Red Lobster, once a staple for seafood lovers, has shuttered its doors in San Antonio, along with a number of other locations nationwide. The Red Lobster on the South Side at 7835 Interstate 35 South, is just one among over 50 spots across the country to cease operations. A liquidation of the restaurant's equipment and furnishings is currently underway, orchestrated by TAGeX Brands, a restaurant liquidator.
According to KSAT, TAGeX Brands has stated on its website, "On our Restaurant Equipment marketplace, we are auctioning off 50+ locations across the country. These auctions are WINNER TAKES ALL – meaning, each winner will receive the ENTIRE contents of the Red Lobster location they bid on." The South Side auction comes with a beginning bid of $15,000, and the deadline for this bidding war is set for 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, followed by an immediate call for item pickup on Friday.
Beyond San Antonio, several other Texas cities have said goodbye to Red Lobster, including Lake Jackson and Longview. The company, facing mounting lease and labor fees, is potentially on the brink of bankruptcy. This marks a drastic downturn for the dining chain, which is reported to be considering a bankruptcy filing by several media outlets.
MySA found that neighboring Red Lobster locations confirmed the closure of the Zarzamora store, and advertised it as "temporarily closed." Several attempts to reach the establishment directly went unanswered. A local resident by the name of Bridget Lee Kobold posted on the "San Antonio Restaurants" Facebook group about the abrupt closure, "So as of today [May 13] apparently the Red Lobster at 35 and Zarzamora is closed and, is auctioning off all of the contents of equipment and furniture inside."
The ripple effects of these closures touch numerous states, with Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, and others losing dining locations. With a long list of closures spanning from Auburn, Alabama to Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, loyal patrons of the chain are left to find a new go-to spot for seafood dining. As the auction hammer falls, the future of Red Lobster's remaining operations hangs in the balance, an unfortunate turn for a once-thriving eatery chain.
