Olive Garden‘s sister restaurant, Bahama Breeze, is closing down all of its locations over the weekend. Darden Restaurants, which owns Bahama Breeze, said all of its 28 locations will stop operating on Sunday. The company also revealed that it plans to convert 14 of the stores to other brands. However, it’s not yet clear which brands will replace the 14 Bahama Breeze locations.
“The company believes the conversion locations are great sites that will benefit several of the brands in its portfolio,” Darden said in a statement, per The U.S. Sun. “Going forward, the primary focus will continue to be on supporting team members, including placing as many as possible in roles within the Darden portfolio.”
Why is Bahama Breeze closing down its stores?
In the past year, Darden has been focusing on a strategic review of Bahama Breeze as the restaurant struggles to keep up with its sister restaurants, including Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse, Syrcause.com reported. Bahama Breeze struggled to keep pace with competitors and also faced difficulties as consumers’ dining habits shifted drastically in recent years.
The restaurant operated 43 stores at one point, with locations in Florida, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Georgia, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Virginia, Washington and more.
When did Bahama Breeze open?
Bahama Breeze became a popular dining spot after opening in Orlando, Florida, in 1996. Customers had fallen in love with the restaurant’s conch fritters, Frozen Bahamaritas, Jerk Chicken Pasta and other signature items, as well as tropical drinks. But those items will no longer be available to customers as the restaurant officially closes for business on Sunday.
Some of Darden’s other brands include Yard House, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, The Capital Grille, Chuy’s, Seasons 52, and Eddie V’s. The company still plans to add more locations for some of its restaurants, according to the U.S. Sun.
The post Olive Garden’s Sister Restaurant, Bahama Breeze, Closing All Of Its Locations This Weekend appeared first on Blavity.
