ORLANDO, Fla. – After being announced back in February, half of all Bahama Breeze restaurants have officially closed.
That’s according to Darden Restaurants, which revealed that the chain — with only 14 locations left — is “no longer a strategic priority.”
The other 14 locations were set to close by April 5, with some surprisingly shutting down operations even before that date.
Meanwhile, the remaining locations are slated to be converted into other Darden-owned brands over the course of 12-18 months.
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“They are expected to continue to operate until any temporary closures are needed for the conversion,” a release from the company reads. “At this time, the company is not disclosing the specific Darden brands into which these locations will be converted.”
The list of locations in Florida that have either been closed or will be converted is as follows:
| CLOSED LOCATIONS | CONVERSION LOCATIONS |
|---|---|
| 12395 SW 88th Street, Miami, FL | 499 E. Altamonte Drive, Altamonte Springs, FL |
| 10205 Rivercoast Drive, Jacksonville, FL | 805 Brandon Town Center Drive, Brandon, FL |
| 1251 West Osceola Pkwy., Kissimmee, FL | 14701 S. Tamiami Trail, Ft. Myers, FL |
| 11000 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines, FL | 8160 Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy., Kissimmee, FL |
| 1540 Rinehart Road, Sanford, FL | 5620 W. Oak Ridge Road, Orlando, FL |
| -- | 8849 International Drive, Orlando, FL |
| -- | 8735 Vineland Ave., Orlando, FL |
| -- | 1200 N. Alafaya Drive, Orlando, FL |
| -- | 3045 N. Rocky Point Drive East, Tampa, FL |
“The company believes the conversion locations are great sites that will benefit several of the brands in its portfolio,” the release concludes. “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.”
Darden’s portfolio of brands includes many popular chains nationwide, including Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Yard House, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, The Capital Grille, Chuy’s, Seasons 52, and Eddie V’s.
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