A BELOVED restaurant chain has suddenly closed 15 of its locations, leaving diners devastated.
Potential customers have been met with signs informing the restaurants are no longer open.
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Chiefs at Darden Restaurants – the owner of Bahama Breeze – have closed more than a dozen locations.
Diners in Florida, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, and New York are among those set to be impacted.
Five locations in the Sunshine State have closed.
Outlets in Tennessee and New Jersey are among the restaurants impacted.
News of the shutdowns have left diners and former workers devastated.
A server, who worked at a Nevada restaurant for more than 20 years, was left stunned.
“We were family. My heart is broken,” they posted on Facebook.
“One of the best chain restaurants,” another proclaimed.
“Never had any food or drink complaints!”
Diners reminisced how they used to flock to the Las Vegas Bahama Breeze for special occasions.
“Great food and drinks we went there on our anniversary 9 years ago sad see that restaurant go,” a customer said.
Families have been forced to cancel graduation celebrations they were planning to hold at the restaurants as a result.
Bahama Breeze establishments in Memphis, Tennessee, and Naples, Florida, have also gone to the wall.
The Naples location was only open for 11 months, as rep[orted by the Naples Daily News.
Kiara Buckner, a spokesperson for Darden, admitted closing a restaurant is difficult.
Bahama Breeze locations that have closed
BOSSES at Bahama Breeze have closed 15 underperforming locations.
Florida
- Gainesville
- Naples
- Daytona Beach
- Sunrise
- Oakland Park
Illinois
Massachusetts
Michigan
Nevada
New Jersey
- Woodbridge
- Toms River
- Wayne
- Paramus
New York
Tennessee
“However, we believe this is the right decision because it will allow Bahama Breeze to focus on its highest performing restaurants and strengthen the brand’s overall performance,” she told USA Today.
Diners planning to eat at a now-shuttered Bahama Breeze establishment have been encouraged to visit the nearest LongHorn Steakhouse or Olive Garden.
Darden also owns brands such as Yard House, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, Seasons 52, and Eddie V’s.
Last month, Bertucci’s bosses filed for bankruptcy for the third time in recent years.
And, chiefs closed seven underperforming locations, leaving just 15 remaining in the US.
The U.S. Sun also reported how the Canadian restaurant chain Planta also filed for bankruptcy.
The brand was popular among celebrities such as Hailey Bieber and Bella Hadid and was known for its high-end vegan cuisine.
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