News Summary
Darden Restaurants has closed 15 Bahama Breeze locations across the eastern United States, including five in Florida. The closures aim to focus on higher-performing restaurants as the company navigates challenges in the fast-casual dining sector. Although many Orlando-area locations remain unaffected, uncertainty persists among employees and the community. The closures extend beyond Florida, impacting various states, with the restaurant known for its Caribbean-style dishes. Darden is providing support for affected team members, highlighting the ongoing adjustments in the restaurant industry.
Orlando, Florida – Darden Restaurants has shuttered 15 Bahama Breeze locations across the eastern United States, with five of those closures taking place in Florida. The affected restaurants are situated in Daytona Beach, Gainesville, Naples, Oakland Park, and Sunrise. This significant reduction in the number of Bahama Breeze locations brings the active total from 44 to 29 nationwide.
A Darden spokesperson confirmed that the decision to close the 15 restaurants was executed with the intent to concentrate on the highest performing establishments and enhance the overall brand performance of Bahama Breeze.
Despite the closures, the majority of Bahama Breeze restaurants in the Orlando area have remained unaffected. There are currently nine Bahama Breeze locations operational in the metro area, distributed as five in Orange County, two in Osceola, and two in Seminole counties. However, Darden did not provide any performance details specific to these Orlando-area locations, leaving many community members and employees uncertain about their future.
The closure of Bahama Breeze locations reached beyond Florida, impacting four restaurants in New Jersey, alongside other closures in states such as Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New York, and Tennessee. Notably, one closure in Massachusetts involved the sudden loss of 73 jobs for its employees. As of the latest report, the Florida state government had not received any official notifications regarding layoffs from the closures, according to the Worker Adjustment and Training Act notices.
Bahama Breeze is known for its vibrant menu that features Caribbean-style entrees and cocktails, with popular dishes including Bahamian seafood chowder, jerk mahi mahi, and glazed salmon. The closure of these restaurants comes at a time when the fast-casual dining segment is facing numerous challenges, as other brands like TGI Fridays and Red Lobster are also grappling with bankruptcy and financial instability.
Darden Restaurants stands as the world’s largest full-service restaurant operator, employing over 175,000 individuals and running around 1,800 locations. Bahama Breeze is one of many restaurant brands under the Darden umbrella, which includes well-known chains such as Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, and Yard House.
The stock price of Darden has experienced a rise of $22.39 over the year, indicating a degree of investor stability amidst the restructuring efforts that included these closures. While some of the closed locations, particularly in Gainesville and Naples, had only recently opened for business, the corporation has committed to providing support for impacted team members. Darden is offering transfer opportunities to nearby locations within its other brands and severance pay for those unable to be reallocated.
This recent decision reflects an ongoing trend in the restaurant industry, where the impacts of economic pressures and changing consumer preferences continue to demand adaptations from business leaders. The focus on optimizing the restaurant portfolio aligns with Darden’s long-term strategies in sustaining profitability and fostering growth in its remaining locations.
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Additional Resources
- WFLA: Bahama Breeze Closes 5 Florida Locations
- Wikipedia: Bahama Breeze
- Sun Sentinel: Two Bahama Breeze Restaurants Permanently Closed
- Google Search: Bahama Breeze closures
- Orlando Sentinel: Orlando Area Spared in Darden’s Closure
- Google Scholar: Bahama Breeze restaurant closures
- NBC Miami: Bahama Breeze Closes 15 Locations
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Bahama Breeze
- CNN: Bahama Breeze Closures
- Google News: Bahama Breeze restaurant closures
Author: STAFF HERE ORLANDO WRITER
ORLANDO STAFF WRITER The ORLANDO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREOrlando.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Orlando, Orange County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival, Megacon Orlando, and Central Florida Fair. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Orlando Economic Partnership and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Metro Orlando, plus leading businesses in leisure and hospitality that power the local economy such as Walt Disney World Resort, AdventHealth, and Universal Orlando. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREPetersburg.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
