Red Lobster files for bankruptcy protection. Henrietta location closed permanently

U.S.-based restaurant chain Red Lobster has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a Florida court after securing $100 million in financing commitments from its existing lenders, the company said on Sunday, according to Reuters.

The business listed its assets and liabilities to be between $1 billion and $10 billion, according to a court filing.

Last week, the company’s website showed 87 locations across 27 states as “temporarily” closed.

Online restaurant liquidator TAGeX Brands was auctioning off the contents of 48 of them, including the location at 655 Jefferson Road, Henrietta, and indicated that those restaurants had closed permanently.

The Democrat and Chronicle reached out to the Henrietta location May 13 and found that the telephone number no longer worked, and the business was locked and dark.

Red Lobster at 1515 W. Ridge Road, Greece, remains open.

In its bankruptcy filing, Red Lobster detailed plans to reduce its number of locations and pursue a sale of substantially all its assets.

The company said its open restaurants will operate as usual during the bankruptcy proceedings.

“This restructuring is the best path forward for Red Lobster. It allows us to address several financial and operational challenges and emerge stronger and re-focused on our growth,” said Jonathan Tibus, CEO of Red Lobster.

In 2023, the seafood chain's "Ultimate Endless Shrimp" deal became more popular than expected, inadvertently becoming a key factor in a $11 million loss in the third quarter.

This story includes reporting by Harshita Meenaktshi in Bengaluru and editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri.

Reporter Marcia Greenwood covers general assignments. Send story tips to mgreenwo@rocheste.gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @MarciaGreenwood