More Red Lobsters in danger of closing; Could Fort Myers be next?

No more ultimate endless shrimp on Mondays? Or Crab Your Way Tuesday? And no piping hot Cheddar Bay biscuits baked fresh every 15 minutes?

That may be the case if Red Lobster in Fort Myers goes the way of the chain’s 99 other locations that closed last month.

According to bankruptcy documents, the company could close more restaurants if their leases cannot be renegotiated.

Of the 228 rejected leases the company listed (including some already closed and ones that will continue to lose money if they keep operating as they currently are), 135 are still in jeopardy, according to Restaurant Business.

Of those , the Fort Myers location, at 3801 Cleveland Ave. just north of the Edison Mall, is one of 26 in Florida (including Altamonte Springs and Leesburg locations already closed). If it were to shutter its doors, the closest location would be 35 miles away via U.S. 41 at 1331 Tamiami Trail in Port Charlotte.

Red Lobster filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on May 19 and as of May 22, its website listed 99 locations closed in 28 states, with some having kitchen equipment auctioned off through an online restaurant liquidator.

CNN reported the struggling company had a $12.5 million operating loss in the fourth quarter of 2023.

The company's bankruptcy filing in the Middle District of Florida details how Red Lobster has struggled in various ways, including a 30% drop in guests since 2019.

"Recently, the debtors have faced a number of financial and operational challenges, including a difficult macroeconomic environment, a bloated and underperforming restaurant footprint, failed or ill-advised strategic initiatives, and increased competition within the restaurant industry," Red Lobster CEO Jonathan Tibus said in a 124-page bankruptcy document obtained by USA TODAY in May.

Red Lobster had some encouraging words for loyal customers via a May 21 post on its Facebook page which read, “Bankruptcy is a word that is often misunderstood. Filing for bankruptcy does not mean we are going out of business. In fact it means just the opposite. It is a legal process that allows us to make changes to our business and our cost structure so that Red Lobster can continue as a stronger company going forward. … Some of the world’s most beloved brands like Delta and Hertz have used this same process to protect their futures and their customers stood with them and rooted them on. And because of that, they emerged stronger…. We are here and ready to continue making memories with you.”

Dining news:Fine-dining Captiva restaurant, closed for decades, opens in Fort Myers

According to its website, Bill Darden opened the first Red Lobster in Lakeland in 1968. It began booming across the country in 1970 when General Mills came in. Then in 1995, General Mills established Darden Restaurants Inc. as its restaurant division. Two decades later Darden Restaurants sold Red Lobster to Golden Gate Capital in 2014, which was then bought out by Thai Union in  2020.  

Foodie highlights include the introduction of popcorn shrimp in 1974, Lobsterfest in 1984 and the beloved cheesy garlicy joy of Cheddar Bay Biscuits in 1992.

The Fort Myers location is currently open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Go to redlobster.com for more.

Which Florida Red Lobsters are in danger of closing?

Here's a list of the 26 rejected leases in Florida Red Lobster listed in its bankruptcy documents, which contains some restaurants that have already closed.

• 340 West SR 436, Altamonte Springs (already closed)
• 2475 Highway 27 South, Clermont
• 26320 U.S. 19th North, Clearwater
• 2000 University Dr., Coral Springs
• 5950 N Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale
• 3801 Cleveland Ave, Fort Myers
• 326 Miracle Strip Pkwy S.W., Fort Walton Beach
• 5690 Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee
• 6638 Lake Worth Road, Lake Worth
• 3706 North Road 98, Lakeland
• 10010 US Highway 441, Leesburg (already closed)
• 2355 W. New Haven Ave., Melbourne
• 215 E Merritt Island Causeway, Merritt Island
• 11550 SW 88th St., Miami
• 13300 Biscayne Blvd., North Miami
• 32 Blanding Blvd., Orange Park
• 617 N. Alafaya Trail, Orlando
• 9892 International Drive, Orlando
• 8003 Golden Sky Lane, Orlando
• 5110 N 9th Ave., Pensacola
• 8909 US Highway 19, Port Richey
• 2328 Commercial Way, Spring Hill
• 6151 34th Street North, St. Petersburg
• 11601 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa
• 3830 Wedgewood Lane, The Villages
• 2201 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., West Palm Beach

Robyn George is a food and dining reporter for The News-Press. Connect at rhgeorge@fortmyers.gannett.com