USA

Caribbean-themed restaurant to shutter operations

Caribbean-themed food chain Bahama Breeze is closing after nearly three decades in business.

Darden Restaurants – operating restaurant locations including: Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouseand Ruth’s Chris is closing 14 of its tropical-themed Bahama Breeze locations and rebranding all 14 more.

The company made the announcement on Tuesday. The closings and rebranding will mark the end of the Bahama Breeze chain.

Last May, Darden closed about a third of its Bahama Breeze locations, and in June new opportunities for the brand.

The stores to be rebranded include 10 locations in Florida and one each in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Virginia. The closed stores are located in Virginia, Delaware, West Virginia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as well as five locations in Florida. Restaurant Dive reports.

“Conversion destinations are great sites that will benefit many brands in its portfolio,” Darden said in a statement.

Darden Restaurants is closing half of its remaining Bahama Breeze restaurant locations and converting the other half of the remaining stores into different brands. The Bahama Breeze chain’s last day will be April 5 (Getty/iStock)

The company said it hopes to place as many of the affected employees as possible into other roles at its restaurants.

“Going forward, the primary focus will continue to be supporting team members, including placing as many people as possible in roles within the Darden portfolio,” the company said.

Darden said it does not expect the end of the Bahama Breeze chain to have a “material impact on its financial results.”

The company has not announced what the rebranded Bahama Breeze locations will be.

The last day of operation of the chain, which has been operating for approximately 30 years, will be April 5.

It’s a tough time for casual eateries like Bahama Breeze, as inflation and the economic crisis make dining out more luxurious than in years past. The rise in popularity of fast-casual restaurants has also depleted the primary customer base of chains like those in Darden’s portfolio.

The company saw growth thanks to its Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse brands, both of which achieved strong sales figures. same-store sales growth last quarter.

But other chains are struggling.

Last year, Italian chain Bravo Brio went bankrupt for the second time and closed some of its locations. Outback Steakhouse has closed several locations ahead of its planned brand overhaul in 2026. Other chains, including Hooters, Bar Louie and Razzoo’s Cajun Cafe, have closed stores and filed for bankruptcy in 2025.