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Iconic seafood chain closes dozens of locations in 2026. By Dylan Murray Sept. 9, 2026 3:36 pm EST Add The Takeout on Google: Mass closures are rarely a good thing in the restaurant business, and one legendary chain is no stranger to shutting down its weakest locations. Red Lobster has experienced plenty of downsizing lately, with 36 of its locations closing in 2026 alone. One of the most notable was when Red Lobster shut down its oldest standing location in Tallahassee, Florida, earlier this year, but restaurants in Alabama, California, Georgia, Illinois, and New York have also closed down in recent months. Overall, the 36 shuttered restaurants made up 7% of the Red Lobster's locations, with the total dropping from 520 to just 484 nationwide over the past nine months (per Nation's Restaurant News). However, Red Lobster says that this change is a move in the right direction. "This isn't a step back, it's how we build forward," a spokesperson for the company said (via NRN). They later added, "Right-sizing our footprint strengthens the brand and enables things like more restaurant refreshes and a stronger guest experience at the locations built to carry this brand's future." Nevertheless, most would say that these closures are yet another sign of struggle for what was once among the largest casual dining chains in the country. Red Lobster has struggled throughout the 2020s. Whether you see the 2026 closings as "right-sizing" or downsizing, they are undoubtedly indicative of some turbulence. While Red Lobster saw success over the years, poor business decisions, the rise of fast casual restaurants, and the COVID-19 pandemic were a few of the many factors that led to Red Lobster's downfall. This all resulted in the company filing for bankruptcy in May 2024. Since then, the restaurant chain has closed over 160 locations total, with the 36 that have shuttered this year being a mere continuation of Red Lobster's shrinking presence nationwide. All hope isn't lost for the chain, though. Damola Adamolekun took over as CEO at Red Lobster in October 2024 and has taken on the task of righting the ship, reinvigorating the restaurant's fanbase in the process. In fact, many anticipate a return to form for the Florida-based chain in the coming years. This isn't necessarily far-fetched, either, considering Red Lobster has a pretty strong head start. The restaurant is still the biggest seafood chain in terms of open locations in the United States, and it has ample name value to work with as it attempts to rebound from bankruptcy. While it's yet to be seen whether Red Lobster bringing back its endless shrimp deal will be helpful or harmful to its success, lovers of the seafood restaurant are left hoping for the best as the chain's closures continue.

Oxford location becomes 4th Red Lobster in Alabama to close in 2026. Reading time: 2 minutes After more than three decades serving the Oxford community, Red Lobster has permanently closed its doors on Quintard Drive. Social media posts began circulating in late August about the closing before the storm confirmed its final day would be Sunday, Sept. 6. The Oxford restaurant was located at 515 Quintard Drive, just off Highway 78 and near Oxford High School. 2 Red Lobster locations remain in Alabama. This is the fourth Alabama location to close in 2026 following Huntsville, Montgomery and Vestavia Hills. The Huntsville and Montgomery locations also had their final day of service on Sept. 6. In a statement to Montgomery Up, Red Lobster's corporate office cited its efforts to ensure the company's long-term success. "As part of our normal course of business, Red Lobster continuously evaluates individual restaurant performance and lease terms and may, from time to time, choose to close select restaurants. This closure reflected specific decisions tied to the unique operating conditions at this restaurant. We remain committed to making thoughtful decisions that position Red Lobster for long-term success, stability and growth." In 2024, five Red Lobster restaurants were closed throughout Alabama when the company filed for bankruptcy. Eight Alabama restaurants originally survived that cut but now there are just two locations remaining including: * Birmingham: 3525 Roosevelt Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35235 * Dothan: 3116 Montgomery Hwy, Dothan, AL 36303

The Smith and Parla to open new restaurant complex at former Red Lobster Times Square site. August 30, 2026 Red Lobster's old Times Square address will soon house a new 17,000-square-foot restaurant complex featuring The Smith and Parla, as Corner Table Restaurants bets big on the changing face of Midtown Manhattan. Corner Table Restaurants has signed a major lease for 582 Seventh Ave., once home to Red Lobster at West 41st Street, with plans to open a two-level dining destination anchored by a fifth location of The Smith, a popular American brasserie, and a slice-shop outpost of its pizza brand Parla. The complex is set to open in early 2028, bringing a combined 300 seats to the heart of Midtown. The deal reflects a broader transformation underway in the area, as RXR, the developer behind the property, formerly known as 5 Times Square, continues converting the tower from offices into as many as 1,250 rental apartments. The restaurant lease was brokered with JLL representing RXR, and the new eateries are designed to capitalize on the neighborhood's changing demographics and growing nightlife appeal. Patrick A. Smith, vice-chairman of JLL, called the project "the exciting culmination of a shift already well underway in the area." He pointed to a reported 15.3% increase in food and beverage storefronts across the district known as 42BELOW, stretching from West 30th to West 42nd streets between Sixth and Eighth avenues, over the past two years. Smith added that "top restaurants and innovative F&B concepts have been steadily establishing footholds in 42BELOW and Corner Table saw a huge opportunity in this burgeoning neighborhood." The new restaurant complex will see The Smith and Parla sharing the two-level space, aiming to attract both residents of the incoming apartments and the steady stream of tourists and office workers who pass through Times Square. The move comes as the neighborhood attempts to recover from the disruptions of recent years, which have left many commercial spaces empty and shaken confidence in the city's recovery model. With a combined 300-seat capacity, the venture signals a significant private-sector investment in Midtown's future. Eyes on a "burgeoning neighborhood" as new restaurants move in. RXR's redevelopment of the former 5 Times Square into up to 1,250 rental apartments is part of a larger Midtown strategy that places housing, food, and retail together to revive an area once dominated by office workers and chain restaurants like Red Lobster. The Smith and Parla's arrival is timed to ride a wave of new residents and a reported uptick in food and beverage options, growth that JLL's Patrick A. Smith says is already changing the neighborhood's character. Smith described the deal as proof that "top restaurants and innovative F&B concepts" see lasting value in Midtown's evolution. The focus on a large, two-level footprint reflects both ambition and optimism that New York's urban core can still attract major hospitality investments despite economic headwinds and persistent public safety concerns that have plagued the city's commercial corridors in recent years. For local residents and taxpayers, the new lease means another empty storefront is set to be filled, not by another chain, but by homegrown brands aiming to appeal to both city dwellers and visitors. The complex's 300-seat capacity stands out in a market where many new restaurants are scaling down or opting for fast-casual concepts, and Corner Table Restaurants is betting that the area's transformation will support a full-service operation on this scale. Red Lobster's exit, new arrivals, and the future of Midtown. The former Red Lobster at 582 Seventh Ave. was one of many legacy chains that struggled during the pandemic, leaving behind a high-profile vacancy at a pivotal Midtown intersection. Corner Table's decision to take on the 17,000-square-foot space suggests a willingness to invest where others have pulled back. The Smith's fifth location and Parla's new slice shop are set to open in early 2028, marking a new phase for a site once defined by mass-market seafood dining. The reported 15.3% growth in food and beverage storefronts in the 42BELOW district over two years is a sign of renewed private confidence, even as questions remain about the pace of New York's recovery, the effectiveness of the city's policies, and the lasting changes to office and tourism patterns. Still, with RXR converting the tower above into apartments and more ambitious restaurants planting flags, the bet is clear: Midtown's best days are not behind it, as long as local leaders don't get in the way. The Smith and Parla's move into Red Lobster's old space is a private-sector vote of confidence in a city whose future depends on real investment, not empty promises.