Darden Restaurants Officially Ending Bahama Breeze Brand Operations
After thirty years of serving Caribbean-inspired cuisine, the Bahama Breeze restaurant chain is set to cease operations entirely. Darden Restaurants, the parent company behind major dining brands such as Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse, announced on Tuesday that it will wind down the Bahama Breeze brand, effectively closing or repurposing all remaining locations. The decision marks the final chapter for the concept, which was founded in Orlando, Florida, in 1996.
According to the official announcement, the closure strategy involves a split approach for the chain’s final 28 locations. Fourteen of these restaurants are scheduled to close their doors permanently by April 5, 2026. The remaining 14 locations will remain in the Darden portfolio but will be converted into other brands owned by the company, a process expected to take between 12 and 18 months. While Darden has not specified exactly which brands will replace the converted Bahama Breeze sites, the company’s portfolio includes high-performing names like Yard House, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, and Seasons 52.
This move follows a significant reduction in the chain’s footprint executed in May 2025, when Darden abruptly closed 15 locations across the United States. Following those initial closures, executives noted that the brand was no longer considered a “strategic priority” and began exploring alternatives, including a potential sale. However, the recent decision confirms that Darden ultimately opted to discontinue the brand rather than sell it to a new operator.
Financial struggles appear to be the primary driver behind the shutdown. Industry reports indicate that Bahama Breeze experienced a systemwide sales decline of 7.7% in 2024, struggling to regain momentum amid inflationary pressures and changing consumer dining habits. Despite a strong post-pandemic recovery in 2022, the brand failed to sustain its growth, leading Darden to focus resources on its more profitable core chains.
While the news confirms the end of Bahama Breeze as a dining entity, the transition offers a nuanced outcome for the physical real estate and some employees. The decision to convert half of the remaining sites suggests that Darden still sees value in the locations themselves, if not the Caribbean theme. Consequently, these specific venues will not remain vacant but will transition to different culinary concepts. Furthermore, Darden has stated its intention to place as many impacted employees as possible into roles at its other operating restaurants, potentially mitigating the job losses often associated with total brand closures.
For loyal patrons, the window to visit is closing rapidly. The 14 locations slated for permanent closure will continue serving guests only until the first week of April. After that date, the tropical atmosphere and island-themed menu that defined the chain for three decades will officially become a thing of the past.
restaurantbusinessonline.com
people.com
wikipedia.org
newsweek.com
13newsnow.com
nrn.com
prnewswire.com
restaurantdive.com
mensjournal.com
timesnownews.com
hindustantimes.com
