Red Lobster to close more restaurants in Florida

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Red Lobster is set to close more restaurants across the country, a new report from restaurantbusinessonline.com says.

In bankruptcy filings Thursday, the company reportedly said it rejected leases for 23 struggling locations that it plans to vacate by Aug. 31.

The closures followed over 90 shutdowns in May , bringing a decline of more than 20% to the popular seafood restaurant chain locations since the end of 2023.

Orlando, Florida-based Red Lobster said in court filings that its annual guest counts were down 30% from 2019. The chain lost $76 million in 2023.

The restaurant chain is on track to be sold to Fortress Investment Group out of bankruptcy, the report claimed. A hearing for the sale is set for Sept. 5.

Three Florida properties will be affected by the closures: Pensacola, Port Richey and Fort Walton Beach.

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