Latest news with #KiaraBuckner
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bahama Breeze restaurant closures: Map shows which locations are open and closed
Caribbean food chain Bahama Breeze abruptly closed 15 restaurants last week, or more than a third of the casual dining chain's total locations. The closures leave just 29 Bahama Breeze restaurants in operation around the U.S., with most of the locations in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. Darden Restaurants spokesperson Kiara Buckner confirmed the closures to USA TODAY after reports of shuttering restaurants began to emerge on Thursday afternoon, May 15, across multiple states. "We continually evaluate the performance of all our restaurants," Buckner said. "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." Customers were informed of the move via signs posted on the restaurant's front doors, according to reports from USA TODAY Network papers in Gainesville and Naples, Florida. "This location is permanently closed. Please visit a nearby sister location," read the sign outside of the Gainesville location, nudging guests to visit nearby Darden-owned restaurants Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse. "We appreciate your business." The following map shows where Bahama Breeze locations have closed and where they remain open. Contributing: Kendall Little, Naples Daily News; Alan Festo, Gainesville Sun Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at and follow him on X @fern_cerv_. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Which Bahama Breeze restaurants are open and closed? See locations map Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Popular National Restaurant Chain Closes 15 Locations With 'No Warning'
With so many major businesses filing for bankruptcy and shutting down stores, there's yet another name to add to the list. Popular Island Grille, Bahama Breeze, has abruptly closed 15 locations nationwide, USA Today reported. 🎬 🎬 Darden Restaurants spokesperson KiaraBuckner confirmed the closures to the outlet after reports began surfacing that locations across multiple states were suddenly closed. Customers were informed of the move by signs and notes posted on doors of locations as they attempted to dine in. "We continually evaluate the performance of all our restaurants," Buckner said, adding, "Closing a restaurant is a difficult choice because it impacts our team members and guests." The statement also stood by the decision, noting it will "allow Bahama Breeze to focus on its highest performing restaurants and strengthen the brand's overall performance." Closures span locations in Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York and Tennessee. Fans took to social media to voice their concerns and complaints, with one writing, "Why the hell is Bahama Breeze closed with no warning" as a second added, "am I the only one who's upset about Bahama Breeze? those empanadas were just different" and a third concluded, "the bahama breeze closest to me just abruptly closed. IM SO HURTTTTT" Others called it the "worst news" of the week, with another stating they "can't believe the shutdown," adding, "They had the best happy hour & the best pasta" and someone else expressing that they would miss the Bahamaritas the most. The sign at the Gainesville location reportedly read, "This location is permanently closed. Please visit a nearby sister location," suggesting the nearby Darden-owned restaurants Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse. "We appreciate your business." Darden Restaurants also owns Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, Chuy's, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Yard House, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, and Eddie V's. You can see the full list of closures here. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
USA Today
20-05-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Bahama Breeze restaurant closures: Map shows which locations are open and closed
Bahama Breeze restaurant closures: Map shows which locations are open and closed Show Caption Hide Caption Step inside the newish Bahama Breeze at Coastland Center in Naples Step inside Bahama Breeze at Coastland Center in Naples. Caribbean food chain Bahama Breeze abruptly closed 15 restaurants last week, or more than a third of the casual dining chain's total locations. The closures leave just 29 Bahama Breeze restaurants in operation around the U.S., with most of the locations in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. Darden Restaurants spokesperson Kiara Buckner confirmed the closures to USA TODAY after reports of shuttering restaurants began to emerge on Thursday afternoon, May 15, across multiple states. "We continually evaluate the performance of all our restaurants," Buckner said. "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." Customers were informed of the move via signs posted on the restaurant's front doors, according to reports from USA TODAY Network papers in Gainesville and Naples, Florida. "This location is permanently closed. Please visit a nearby sister location," read the sign outside of the Gainesville location, nudging guests to visit nearby Darden-owned restaurants Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse. "We appreciate your business." Where are Bahama Breeze locations open and closed? The following map shows where Bahama Breeze locations have closed and where they remain open. Contributing: Kendall Little, Naples Daily News; Alan Festo, Gainesville Sun Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Olive Garden-owner abruptly shuts 15 restaurants
