If you ever reveled in the joy of mall-restaurant dining during the early-to-late 2000s, you probably ate at Bahama Breeze. The island-themed chain specialized in Caribbean food, tiki cocktails, and plenty of ocean-centric decor.
New Jersey once had several Bahama Breeze locations, most of them scattered across the state’s many shopping malls. Today, only one Bahama Breeze remains in the Garden State—and it’s closing for good. The Cherry Hill location will shutter on April 5.
The move comes after Darden Restaurants—the Orlando-based group that owns Bahama Breeze—announced that 28 of its remaining locations would close.
Fourteen Bahama Breeze restaurants, including Cherry Hill, will close by April 5. The remaining 14 locations will be converted into a separate Darden concept, with most of the conversions planned for Florida.
In May of last year, Darden abruptly shut down Bahama Breeze restaurants in Wayne, Paramus, Toms River, and Woodbridge.
CNN Business cites inflation as a key contributor to a broader trend of chain restaurants closing across the nation. Restaurants like Bahama Breeze and TGI Fridays, which cater to lower- and middle-income families, are seeing fewer diners as rising costs squeeze consumers.
In contrast, other Darden-owned chains like LongHorn Steakhouse and Olive Garden continue to perform well.
Darden Restaurants is shifting its strategy to better align with evolving trends. Unfortunately, that strategy no longer includes Bahama Breeze.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.