Is Bahama Breeze Closing? Full List of Locations Closing & Converting in 2026
Yes — here’s exactly what Darden Restaurants announced, which locations are affected, and what it means if you’re planning a visit.
Yes, Bahama Breeze is closing. On February 3, 2026, Darden Restaurants announced it is winding down the entire Bahama Breeze brand: 14 restaurants will permanently close by April 5, 2026, and the remaining 14 will be converted into other Darden-owned brands (like Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, or Yard House) over the next 12–18 months. Darden hasn’t disclosed which brand each converting location will become.
If you’ve been coming to this site to plan a visit, this is the update you need first: after 30 years, Bahama Breeze as a brand is going away. It’s not sudden — Darden closed about a third of the chain’s locations back in May 2025 and said a month later that Bahama Breeze was “no longer a strategic priority.” February’s announcement was the final decision following that review.
Below is the exact list of what’s closing, what’s converting, and what that means depending on where you’re reading this from.
Timeline: how we got here
- 1996 — First Bahama Breeze opens on International Drive in Orlando, FL
- May 2025 — Darden closes roughly a third of Bahama Breeze’s locations
- June 2025 — Darden CEO Rick Cardenas states Bahama Breeze is no longer a strategic priority; company begins exploring a possible sale or brand conversion
- February 3, 2026 — Darden announces the final decision: 14 locations close, 14 convert to other Darden brands
- April 5, 2026 — Final operating day for the 14 locations designated for permanent closure
- 2026–2027 — The 14 converting locations transition to other Darden brands over 12–18 months, with possible temporary closures during the changeover
Full list: locations permanently closing (by April 5, 2026)
These 14 restaurants are confirmed by Darden’s official announcement and will not reopen as Bahama Breeze or convert to anything else:
| Location | Address | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Newark, DE | 500 Center Blvd. | Closing |
| Duluth, GA | 3590 Breckenridge Blvd. | Closing |
| Miami, FL | 12395 SW 88th St. | Closing |
| Jacksonville, FL | 10205 Rivercoast Drive | Closing |
| Kissimmee, FL (West Osceola Pkwy.) | 1251 West Osceola Pkwy. | Closing |
| Pembroke Pines, FL | 11000 Pines Blvd. | Closing |
| Sanford, FL | 1540 Rinehart Road | Closing |
| Livonia, MI | 19600 Haggerty Road | Closing |
| Cherry Hill, NJ | 2000 Route 38 | Closing |
| Raleigh, NC | 3309 Wake Forest Drive | Closing |
| King of Prussia, PA | 320 Goddard Blvd. | Closing |
| Pittsburgh (Robinson), PA | 6100 Robinson Center Drive | Closing |
| Woodbridge, VA | 2714 Potomac Mills Circle | Closing |
| Tukwila, WA | 15700 Southcenter Pkwy. | Closing |
Source: Darden Restaurants’ official press release, Feb 3, 2026, as reported by FOX 35 Orlando, CNN Business, and multiple other outlets.
Locations converting to another Darden brand
The other 14 locations will stay open as Bahama Breeze during the transition and eventually reopen as a different Darden restaurant concept — Darden hasn’t said which brand goes where. Public reporting confirms most of these are concentrated in Florida:
| Location | Status |
|---|---|
| Altamonte Springs, FL | Converting |
| Brandon, FL | Converting |
| Fort Myers, FL | Converting |
| Kissimmee, FL (Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy. — a different location than the one closing) | Converting |
| Lutz, FL | Converting |
| Orlando, FL (all four remaining locations) | Converting |
| Tampa, FL | Converting |
| One location each in North Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia | Converting |
What this actually means if you’re planning a visit
If your local Bahama Breeze is on the closing list, April 5, 2026 is the last day you’ll be able to eat there — after that, it’s gone for good. If it’s on the converting list, it’ll keep operating as Bahama Breeze for a while longer, but expect it to eventually close temporarily and reopen as a different restaurant entirely sometime over the next 12–18 months.
Either way, the Bahama Breeze menu itself — the coconut shrimp, the seafood paella, the happy hour — is on a countdown. If there are dishes you’ve been meaning to try, this is the year to do it.
FAQ
Is Bahama Breeze closing for good?
Yes, as a brand. 14 locations close permanently by April 5, 2026, and the other 14 convert into different Darden restaurant concepts over the following 12–18 months — meaning no location will remain open as “Bahama Breeze” long-term.
When does Bahama Breeze close?
The 14 permanently-closing locations are expected to operate through April 5, 2026. The 14 converting locations will keep operating as Bahama Breeze temporarily, likely into 2027, until each one transitions to its new brand.
Why is Bahama Breeze closing?
Darden cited declining sales (down 7.7% in 2024) and said the brand was no longer a strategic priority after a review of alternatives, including a possible sale.
What will the converting locations become?
Darden hasn’t disclosed which specific brand each location will convert to. The company’s portfolio includes Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Yard House, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, The Capital Grille, Chuy’s, Seasons 52, and Eddie V’s.
Will any Bahama Breeze locations stay open?
Not as Bahama Breeze, long-term. Every remaining location is either closing permanently or converting to a different Darden brand within the next year and a half.
Want the flavors after your local one closes?
If your Bahama Breeze is on the closing list, our copycat recipes are the next best thing — same coconut shrimp, same key lime pie, made at home.
Browse copycat recipes →