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Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Business

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Image Source: Jim Walsh, Courier-Post

Darden Restaurants, the parent company of several popular U.S. dining chains, announced this week that Bahama Breeze, its Caribbean-themed brand, is no longer a strategic priority and may soon be sold or repurposed.

During a quarterly earnings call on Friday, June 20, CEO Ricardo Cardenas stated that the company is “considering strategic alternatives” for Bahama Breeze. Options on the table include selling the brand to a new owner or converting existing Bahama Breeze locations into other Darden concepts, such as Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, or Yard House.

The announcement comes just over a month after 15 Bahama Breeze locations were abruptly closed in mid-May, leaving 28 of what the company calls its “highest performing” restaurants still in operation. Cardenas confirmed that there is currently no timeline for the potential sale or restaurant conversions, nor has any prospective buyer been named.

“After further review, we have made the difficult decision that these remaining locations and the Bahama Breeze brand are not a strategic priority for us,” said Cardenas.

Despite the closures and restructuring, Cardenas emphasized that any potential divestment is not expected to have a material impact on Darden’s financial performance.

Bahama Breeze, which debuted in Florida in the 1990s, once symbolized Darden’s expansion into casual dining with a tropical twist. Today, roughly half of the remaining restaurants are still in Florida, while others are scattered across states including Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Single locations remain in Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, South Carolina, and Washington.

Among the 15 shuttered restaurants are multiple locations in New Jersey, as well as restaurants in Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New York, and Tennessee. Notably, a Bahama Breeze restaurant remains open at Cherry Hill Mall in New Jersey.

The move signals a shift in Darden’s portfolio strategy, as the company narrows its focus to high-performing and growth-ready brands. Other holdings in the Darden portfolio include Ruth’s Chris Steak House, The Capital Grille, Eddie V’s, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, and Seasons 52.

While Bahama Breeze’s future remains uncertain, its loyal customer base and unique brand identity may yet find new life under different ownership or be reimagined entirely within the Darden umbrella.