The closures came after Bahama Breeze suffered a 7.7 percent sales slump last year. With these shutdowns, only 29 restaurants remain open in the US, and it has left employees in tears. 'Closing a restaurant is a difficult choice because it impacts our team members and guests,' said spokesperson Kiara Buckner. '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 brand's parent company, Darden Restaurants, has tried to offer affected workers jobs at other Darden-owned establishments such as Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse. Other staff members who the company were not able to rehire have been paid severance. Founded in 1996, the small, Caribbean-inspired restaurant chain opened its first location in Orlando, Florida. Bahama Breeze expanded to other states and operated approximately 43 locations by 2014. Even though it is a small chain, thousands of people currently or previously worked at a Bahama Breeze restaurant. The newly closed location in Tyngsboro, Massachusetts, laid off 73 employees, while four shuttered New Jersey restaurants left 327 workers jobless. However a restaurant chain owned by Darden that has shown no signs of slowing down is Olive Garden, which is not planning to close any locations this year. It also refreshed its menu with fan-favorite specials and left loyal customers thrilled after announcing they could place orders on the website or app and have them delivered by Uber drivers. The chain did however lose its title of being the top US restaurant after holding the top spot for seven years. It comes as various other restaurant chains have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this year. Restaurant chains have struggled over the last couple of years for reasons like price hikes and inflation . Some of them have been able to get away with closing several locations rather than filing for bankruptcy. Jack in the Box made headlines after announcing it would close up to 200 restaurants due to financial problems. Red Robin has also been through financial issues and is considering closing 70 restaurants to avoid filing. Others that weren't so lucky include On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, Hooters, and the Dallas-based pub chain Bar Louie. While Bahama Breeze has not discussed its intention to close all locations, like TGI Fridays, the chain could soon be at risk of losing all restaurants for good. has reached out to Bahama Breeze for comment about the closures. Want more stories like this from the Daily Mail? Hit the follow button above for more of the news you need.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Popular chain restaurant lays off 73 in Mass. as it abruptly closes 15 spots nationwide
A chain restaurant abruptly began closing restaurants this past week, including in Massachusetts. And the decision looks like it is leading to significant job loss in the state. A spokesperson for Darden Restaurants, which owns Bahama Breeze, confirmed to USA Today that 15 restaurants across eight states have closed. Among them is a location at 413 Middlesex Road in Tyngsborough, Mass. The company also notified the state through a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act (WARN) notice that 73 Bahama Breeze workers in Tyngsborough were laid off on May 15. WARN notices are required to be filed by certain companies that are laying off significant numbers of people. 'We continually evaluate the performance of all our restaurants,' Darden Restaurants spokesperson Kiara Buckner wrote to USA Today. '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.' 3989 Plaza Blvd., Gainesville 2088 9th St. N., Naples 1786 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach 2750 Sawgrass Mills Cir., Sunrise 3339 N. Federal Hwy, Oakland Park 406 E. Golf Road, Chaumburg 413 Middlesex Road, Tyngsborough 539 E. Big Beaver Road, Troy 375 Hughes Center Dr., Las Vegas 520 Woodbridge Center Dr., Woodbridge 1201 Hooper Ave., Toms River 101 NJ-23, Wayne 1600 Bergen Town Center, Paramus 612 Smith Haven Mall, Lake Grove 2830 N. Germantown Pkwy, Memphis People in Business: May 19, 2025 Business Monday ETC: May 19, 2025 Two WMass women hate this question: Do you really own this place? Phone workers worried about lead on old lines wonder: Who will answer their call? Trump tells Walmart to 'EAT THE TARIFFS' as company hinted it would raise prices Read the original article on MassLive. Sign in to access your portfolio
