America's late-night fast-food culture may be making a comeback — here's why

Late-night fast food and 24-hour dining — once staples of American convenience — have shrunk dramatically in recent years, though some chains are beginning to expand overnight hours again.

Across the country, fewer chains are keeping locations open overnight, a shift that began during the COVID-19 pandemic and never fully reversed. 

Restaurant sales plunged 47% in April 2020 from a year earlier, forcing operators to cut hours and reduce costs, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) data cited by Tasting Table.