Bahama Breeze will cease operations across all its locations by May 2027, according to parent company Darden Restaurants. The chain, which currently has 11 remaining restaurants, plans to convert these sites into other Darden-owned brands.
The decision to close the Caribbean-themed chain was made because the brand is "no longer a strategic priority" for Darden Restaurants, CEO Ricardo Cardenas stated. Darden had previously announced the closure of 14 Bahama Breeze locations earlier in the year, with 28 others being converted into brands such as Olive Garden, Yard House, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, and Eddie V’s.
As of now, the operational Bahama Breeze restaurants are located in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The closures are scheduled to occur in phases. The first closure will be the Georgia location on August 30, which will reopen as Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen. Other locations are slated to close throughout late 2026 and into 2027, with subsequent reopenings under different Darden brands. For example, the Orlando, Florida (Grand National) location closes September 28 and will become an Olive Garden, while the Altamonte Springs, Florida, location closes October 17 and will reopen as a Yard House.
The final closures are expected by May 2027, with the Ft. Myers, Florida, location being one of the last to shut down before converting to a Yard House. The Bahama Breeze brand has been in operation for 30 years.