Bahama Breeze Shuts 15 Restaurants Amid Declining Sales

Bahama Breeze, a Caribbean-themed casual dining chain owned by Darden Restaurants, abruptly closed 15 locations across the U.S. this week, including five in Florida and others in states such as New Jersey, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, New York, Massachusetts, and Tennessee. The closures were driven by a 7.7% decline in sales for 2024 and broader financial difficulties affecting the casual dining sector due to inflation and reduced consumer spending. Darden has stated it is attempting to relocate affected employees to other Darden-owned brands or provide severance pay. These closures reduce Bahama Breeze's presence to 29 locations nationwide. The move has generated disappointment among customers and concern for staff, reflecting industry-wide challenges. Darden, which also owns Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse, is reportedly facing similar issues with its other chains.