Darden will close 14 Bahama Breeze restaurants and convert 14 others, ending the brand nationwide

Company completes review and plans closures through early April

Darden Restaurants, the Orlando-based parent company of Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse, will wind down the Bahama Breeze Island Grille concept nationwide through a combination of permanent closures and conversions to other Darden brands.

The company said it has completed an exploration of strategic alternatives for Bahama Breeze and decided it will permanently close 14 restaurants while converting the remaining 14 locations into other Darden concepts. The restaurants slated for closure are expected to continue operating through April 5, 2026. Conversions of the remaining locations are planned over the next 12 to 18 months.

From expansion to contraction: a smaller chain inside a growing portfolio

Bahama Breeze debuted in 1996 and became known for Caribbean-inspired menus and tropical cocktails. In recent years, however, the brand’s footprint contracted as Darden expanded its overall restaurant base across multiple concepts.

In May 2025, Darden closed 15 Bahama Breeze restaurants across several states, describing the move as part of a focus on higher-performing units. The company later indicated the brand was no longer a strategic priority and began reviewing options that included a sale, rebranding, or conversions.

Darden’s latest decision ends that process by concluding the company will no longer support Bahama Breeze as a standalone brand.

What happens next for properties, employees, and guests

Darden has not identified which of its restaurant concepts will replace the converted Bahama Breeze locations. The company also said it does not expect the closures and conversions to have a material impact on its financial results.

For guests, the immediate effect will vary by market:

• 14 locations are expected to remain open until April 5, 2026, before permanently closing.
• 14 locations are planned for conversion to other Darden concepts, a process that can involve temporary closures during remodeling and rebranding.

The planned conversions indicate Darden intends to retain a portion of the real estate and customer traffic in markets where the properties align with other concepts in its portfolio.

Why the move matters

Bahama Breeze’s exit underscores how large restaurant groups periodically reassess smaller or underperforming brands, particularly when a concept’s growth prospects no longer match portfolio priorities. The decision also reflects a broader operational approach: rather than keeping the brand alive through continued investment or a sale process, Darden is opting to close half the remaining units and redeploy the rest into concepts it views as better fits.

The timeline set by the company places the first major milestone on April 5, 2026, when the 14 designated closures are expected to stop operating, while conversions will proceed into 2027.