An iconic restaurant chain closed its last locations over the weekend after 30 years, quietly marking the end of the line for Bahama Breeze.

Darden Restaurants Inc., the corporate conglomerate behind popular dining chains such as Olive Garden and Longhorn Steakhouse, confirmed it shuttered all 28 of its remaining Bahama Breeze outposts, MassLive previously reported.

The chain's last day was April 5.

Garden and Longhorn Steakhouse

Representatives for Darden said the shutdown occurred because the brand was no longer "a strategic priority."

"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 company said in a statement.

Founded in 1996, the chain was designed to offer guests "Caribbean-inspired food, handcrafted drinks and a vibrant island atmosphere."

Bahama Breeze

Despite the total closure of the tropical-themed establishments, corporate leadership noted the move will not severely impact its bottom line.

"The company does not expect these actions to have a material impact on its financial results," the statement read.

Of the remaining establishments, 14 locations have permanently closed their doors.

Why people are talking about it

Locations closing permanently:
  • 500 Center Blvd., Newark, Delaware
  • 3590 Breckenridge Blvd., Duluth, Georgia
  • 12395 SW 88St., Miami, Florida

* 10205 Rivercoast Drive, Jacksonville, Florida

  • 1251 West Osceola Pkwy., Kissimmee, Florida
  • 11000 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines, Florida
  • 1540 Rinehart Road, Sanford, Florida
  • 19600 Haggerty Road, Livonia, Michigan
  • 2000 Route 38, Cherry Hill, New Jersey

* 3309 Wake Forest Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina

* 320 Goddard Blvd., King of Prussia, Pennsylvania

* 6100 Robinson Center Drive, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

* 2714 Potomac Mills Circle, Woodbridge, Virginia

  • 15700 Southcenter Pkwy., Tukwila, Washington

Locations being converted into other Darden restaurants:

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.

Putting it in context

Location, rent and staffing shape restaurant stories long before the food does, and the operators who last are the ones who plan around all three.

Key takeaways

  • Representatives for Darden said the shutdown occurred because the brand was no longer "a strategic priority."
  • "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 company said in a statement
  • Founded in 1996, the chain was designed to offer guests "Caribbean-inspired food, handcrafted drinks and a vibrant island atmosphere."
  • Despite the total closure of the tropical-themed establishments, corporate leadership noted the move will not severely impact its bottom line
  • "The company does not expect these actions to have a material impact on its financial results," the statement read

Figures worth noting

  • An iconic restaurant chain closed its last locations over the weekend after 30 years, quietly marking the end of the line for Bahama Breeze
  • Of the remaining establishments, 14 locations have permanently closed their doors

Common questions

What should you know about Bahama Breeze?

An iconic restaurant chain closed its last locations over the weekend after 30 years, quietly marking the end of the line for Bahama Breeze.

Why does it matter?

Despite the total closure of the tropical-themed establishments, corporate leadership noted the move will not severely impact its bottom line.

In short

Every change in the dining room eventually reaches the same test, which is whether people keep choosing it once the novelty has worn off.