Chain restaurants have permanently closed over 500 locations so far in 2020. Here's the full list.

Early data shows that reopening isn't the fiscal cure-all some hoped it would be.Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

• Restaurant chains were set to suffer major losses since the beginning of the pandemic.
• Even with dining rooms reopening in some parts of the country, it's still nigh-impossible for casual dining restaurants to generate a profit at reduced dine-in capacity.
• As a result, many chains have decided to permanently close some stores, and some brands have decided to throw in the towel altogether.
• IHOP, Denny's, and TGI Fridays are among the 9 chains that have cumulatively closed over 600 restaurants for good.

It has begun.

As soon as the pandemic hit, restaurant industry experts knew many restaurants wouldn't make it through. On April 1, UBS predicted that one in five restaurants may close as a result of the pandemic.

While independents are much harder hit than many chain restaurants, chains aren't immune. Chains often rely on independent owner-operators to run restaurants, and these franchises often don't have the same robust financial resources of the brands they represent.

Even though much of America is opening up, most locales have implemented social distancing guidelines that make it impossible for restaurants to generate a profit even if they reopen dining rooms. And early data shows that reopening isn't the fiscal cure-all some hoped it would be, especially for restaurants.

Some chains have already filed for bankruptcy protection, or have decided to close all units. Others are taking a slower, quieter, or more measured approach to closures. However, this is likely only the beginning of a large wave of closures for casual dining concepts, which are much less likely to make it through the pandemic unscathed than delivery-oriented restaurants.

Here's a list of chain restaurant closures since the pandemic started:

Are you a restaurant worker who has recently returned to work? We'd love to hear your story. Contact the reporter at ijiang@businessinsider.com.