Bahama Breeze to Shut Down All Restaurants After Three Decades
Bahama Breeze, the Caribbean-inspired restaurant chain, is set to close all of its outlets, bringing an end to a brand that has operated for more than 30 years.
Its parent company, Darden Restaurants, announced on Tuesday that the remaining 28 Bahama Breeze locations will be wound down in the coming months. About half of the sites will shut their doors permanently, while the others will be repurposed and rebranded under different Darden-owned restaurant concepts.
The decision follows earlier signs of trouble for the chain. Nearly a year ago, Bahama Breeze closed roughly one-third of its restaurants without warning, after Darden revealed it was reviewing strategic options for the brand, including a potential sale.
According to Darden, Bahama Breeze will cease operations entirely on April 5. Closures will affect restaurants in several US states, including Delaware, Georgia, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Virginia and Washington, along with two locations in Pennsylvania and five in Florida.
The remaining 14 sites – 10 of which are in the Orlando, Florida area – will continue operating as Bahama Breeze for now, before being converted to other Darden brands over the next 12 to 18 months. The company has not yet disclosed which restaurant concepts will replace them.
In a statement, Darden said the locations selected for conversion remain valuable assets. The company added that its priority would be supporting affected employees, with efforts focused on redeploying as many workers as possible across its broader portfolio, which includes Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse.
The shutdown comes as parts of the US casual dining sector face mounting pressure. Restaurants targeting lower- and middle-income households have been hit by reduced consumer spending, as inflation continues to squeeze household budgets and dampen consumer confidence.
Despite these challenges, some casual dining chains are outperforming the market. Darden reported that both Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse recorded gains in same-store sales in its latest earnings update, as diners increasingly seek out value-focused dining options.
