ORLANDO, Florida, Feb 3, 2026, 15:38 (EST)
- Darden is shutting down 14 Bahama Breeze locations for good and plans to rebrand the other 14 under different Darden restaurant brands.
- Closures will continue until April 5, with conversions planned over the following 12 to 18 months.
- The company hasn’t disclosed which brands will take over the converted sites.
Darden Restaurants announced Tuesday it will shut down half of its Bahama Breeze locations, closing 14 of the 28 restaurants for good. The remaining 14 will be rebranded and remodeled into other Darden concepts, though the company hasn’t revealed which ones yet. It expects the changes won’t have a significant impact on its financial results. (Darden Investor Relations)
This move is significant because it unlocks a group of restaurant locations—mainly in Florida—that Darden is ready to support, right as the casual-dining landscape shifts one store at a time. Rather than trying to save struggling spots, Darden is opting to repurpose them.
It also reveals how swiftly “strategic alternatives” can morph into a shutdown strategy. That term is corporate speak for the choices no one wants to mention openly: sell, close, or repurpose.
Closures span from Delaware to Washington, hitting spots in Miami, Jacksonville, Raleigh, Pittsburgh, and Tukwila. Meanwhile, many conversions cluster near Orlando, according to a list from Nation’s Restaurant News. The chain, which launched in 1996, grew to 43 units by 2024 before Darden shuttered 15 locations last spring. As of late November, the company operated 2,182 restaurants across its system, the trade publication noted. (Nation’s Restaurant News)
CEO Rick Cardenas signaled the change months earlier, noting the remaining spots and the brand “are not a strategic priority for us.” He also suggested the concept might show “growth potential” if owned by someone else. Those comments surfaced during Darden’s June 2025 earnings call, where they first mentioned possible moves like a sale or conversions. (ABC News)
Darden’s shares rose roughly 1.8% in afternoon trading, reaching $204.55.
Darden’s top names, Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse, have long anchored its portfolio. The company has been trimming less favored assets for years, and this time it’s holding onto the locations it values while shedding the brand it’s ready to let go.
Others in the sector have taken comparable steps, though their financial situations vary. Twin Hospitality Group plans to close or convert the majority of its Smokey Bones outlets. Bravo Brio Restaurant Group has shuttered locations amid bankruptcy proceedings, and Outback Steakhouse has reduced its footprint as part of a turnaround effort, Restaurant Dive reported.
That said, the gamble isn’t without risks. Should conversions drag on or demand more costly renovations than anticipated, Darden might face extended downtime and ballooning expenses — plus, diners in certain areas could see a beloved option vanish before a new one opens.
