Darden Restaurants to close all 28 Bahama Breeze locations

The parent company of Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse is shuttering the smaller Bahama Breeze brand by April.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Darden Restaurants, the parent company of major chains like Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse, has announced it will be closing all 28 Bahama Breeze locations by April 5. The company cited Bahama Breeze as a smaller, less strategic brand within its portfolio, and said the closures will not have a material impact on its overall financial results.

Why it matters

The decision to shutter Bahama Breeze highlights the challenges large restaurant operators face in scaling smaller concepts that fail to meaningfully impact the bottom line. Darden is doubling down on its core, high-performing brands like Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse, a strategy similar to moves made by other major chains like Brinker International and Bloomin' Brands.

The details

Darden shared earlier this year that Bahama Breeze was no longer a strategic priority, and the company would consider options like a potential sale or converting the 28 locations to other Darden brands. The company has now decided to simply close all Bahama Breeze restaurants by April 5, with 14 locations shutting down and the remaining 14 being converted to other Darden concepts.

  • Darden shared plans to consider strategic alternatives for Bahama Breeze earlier this year.
  • All 28 Bahama Breeze locations will be closed by April 5, 2026.

The players

Darden Restaurants

The parent company of major restaurant chains like Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, and Bahama Breeze.

Bahama Breeze

A 30-year-old restaurant chain owned by Darden Restaurants, with 28 locations that will be closed by April 2026.

Victor Fernandez

Vice President of Insights and Knowledge at Black Box, who commented on the challenges of operating chains with declining sales.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

This decision by Darden Restaurants highlights the challenges large restaurant chains face in scaling smaller, less profitable concepts. By focusing on its core, high-performing brands like Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse, Darden is following a strategy similar to other major players in the industry, prioritizing brands with the clearest path to strong returns.