These are tough times indeed for restaurant chains. Pizza Hut reportedly plans to shutter approximately 250 of its locations. Bakery chain Sprinkles Cupcakes is gone from the landscape. Cracker Barrel is still trying to regain its footing after a disastrous attempt at rebranding last year. It seemingly alienated more customers than attracted them. And now yet another casual-dining chain, Bahama Breeze, has announced that it will be closing 14 of its sites. Furthermore, there are plans for "converting" 14 other Bahama Breeze locations to a different brand owned by parent company Darden Restaurants.
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Per CNBC, Darden closed down 15 Bahama Breeze sites in May. That number accounted for about a third of the chain's total locations.
So you love a place to grab some tasty eats that has a Jimmy Buffett-style vibe? Then keep this news in mind because Bahama Breeze's time is ticking down fast.
Darden Made the Announcement in a Press Release
The fate of Bahama Breeze was conveyed in a release dated February 3, 2026. Stating that "the Bahama Breeze brand, and its 28 locations, were no longer a strategic priority," Darden said that the locations that will close will remain open through April 5, 2026.
In addition, "The company anticipates converting the remaining 14 locations over the next 12-18 months." No further information was shared about which Darden-owned brands would absorb the 14 Bahama Breeze locations slated for conversion.
Other restaurant brands owned by Darden include Olive Garden, Seasons 52, Ruth's Chris Steak House, The Capital Grille, LongHorn Steakhouse, and others.
Locations That Will Close
The 14 locations to be permanently shuttered are in Delaware, Georgia, five in Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, two in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington.
The Chain Showcased a Fun, Island-Inspired Atmosphere
Per its web site, Bahama Breeze specialized in "Caribbean inspired food, handcrafted tropical drinks, and a vibrant island atmosphere [that] lets you feel a million miles from home, any day of the week." That light-hearted "getaway" feeling that endeared the restaurant chain to many is on the verge of vanishing. Its friendly happy hours, tastebud-tickling dishes, and live music are nearly no more.
