Brandon Bahama Breeze to close after Darden backtracks on decision

Orlando-based Darden Restaurants has decided to close one of three Bahama Breeze Island Grille locations in the Tampa market — just weeks after saying it would be one of the few to remain open and be rebranded as the company eliminated the chain.

In a letter to employees dated Monday, Darden says the restaurant at the Brandon Exchange will shut down April 20 because of “the operating environment at and around this location.”

“Please know that this closure is not a reflection of the hard work and contributions you made every day in providing an exceptional Caribbean inspired experience for our guests,” says the letter, signed by Darden’s director of human resources Megan Robinson.

Darden Restaurants announced in February that it was jettisoning the Bahama Breeze brand “after an “exploration of strategic alternatives.”

As part of the process to rid itself of the brand, the company said it would completely shut down 14 locations by early April and then transform the remaining 14 to one of its other brands over the next 18 months.

Of those that were to remain, four were in the region, including the one in Brandon. As of Wednesday, it was not known if the other three — in Tampa, Lutz and Fort Myers — faced the possibility of closing as well.

The letter sent to employees earlier this week was included in a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act notice sent to the state Tuesday and posted to the WARN database Wednesday afternoon.

In the federally mandated notice, Darden says about 86 employees would be affected, though that number could change by the time of the closure later this month. That is because it will be offering employees the chance to transfer to other restaurants in the company.

The company also discusses the possibility severance in the letter sent to employees.

The positions that will be affected include 40 servers, 13 line cooks, seven utility stewards, seven hosts, four bartenders, four production cooks, four restaurant managers, three food runners, one busser, one expeditor, one silverware roller and the general manager.

Darden's roster of restaurant brands 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.

Darden is the second notable chain to recently change its mind about the future of one if its locations. 

Saks Global in late March said it would keep its Saks Fifth Avenue store at The Mall at University Town Center in Sarasota open after announcing its closure March 6.