Darden Restaurants Shuts Down 15 Bahama Breeze Locations

The vibrant exterior of a Bahama Breeze restaurant, known for its Caribbean-inspired menu.

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.