Red Lobster's restaurant at 3370 Shenango Valley Freeway in Hermitage, Pennsylvania, will permanently close this Sunday, Nov. 1, ending the chain's only presence in Mercer County. The closure comes as the seafood chain continues trimming its footprint following a 2024 bankruptcy filing.
Red Lobster attributed the decision to what it called the unique operating conditions at the restaurant, according to WKBN. The company said it continuously evaluates individual restaurants based on performance and lease terms, and that it remains committed to making thoughtful decisions that position Red Lobster for long-term success, stability and growth, per the same report. The Hermitage location is Mercer County's only Red Lobster restaurant, as reported by the Sharon Herald.
A Chain Still Shrinking Nationwide
The Hermitage closure fits a pattern that has played out across the country since Red Lobster filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2024. As of Oct. 20, the chain's website listed 484 locations nationwide, 36 fewer than the 520 it had at the end of 2025, according to Nation's Restaurant News. That outlet reports the chain's footprint is now about 25% smaller than it was at the end of 2023, an effort the publication describes as shedding unprofitable stores, some of them burdened by expensive leases. Red Lobster CEO Damola Adamolekun said earlier this year that the chain needed to get smaller, the trade publication reported, and the company has said closing underperforming restaurants remains part of its long-term growth strategy.
Other outlets have put the chain's current size differently. A separate report from the Tallahassee Democrat put the company at around 480 remaining locations, while The Independent reported the chain currently has about 550 outlets. Red Lobster has struggled in recent years with rising lease and labor costs, according to WNEP.
Notable Closures Around the Country
The Hermitage shutdown follows several high-profile closures elsewhere this year. The chain's oldest continuously operating restaurant, in Tallahassee, Florida, had its final day of operation on May 24, according to USA Today. SeafoodSource reported that the Tallahassee location closed after 56 years in business, though Nation's Restaurant News has described the chain's Times Square outpost as closing after 23 years and a Columbus, Georgia location as shutting down after 55 years. USA Today also reported that two locations in the Kansas City metro area had closed for good by late May.
Red Lobster's right-sizing isn't necessarily the end of the road for the brand. The company told Nation's Restaurant News that right-sizing its footprint strengthens the brand and enables things like more restaurant refreshes and a stronger guest experience, and said it absolutely expects new restaurants to be part of Red Lobster's future once it builds momentum.
What's Left in the Mahoning Valley
Once the Hermitage restaurant shuts its doors, two Red Lobster locations will remain in the Mahoning Valley: one on Route 224 in Boardman and another at the Eastwood Mall Complex in Niles, according to WFMJ. That outlet reported there is no indication that either of those locations is at risk of closing. For now, Mercer County seafood fans will have to look elsewhere once Sunday arrives.
