Bahama Breeze closing: Darden to wind down Caribbean chain by April 5
Bahama Breeze is shutting down as a brand, ending a nearly 30-year run of Caribbean-themed casual dining. Darden Restaurants said it will close or convert all 28 remaining locations, with the final operating day set for April 5, 2026 (ET). The decision accelerates a retrenchment that began last year, when the chain’s footprint shrank sharply amid shifting demand in casual dining.
For diners searching “bahama breeze closing,” the key point is this: the name is going away. Some restaurants will simply close, while others will reopen later under different Darden concepts.
What’s closing, and when
Darden’s plan splits the remaining restaurants into two buckets:
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14 locations will close permanently by April 5, 2026 (ET).
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14 locations will be converted into other Darden brands, with conversions expected to take 12 to 18 months.
Darden has not publicly specified which brands will replace Bahama Breeze at the conversion sites. The company said it intends to prioritize placing employees into other roles within its broader restaurant network where possible.
The numbers behind the shutdown
Here’s the core timeline and scale, based on Darden’s announcement:
| Item | Figure | Timing (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Remaining Bahama Breeze locations affected | 28 | Announced Feb. 3, 2026 |
| Permanent closures | 14 | By April 5, 2026 |
| Conversions to other brands | 14 | Over 12–18 months |
| Final day for Bahama Breeze operations | April 5, 2026 | End of service |
If you’re trying to figure out whether your local restaurant is closing or converting, the practical reality is similar either way: the Bahama Breeze name, menu, and concept are being retired.
Where the conversions are expected to happen
The conversions are clustered most heavily in Florida, particularly the Orlando area, with additional sites across parts of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. That distribution reflects where the chain’s remaining footprint still made operational sense—and where Darden already has scale for staffing, supply, and management.
For customers, the geography also explains why social media feeds look uneven: some regions are seeing the brand disappear entirely, while others may see a temporary closure followed by a remodel and a reopening under a new banner.
Why Darden is exiting the brand now
Bahama Breeze has long been a smaller piece of Darden’s portfolio, and its role as a “growth concept” has faded as the company concentrated on larger, higher-throughput brands. The shutdown follows a period of evaluation that included the possibility of a sale or other strategic alternatives.
In plain terms, this looks like a portfolio decision: retire a brand that no longer fits the company’s priorities, redeploy real estate into concepts that can generate higher, steadier returns, and reduce complexity across operations. Converting existing buildings—rather than abandoning all of them—signals that Darden sees value in the locations, just not in the Bahama Breeze format.
What happens to employees and gift cards
Darden has said its focus is on supporting affected team members, including opportunities to move into roles across its other restaurant brands, depending on local needs and timing. For workers, outcomes will likely vary by market: areas with many nearby Darden locations may offer easier transfers than areas with fewer options.
For customers holding gift cards or looking at reservations and upcoming events, the near-term guidance is simple: treat April 5, 2026 (ET) as the endpoint for any remaining Bahama Breeze-branded locations. Policies on outstanding gift cards and any transition accommodations tend to be clarified quickly once closures begin; customers should watch for direct notices at their local restaurant and official company updates.
What to watch next
The next wave of headlines will likely center on the “conversion” half of the plan: which brands move in, when construction starts, and how long each site stays dark before reopening. If Darden uses conversions to expand higher-performing concepts in strong markets, the change could be relatively fast in some locations—even if the full rollout stretches into 2027.
For diners, the immediate impact is more emotional than technical: a familiar, themed escape with a distinctive menu and bar program is leaving the casual-dining map, replaced by something more standardized. The competitive question is whether other Caribbean-leaning concepts fill the gap—or whether the category continues to narrow as chains chase simpler menus and more predictable traffic.
Sources consulted: Darden Restaurants investor relations; Associated Press; Business Insider; The Independent
