Two suburban dining corridors just got a fresh reminder that big restaurant chains are constantly shuffling the deck. On Long Island, a longtime Carrabba’s has been reborn as a brand-new steakhouse, while a Carrabba’s in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, quietly turned out the lights on Feb. 15. Both moves echo a broader pullback by Bloomin’ Brands, the parent company of Carrabba’s, Outback and Bonefish, as it winds down older, weaker performers and focuses on spots that pull their weight.
Smithtown lands a new steakhouse
The Chas, a steakhouse from Long Island restaurateur Jerry Sbarro, is taking over the former Smithtown Carrabba’s and is slated to open Tuesday, March 10, according to The Chas. The project will add another independent steak option to a busy stretch of the Smithtown Bypass this spring.
Restaurateur targets a classic, cozy vibe
Sbarro, who renovated and reopened Louie’s Prime Steaks & Seafood in Port Washington, plans to gut and reconfigure the roughly 7,000-square-foot Smithtown space, focusing on dry-aged steaks while still offering more wallet-friendly choices, according to Dining & Cooking. “This is going to be similar in feel, classic, cozy, lots of wood, but with a broader menu and appeal,” Sbarro told the outlet.
Willow Grove site targeted by Texas Roadhouse
In Upper Moreland Township, the Carrabba’s near the Willow Grove Park Mall interchange closed on Feb. 15, with the company citing falling customer traffic and the cost of needed investments, according to Patch. Local planning records show that Texas Roadhouse submitted plans on Feb. 12 to demolish the existing building and put up a new restaurant on the site, Montco.Today reported.
Part of a broader shakeup at Bloomin’ Brands
Bloomin’ Brands has told investors it is reviewing its real estate and steering money toward stronger trade areas and remodels instead of older, high-lease locations, according to company filings with the SEC. Executives also talked through the closure program on recent earnings calls, with a transcript covered by MarketBeat.
What’s next on both sites
For Smithtown diners, The Chas is stepping into a familiar building with the promise of a local steakhouse in a former chain slot, and it is already taking reservations online. In Willow Grove, the empty Carrabba’s has quickly drawn interest from another national player, but Texas Roadhouse will need township approvals before any teardown or new construction can start, so that corner will sit in limbo a bit longer.
