021 purchase by Nicholas Perkins for $18.5 million. Experts attribute its decline to failure to adapt to changing customer preferences and the impact of the pandemic.