Red Lobster closing nearly two dozen more restaurants. Here’s where.

August 26, 2024 4,534

Red Lobster plans to close more restaurants after filing for bankruptcy

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Red Lobster plans to close nearly two dozen more restaurants in coming days as the bankrupt seafood chain prepares to be acquired.

Known for its affordable seafood and cheddar bay biscuits, the nationwide restaurant chain expects to walk away from the leases of 23 additional locations by August 31, a recent court filing showed. The closures will add to a tally that has seen more than 100 Red Lobster outlets shut down earlier this summer.

Red Lobster filed for Chapter 11 in May after years of weak growth amid mounting competition from fast-casual chains, heavy debt and mismanagement.

After the latest streamlining, Red Lobster will have roughly 500 restaurants. The company is selling itself to Fortress Investment Group, which recently loaned Red Lobster $100 million to keep the chain going. Fortress also owns Krystal, Logan’s Roadhouse and J. Alexander’s.

Fortress on Monday said it has appointed Damola Adamolekun, the former chief executive officer of P.F. Chang’s, to run Red Lobster. A Florida bankruptcy judge must approve Red Lobster’s plan for exiting Chapter 11.

Launched in 1968 in Lakeland, Florida, by local restaurateur Bill Darden, Red Lobster eventually expanded nationwide by offering Americans affordable crab, lobster and other seafood.

Here’s a list of the additional locations Red Lobster intends to shut by August 31:

Arizona