Longtime Florida Red Lobster location to close after 56 years of service

Long-running Red Lobster restaurant in the US is set to close its doors this week, marking the end of a 56-year run. The seafood chain has faced major financial difficulties in recent years, including filing for bankruptcy in 2024 and closing about 130 stores across the country.

The company has now confirmed that its location in Tallahassee, Florida will be permanently closed on Sunday, May 24.

A historic store in Florida has survived a wave of bankruptcy

The Tallahassee location prides itself on being Red Lobster’s longest continuously operating restaurant and has previously survived the company’s bankruptcy-related closure.

At the height of the restructuring process, the chain closed 17 restaurants across Florida.

As the company attempted to rebuild under new management and operational reforms, the Tallahassee store was also trying to reinvent itself.

Its newly appointed chief executive Nicholas Southerland has previously urged customers to support the restaurant despite uncertainty over the brand’s future.

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“Things have changed; give us a chance,” Southerland told guests at the time.

“Our community deserves a place to come”

Speaking about his efforts to revive the restaurant, Southerland said he wants the store to once again become a gathering place for locals.

“Our community deserves a place where we can come and enjoy and spend time together,” The Sun quoted him as saying.

“I wanted to see a restaurant that’s in the heart of the community back in business. I wanted to help bring it back to life.”

The restaurant later unveiled a revamped menu as part of the company’s broader turnaround effort, backed by a $60 million investment from supporters. However, the measures ultimately failed to secure the outlet’s long-term future.

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Diners are reacting with shock online

News of the closure sparked emotional reactions on social media, with many customers expressing their disappointment.

“Please tell me it’s not true,” one person wrote, while another commented that it was “sad.”

The closing also renewed discussion about other former Red Lobster properties across the US.

The void in San Diego is frustrating

A vacant Red Lobster property in San Diego, California recently drew criticism from residents and business owners alike after sitting unused for nearly two years.

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Unlike several other former Red Lobster locations that have since been taken over by new retailers, the San Diego location has remained intact.

Reports suggest the property manager’s lease will run until 2028, after which redevelopment plans are expected to go ahead.

Local businesses and residents reportedly demanded “clarity” and said they had been left in “limbo” over the future of the site.