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Iconic Red Lobster Closes After 56 Years
21 May
Summary
- Tallahassee's oldest Red Lobster branch closes Sunday, May 24.
- The closure follows $20 million in losses from "Endless Shrimp" deal.
- The restaurant opened in October 1970 with family-priced seafood.
Red Lobster's oldest continuously operating restaurant, located in Tallahassee, Florida, is set to close permanently on Sunday, May 24, after 56 years of service. This iconic establishment first opened its doors in October 1970, offering "family-priced seafood" at a time when dishes were significantly more affordable.
The closure follows a challenging period for the chain, which recently underwent a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, shuttering 130 locations. The company's CEO, Damola Adamolekun, attributed a portion of the financial difficulties to the "Endless Shrimp" deal. This promotion, while popular, reportedly caused operational chaos and incurred substantial losses.
In 2023 alone, the "Endless Shrimp" offer is estimated to have cost the company $20 million. Despite these financial strains, Red Lobster announced the limited-time revival of its Endless Shrimp offering in April, introducing new flavors alongside returning favorites, aiming to balance customer demand with business viability.
