ROHNERT PARK, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 17: A sign is posted on the exterior of a Red Lobster restaurant on April 17, 2024 in Rohnert Park, California. Red Lobster is considering filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to address rising labor costs and in hopes of …
ORLANDO, Fla. - Red Lobster has closed several locations across the U.S. in the weeks after it announced it was considering filing for bankruptcy protection due to financial pressures. The list of locations on the restaurant chain's website has been updated to reflect the locations that have closed its doors, albeit it's unclear at this time if these closures are permanent.
Bloomberg reported on Red Lobster's potential bankruptcy filing back in April. At the time, discussions about restructuring were ongoing and no final decision about a bankruptcy filing had been made. The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that the company is expected to file for chapter 11 bankruptcy as early as next week "to pare down its debt load." They're preparing to file no later than Memorial Day, the report said.
This week, however, restaurant liquidator TAGeX Brands announced it would be hosting online auctions for several Red Lobster locations, including those shuttered in Florida. The auctions include fixtures, furniture and equipment, and run through Thursday.
TAGeX said it's "the largest restaurant equipment auction ever" on its website.
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Red Lobster did not immediately respond to FOX 35's request for comment on Tuesday.
Red Lobster closing locations list in Florida
Here's a look at the Red Lobster locations in Florida that are listed as "closed" on the seafood chain's website, in alphabetical order by city:
- Altamonte Springs: 340 West SR 436
- Daytona Beach Shores: 3162 S Atlantic Ave.
- Gainesville: 6910 W. Newberry Road
- Hialeah: 1750 W 49th St.
- Jacksonville: 13090 City Station Drive
- Jacksonville: 416 Commerce Center Drive
- Jacksonville: 8720 Baymeadows Road
- Jensen Beach: 3544 NW Federal Hwy.
- Kissimmee: 4010 West Vine St.
- Largo: 10500 E Ulmerton Road
- Leesburg: 10010 US Highway 441
- Orlando: 3552 E. Colonial Drive
- Orlando: 7373 W Colonial Drive
- Orlando: 8003 Golden Sky Lane
- Sanford: 20 Towne Center Circle
- Tampa: 17021 Palm Pointe Drive
- Tampa: 2625 East Busch Blvd.
Several Central Florida locations are still marked as "open," including Orlando (three locations), Daytona Beach, Merritt Island, Melbourne, Ocala and The Villages, to name a few.
To see if a Red Lobster near you is open, click here.
Red Lobster in Leesburg, Florida, on Monday, May 15, 2023. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Red Lobster equipment auction
TAGeX is currently managing the equipment auction for the following Red Lobster locations:
- Altamonte Springs: 340 West State Road 436
- Gainesville: 6910 West Newberry Road
- Hialeah: 1750 West 49th St.
- Largo: 10500 East Ulmerton Road
- Orlando: 8003 Golden Sky Lane
At all five Florida locations, the "entire location contents" is listed for auction.
"Key items available in this location include high-performance ovens, upright refrigerators and freezers, cooking and warming solutions, and comprehensive bar and dining setups," TAGeX said on the auction page. "Featured brands may include Victory, Middleby, Blodgett, Pitco, Traulsen, Hoshizaki, and more!"
Perishable goods and alcohol are not included in the auction.
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Auction winners must pick up their items at the restaurant location by the end of the day on Friday.
As of Tuesday morning, the most affordable bid is at the Hialeah location, where a bidder can get the "entire location contents" for $101.
Click here for more information about the auctions.
Why is Red Lobster closing?
Red Lobster made headlines in 2023 after one of its executives revealed the restaurant group suffered an $11.3 million loss, and that the chain's popular "Ultimate Endless Shrimp" promo was to blame.
Bloomberg reported in April that Red Lobster was being advised by law firm King & Spalding on the potential bankruptcy filing, which came about to help relieve various financial pressures that have weighed on the company.
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Red Lobster hasn't publicly commented on the situation, nor have they responded to FOX 35's requests for comment.
FOX TV Digital contributed to this report.