Darden Restaurants permanently closed 15 locations of Bahama Breeze Island Grille on May 15, including the Naples location that had been open less than a year.
“We continually evaluate the performance of all our restaurants. After thorough analysis and careful consideration, we made the decision to close 15 Bahama Breeze locations,” reads the company’s official statement emailed May 15 by Rich Jeffers, senior director of communications for Orlando-based Darden.
“Closing a restaurant is a difficult choice because it impacts our team members and guests. 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.”
The Naples location, which launched June 24 last summer, operated only 10½ months at Coastland Center. That freestanding restaurant at 2088 Ninth St. N. was the newest location of Bahama Breeze.
Because the chain had less than 45 locations, more than a third of them closed on the same day. A third of those closings were in Florida. In addition to Naples, other Florida locations of Bahama Breeze closed in Daytona Beach, Gainesville, Oakland Park and Sunrise.
Four restaurants in the Caribbean-inspired chain shuttered in New Jersey. The other closings were in Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New York and Tennessee.
“We are committed to supporting our team members who have been impacted by these closures. We are doing everything we can to place as many impacted team members at nearby Darden brands and all others will be provided with severance,” according to the statement by Darden, which also owns the restaurant brands Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, Yard House, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, Ruth’s Chris Steak House and Chuy’s.
The Naples employees of Bahama Breeze were told at a mandatory on-site meeting the morning of May 15 that the location was closed, effective immediately, a staff member said. A sign is posted at the restaurant’s entrance: “This location is permanently closed,” directing diners to other Darden restaurants nearby.
The nearest Bahama Breeze remains operating more than 25 miles north of the shuttered Naples location. The south Fort Myers location has operated for decades at 14701 S. Tamiami Trail.
Ironically, when Darden reported its quarterly financial results and cash dividend March 20, the report was upbeat, and the robust outlook didn’t hint at the necessity to close 15 restaurants.
“We had a solid quarter, and I am proud of how our teams managed their business and controlled what they could control,” Darden President and CEO Rick Cardenas told shareholders. “All of our segments grew total sales and segment profit margin, while several brands set sales records during the holidays and on Valentine’s Day, reinforcing the strength of our portfolio and the loyalty of our guests.”
Darden’s next earnings call will be June 20, when the company will provide more information, Jeffers said.
