Red Lobster will close its oldest continuously operating restaurant on May 24. Supervisor Kaiya Davis confirmed to ABC News that no other Red Lobster has operated continuously for as long as the 1970 Tallahassee restaurant.
“We can confirm the Tallahassee restaurant will be closing. 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 spokesperson said.
The company said routine business factors led to the decision. “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. This decision reflects individual business circumstances specific to this location,” the spokesperson said.
Red Lobster is closing the location as it tries to stabilize its business after filing for bankruptcy in May 2024. The chain left Chapter 11 in September 2024 when a court approved its restructuring plan, which included closing several locations and changing its menu. In a February interview with The Wall Street Journal, CEO Damola Adamolekun said the chain “needed to get smaller” and that lease terms and the overall restaurant portfolio were being reviewed.
Seventeen Red Lobster locations in Florida closed in 2024, but the Tallahassee restaurant stayed open until now. When it first opened, a newspaper ad promised “outstanding” food in an “informal” setting. Back then, Shrimp Creole en Casserole cost $1.95 and the steak-and-lobster platter was $3.55. Today, Surf and Turf costs about $50, though prices vary by location.
Horace Williams worked as head grillmaster at the Tallahassee location for over forty years. “I have cooked over a hundred meals a day, sometimes 150,” Williams told the Tallahassee Democrat. “I take pride in the food. I cook it to make it look presentable. Like I could go out and eat it myself.”
ABC News reports that Red Lobster started in 1968 in Lakeland, Florida, and has since expanded to locations across the United States and Canada.