Popular Caribbean-themed chain Bahama Breeze has announced the closure of 15 locations throughout the United States, including a pair in South Florida. A spokesperson for the company emphasized that these closures were strategic, aimed at optimizing the brand's performance by focusing on their most successful restaurants. "Closing a restaurant is a difficult choice because it impacts our team members and guests," Kiara Buckner stated, as noted by NBC6.
The cutbacks come amidst broader struggles within the casual dining sector, which are being exacerbated by economic pressures and shrinking disposable incomes due to inflation, an expert told CNN, as reported by Local 10.
The South Florida locations now shuttered were situated at 2750 Sawgrass Mills Circle in Sunrise and 3339 N. Federal Highway in Oakland Park. These closures, according to reports, are part of a larger company-wide pullback that has seen restaurants in Gainesville and Naples also putting up closure signs, catching many by surprise. The move impacts other states as well, with eateries closing doors as far afield as Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, and Tennessee. Despite these closures, the chain retains 29 operating restaurants, with two other locations in Pembroke Pines and Kendale Lakes area of Miami-Dade remaining open for business, according to its website.
Bucking the trend of a downturn, Bahama Breeze is taking steps to mitigate the impact on its workforce. "We are committed to supporting our team members who have been impacted by these closures," Buckner relayed to NBC6. The company asserts it's offering assistance to displaced workers, endeavoring to reassign as many as possible to other Darden brand restaurants, and offering severance for those they cannot place.
Florida is facing significant restaurant closures, with five locations shutting down across the state. Affected cities include Sunrise, Oakland Park, Daytona Beach, Gainesville, and Naples.
