Red Lobster restaurants closed, open, threatened in Florida. Here's a list
The first Red Lobster restaurant opened in Lakeland in 1968
The seafood restaurant that started in Central Florida — almost as far from a coast as you can get in Florida — is closing restaurants around the country.
At its peak, there were more than 700 Red Lobster restaurants around the world, and it all started in 1968 in Lakeland.
Red Lobster announced in May that 99 restaurants across 28 states — including 17 in Florida — would be closed after it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Then came more bad news for those who love those Cheddar Bay biscuits and endless shrimp.
In bankruptcy documents filed last week, Red Lobster's owner listed 228 rejected leases the company said would keep losing money. Some of them were among the locations that had already closed, but the future of another 135 restaurants were in jeopardy, according to Restaurant Business.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
What Red Lobster Florida locations are closed?
The following Red Lobster locations have been listed as "closed" or "temporarily closed."
- 340 W. SR 436, Altamonte Springs
- 3162 S. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach Shores
- 6910 W. Newberry Road, Gainesville
- 1750 W. 49th St., Hialeah
- 13090 City Station Drive, Jacksonville
- 416 Commerce Center Drive, Jacksonville
- 8720 Baymeadows Road, Jacksonville
- 3544 N.W. Federal Highway, Jensen Beach
- 4010 W. Vine St., Kissimmee
- 10500 E. Ulmerton Road, Largo
- 10010 U.S. 441, Leesburg
- 3552 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando
- 8003 Golden Sky Lane, Orlando
- 7373 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando
- 20 Towne Center Circle, Sanford
- 2625 E. Busch Blvd., Tampa
- 17021 Palm Pointe Drive, Tampa
What Red Lobster restaurants in Florida may be closing?
According to one of the documents filed in bankruptcy court, these Florida Red Lobster locations are on the chopping block if their leases cannot be renegotiated:
- 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 Hwy, Kissimmee
- 6638 Lake Worth Road, Lake Worth
- 3706 North Road 98, Lakeland
- 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
Red Lobster locations still open in Florida
If all of the locations listed in the bankruptcy filings were shuttered, here are the 20 restaurants that would be left of the seafood chain in the Sunshine State, according to the list on the company's website.
- 700 N. Congress Ave., Boynton Beach
- 5711 14th St. West, Bradenton
- 2604 W. Brandon Blvd., Brandon
- 26320 U.S. 19th North, Clearwater
- 2625 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach
- 1695 NW 87th Ave., Doral
- 6401 Darter Court, Fort Pierce
- 2900 Oakwood Blvd., Hollywood
- 3706 North Road 98, Lakeland
- 5690 Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee
- 2847 W. U.S. 90, Lake City
- 3393 S.W. College Road, Ocala
- 5936 International Drive, Orlando
- 910 E. 23rd St., Panama City
- 296 N. University Drive, Pembroke Pines
- 803 S. University Drive, Plantation
- 1331 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte
- 721 U.S. 27, Sebring
- 2583 N. Monroe St., Tallahassee
- 230 Cypress Garden Blvd., Winter Haven
Lakeland home to first Red Lobster. Where is Lakeland?
Bill Darden was a "man passionate about making delicious, high-quality seafood available and affordable to everyone, including people who lived far from the coast and regardless of race, gender, religion or economic means," according to Red Lobster's website.
That passion turned into Red Lobster, which opened its first restaurant in Lakeland in 1968.
Lakeland is located in Central Florida, about 30 miles east-northeast of Tampa and 50 miles southwest of Orlando.