Bahama Breeze to close permanently, ending 30-year Caribbean restaurant chain

Darden Restaurants, the Orlando-based giant behind Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse, announced on February 3, 2026, that it will be winding down its Bahama Breeze restaurant brand, a Caribbean-inspired casual dining chain that has operated for three decades. The company said it has completed a review of strategic alternatives for the brand and will close half of its remaining restaurants permanently and convert the rest to other Darden concepts over the next 12-18 months.

Darden’s decision reflects years of declining performance and a changing casual dining landscape. Once a moderately sized chain with 43 locations nationwide, Bahama Breeze has contracted steadily. After closures in 2025, the brand’s footprint had shrunk to 28 restaurants.

The final day of operations for Bahama Breeze will be April 5, when the remaining restaurants scheduled for permanent closure shut their doors. According to the company, affected locations span Delaware, Georgia, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Virginia and Washington, along with two restaurants in Pennsylvania and five in Florida, marking the end of the brand’s presence in those markets as Darden moves forward with conversions and closures.


In May 2025, Darden abruptly shut 15 underperforming units, representing more than one-third of the chain at that time, as part of an earlier effort to stabilize the business.

Darden stated that the brand is no longer a strategic priority among its portfolio of restaurant concepts, which also includes Yard House, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Chuy’s and Eddie V’s, and that focusing on its higher-performing chains will better serve shareholders and operations.

Under the new plan:

• 14 Bahama Breeze locations will close permanently, with operations to continue through April 5, 2026 before shutting their doors for good.
  
• The other 14 restaurants will be converted to different Darden brand concepts over the next 12 to 18 months, with temporary closures only if required during renovation.
  

Darden has not disclosed which specific brands will replace the converted Bahama Breeze sites, though all are expected to remain part of its existing portfolio and “benefit several of the brands” in the company’s lineup.

Darden said its primary focus is supporting affected team members, helping place as many employees as possible within its broader restaurant portfolio.