After 56 Years, Red Lobster's Oldest Standing Location Is Shutting Down

Red Lobster's oldest continuously operating restaurant is closing for good. The Tallahassee, Florida, location, which first opened in 1970 and stayed in business for 56 years, will close on May 24. "This restaurant holds a special place in Red Lobster's history and has been a meaningful part of the community for decades. We're grateful to the guests and team members who have supported it over the years," a Red Lobster representative said in a statement to ABC News.

The Tallahassee location wasn't the chain's original restaurant, but it was among the first. The chain launched in 1968 with a location in Lakeland, Florida. By 1970, Red Lobster began to expand nationally with backing from General Mills. The new restaurant promoted itself with an ad in the Tallahassee Democrat: "You'll enjoy the meal even more, after the check comes." Diners could get Shrimp Creole En Casserole for $1.95 or get an entire surf-and-turf steak-and-lobster dinner for just $3.55. (The chain's infamously inexpensive all-you-can-eat shrimp is an example of a more modern-day deal, though this one backfired.)

The closure shouldn't come as a surprise: Red Lobsters across the country have been slowly shuttering since the chain declared bankruptcy in 2024. "As part of the normal course of business, Red Lobster continuously evaluates restaurant performance and lease terms and may, from time to time, choose to close or relocate select restaurants," a Red Lobster representative said in the statement to ABC News. "This decision reflects individual business circumstances specific to this location."

In February, CEO Damola Adamolekun told the Wall Street Journal that the chain needed to close some of its restaurants, which, at the time, numbered around 550. However, slimming Red Lobster's portfolio isn't an easy task. A previous owner sold off Red Lobster's real estate in 2014, locking restaurants into tricky lease agreements. The chain has been trying to untie the knots in its own bureaucratic red tape ever since. "There's a lot of positive signs, but we inherited a very damaged brand, so there's still work to do to repair all of that," Adamolekun explained.

There are a few good signs for the struggling brand. Earlier this year, Red Lobster reported gains in both traffic and sales. Still, fans should expect things to get worse before they get better: Bloomberg reported in March that around 100 restaurants could face closure. Get your cheddar biscuits and favorite Red Lobster appetizers while you still can.