News Summary
The Bahama Breeze restaurant chain has closed its sole location in New York at Smith Haven Mall, as part of a larger move to shut down 15 underperforming restaurants across eight states. This decision comes after a 7.7% sales decline in 2024, as Darden Restaurants aims to focus on higher-performing locations. The closures also affected multiple locations in New Jersey and other states, reflecting broader trends in the restaurant industry amid changing consumer habits and rising costs. Efforts will be made to assist impacted team members during the transition.
New York – The Bahama Breeze restaurant chain has officially closed its only location in New York, situated at the Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove. This closure is part of a larger decision involving the abrupt shutdown of a total of 15 Bahama Breeze restaurants across eight states, representing over one-third of the chain’s total locations, which previously numbered 43 nationwide.
The closures took effect in mid-May 2025 and also included four locations in New Jersey, specifically in Paramus, Toms River, Wayne, and Woodbridge. Other affected states include Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, and Tennessee. The decisions behind the closures were primarily driven by the status of these locations as underperforming stores according to evaluations of the restaurant chain’s performance.
Bahama Breeze’s parent company, Darden Restaurants, indicated that this strategic move allows the chain to concentrate on higher-performing locations, thereby strengthening overall brand performance. The financials leading up to the closures reveal a 7.7% sales decline for Bahama Breeze in 2024, a factor that contributed heavily to the decision-making process.
As a result of these closures, only 29 Bahama Breeze locations remain operational, with the majority now concentrated in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. Darden Restaurants, which manages over 2,100 dining establishments including popular names like Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, and Ruth’s Chris Steak House, is adjusting its strategy to navigate the current market dynamics.
The wave of closures aligns with a broader trend in the restaurant industry, highlighted by changing consumer habits and rising operational costs. As dining preferences shift and economic pressures mount, many restaurant chains face difficult choices regarding their locations and business models.
In response to the closures, Darden has committed to assisting impacted team members by attempting to place them in nearby Darden brands. For those employees unable to transition, severance packages will be provided to ease their transition into new employment opportunities.
The Smith Haven Mall location had been a popular destination for over a decade, well-known for its diverse array of Caribbean-themed dishes, thus marking a notable loss not only for the company but also for the local community.
As the restaurant industry continues to evolve, the strategic realignment by Bahama Breeze reflects the challenges businesses face in adapting to a changing consumer landscape while striving to maintain profitability and operational efficiency.
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