The pot is boiling for the famous, seafood-based chain Red Lobster.
According to Business Insider, the chain unexpectedly closed 50 of its restaurants this week, spread across various regions of the country.
According to Business Insider, TAGeX Brands, a restaurant liquidator, announced its intention to “auction kitchen items and furniture from the locations slated for closure.”
According to The Hill, TAGeX Brands described it as “the most extensive restaurant equipment auction ever” on its website.
What impact will the closures have on the chain’s New England locations? Here are some answers.
Why are some Red Lobster restaurants shutting down?
According to Business Insider, the chain attributed $11 million in losses during the third quarter of 2023 to its all-you-can-eat shrimp promotion, alongside losses incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The company was reportedly contemplating bankruptcy filing in April.
Through filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the company aims to remain operational as it restructures its finances to gradually settle existing debts, striving for a more stable financial position.
Bloomberg also reported Red Lobster is receiving guidance from the law firm King & Spalding regarding this matter. Discussions regarding restructuring are ongoing, and as of April 18, no definitive decisions have been reached regarding a bankruptcy filing.
Are any Red Lobster locations in New England closing?
Although the company has not disclosed a list of locations slated for closure, they have updated their website to reflect temporary closures.
As per the updates, there are no Red Lobster locations in New England marked for closure. The chain solely operates restaurants in Connecticut.
Where will Red Lobster be closing locations?
According to the information posted on their website, it appears that most of the closures are concentrated in Florida, where Red Lobster originated in 1968, as well as in Texas, New York, and California.
At present, it seems that no locations in New England are affected.
Below is the list of locations slated for closure by Red Lobster, organized by state.
Alabama:
Arizona:
- Oro Valley, AZ
California:
Colorado:
Florida:
- Hialeah, Florida
- Tampa, FL
- Tampa, FL
- Largo, FL
- Kissimmee, FL
- Leesburg, FL
- Orlando, FL
- Orlando, FL
- Orlando, FL (Golden Sky Lane)
- Altamonte Springs, FL
- Gainesville, FL
- Jacksonville, FL (Commerce Center Drive)
- Jacksonville, FL (Baymeadows Road)
- Jacksonville, FL (City Station Drive)
- Sanford, FL
- Daytona Beach Shores, FL
- Georgia:
- Roswell, Georgia
- Athens, Georgia
- Dublin, Georgia
- Idaho:
- Lewiston, ID
- Illinois:
- Bloomingdale, IL
- Danville, IL
- Indiana:
- Indianapolis, IN
- Elkhart, IN
- Iowa:
- Waterloo, IA
- Kansas:
- Olathe, KS
- Kansas City, KS
- Louisiana:
- Bossier City, LA
- Maryland:
- Columbia, MD
- Laurel, MD
- Silver Spring, MD
- Gaithersburg, MD
- Mississippi:
- Jackson, MS
- Missouri:
- Jefferson City, MO
- New Jersey:
- Ledgewood, NJ
- Lawrenceville, NJ
- East Brunswick, NJ
- Bridgewater, NJ
- New York:
- Lakewood, NY
- Buffalo, NY
- Amherst, NY
- Williamsville, NY
- Rochester, NY
- Poughkeepsie, NY
- Stony Brook, NY
- Kingston, NY
- Scarsdale, NY
- Nanuet, NY
- North Carolina:
- Rocky Mount, NC
- Cary, NC
- Durham, NC
- Burlington, NC
- North Dakota:
- Grand Forks, ND
- Oklahoma:
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Stillwater, OK
- Lawton, OK
- Pennsylvania:
- Erie, PA
- South Carolina:
- Myrtle Beach, SC
- Tennessee:
- Memphis, TN
- Texas:
- Dallas, TX
- Dallas, TX
- Lake Jackson, TX
- Houston, TX
- Pasadena, TX
- Tyler, TX
- Longview, TX
- Lufkin, TX
- Virginia:
- Newport News, VA
- Williamsburg, VA
- Colonial Heights, VA
- Washington:
- Silverdale, WA
- Wisconsin:
- La Crosse, WI
- Wauwatosa, WI
How did Red Lobster become popular?
As per the information on the chain’s website, Red Lobster was established in Lakeland, Florida, in 1968 by Bill Darden.
According to the company’s website, in 1970, Red Lobster began expanding rapidly after attracting the interest of the General Mills company.
In 1983, the chain extended its expansion into Canada by opening its inaugural restaurant there. The inaugural “Lobsterfest” took place in the same year, swiftly becoming one of the company’s enduring traditions.
