Restaurants

Casual Dining

The Only Recap Of Red Lobster's Downfall You Need By James Hornung Sept. 13, 2025 3:40 pm EST

Red Lobster enjoyed a long reign as one of the most dominant and influential restaurants in American history. An early pioneer of casual dining chains, it ballooned in popularity throughout the 1980s and '90s, becoming the world's largest seafood chain. At its peak, Red Lobster operated more than 600 restaurants. However, the iconic brand slowly deteriorated until it abruptly closed nearly 100 locations, leaving the future of the restaurant in jeopardy.

But that wasn't the end of Red Lobster. The company filed for bankruptcy soon after the restaurant closures and emerged from the proceedings in September 2024 with new owners and a $60 million injection of in

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