"Darden Restaurants, the parent company behind big names like Olive Garden and Longhorn Steakhouse, announced in an official press release that Bahama Breeze is "no longer a strategic priority." While the company had apparently been exploring options for the brand, Darden has decided to put the brand out to pasture. 14 of its remaining 28 locations will be closed permanently by April 5, 2026, while the remaining 14 will be converted into another Darden brand restaurant,"
"It's no secret that the chain had been struggling for years. Bahama Breeze had already shut down 15 locations last year, so the writing has been on the wall for some time. The conversions of the remaining restaurants will reportedly take place over the next 12-to-18 months. A full list of which locations will be closing and converting can be found on Darden's website."
"Founded in Orlando, Florida, in 1996, Bahama Breeze was actually a Darden original. The theme was tropical and Caribbean inspired, with a diverse menu featuring dishes like jerk chicken, yuca fries, and Cuban black bean soup, along with grilled seafood, burgers, and more. It also pushed a lot of tiki-adjacent and tropical drinks like mai tais and frozen margaritas. The chain got off to a hot start in the '90s and grew to 37 locations by the beginning"
Bahama Breeze will close 14 of its remaining 28 locations permanently by April 5, 2026, and convert the other 14 into different Darden-brand restaurants over the next 12 to 18 months. Darden Restaurants declared Bahama Breeze "no longer a strategic priority" after exploring options for the brand. The chain previously closed 15 locations last year amid long-running struggles. A full list of affected locations is available on Darden's website. Founded in Orlando in 1996 as a Darden original, Bahama Breeze offered Caribbean-inspired food and tropical cocktails and expanded to dozens of locations before recent declines in the casual-dining sector.
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