The popular tropical-themed restaurant chain Bahama Breeze has permanently closed its Memphis location on North Germantown Parkway, as reported by multiple local news outlets. The closure affects the branch that was situated near the Wolfchase Galleria shopping mall, a detail FOX13 highlighted when their crews discovered the shuttered venue yesterday, adorned with a sign informing the public of its closure. This development comes in the wake of another local dining establishment, The Cheesecake Factory, which had also ceased operations in the area last year.
Bahama Breeze, known for its island-inspired cuisine, has been a part of the Memphis dining scene leaving local patrons with fewer options for Caribbean-styled dining experiences. According to a statement obtained by Action News 5, the company said, "Closing this restaurant is a difficult business decision, and one that we made carefully and thoughtfully, particularly because it impacts our team members and guests." They also indicated an ongoing effort to relocate displaced team members to other restaurants within the Darden family, which includes Longhorn Steakhouse and Olive Garden.
The North Germantown Parkway establishment's Facebook page confirmed the permanent closure with a last post made on Mother's Day, without additional context regarding the reasons behind the shutdown. ABC24 reached out for comment, but at the time of writing, the company has not provided a response to inquiries about the closure. Bahama Breeze was founded in 1996 and currently operates around 43 locations nationwide.
The recent closure signals to a larger trend of restaurant failures in the Wolfchase area, which had already seen the loss of over 150 jobs after The Cheesecake Factory shut its doors in 2024. With Bahama Breeze’s exit, the sign at the closed location encouraged former patrons to visit other Darden-owned establishments, such as Longhorn Steakhouse on US Highway 64 in Bartlett and Olive Garden on US Highway 64 in Memphis, as per FOX13.
