Darden to Permanently Close 14 Bahama Breeze, Convert 14 to Other Brands

Darden Restaurants has decided to shut 14 Bahama Breeze locations and convert the other 14 into different brands from its portfolio, a change that will affect staff at all 28 remaining units and reshape where the chain operates. The company said the moves complete a strategic review that began last year and reflect that Bahama Breeze is no longer a corporate priority.

Darden said, "The company has now determined that it will permanently close 14 Bahama Breeze restaurants and plans to convert the remaining 14 locations into another Darden brand." The 14 restaurants designated for permanent closure are scheduled to continue operating through April 5, 2026. Darden added that conversion work on the other sites will be carried out "over the next 12 to 18 months" and that those restaurants "are expected to continue to operate until any temporary closures are needed for the conversion." The company described the conversion sites as "great sites that will benefit several of the brands in its portfolio."

Darden has said the primary corporate focus will be supporting team members during the transition. "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," the company said. No company figures for employees affected, planned reassignments, severance or relocation assistance were released in the announcement.

The 14 restaurants Darden said will permanently close include Newark, Delaware; Duluth, Georgia; Miami, Florida; Jacksonville, Florida; Kissimmee, Florida (West Osceola Parkway); Pembroke Pines, Florida; Sanford, Florida; Livonia, Michigan; Cherry Hill, New Jersey; Raleigh, North Carolina; King of Prussia, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Woodbridge, Virginia; and Tukwila, Washington. Darden has not disclosed which Darden brands will replace conversion sites or the site-by-site assignments. Darden’s broader portfolio includes 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 among others, and some corporate messaging frames conversions as moves into higher-performing concepts.

The decision follows a wave of closures in 2025, when Darden closed 15 Bahama Breeze locations. Company executives had signaled since mid-2025 that Bahama Breeze was not a strategic priority and that selling or converting the concept was under consideration. CEO Ricardo Cardenas said during an earnings call, "We have made the difficult decision that these remaining locations and the Bahama Breeze brand are not a strategic priority for us."

For workers, the near-term picture will be mixed. Employees at the 14 sites that will close in April face imminent job loss if not reassigned, while staff at conversion sites can expect continued operations with possible temporary shutdowns for remodels as brands change. Darden’s pledge to place as many team members as possible into other roles will be central to how disruptive the changes prove, but the company has not yet released the headcount or site-level placement plans that would clarify impacts for individual employees.

Next, Darden will carry out conversions over the next year to 18 months, and employees, managers and local communities will be watching for the company’s site-by-site conversion schedule and staffing plans.