Two Kansas City-Area Red Lobster Restaurants Amongst Dozens Closing Nationwide

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – It has been announced that more than 85 Red Lobster dining establishments are shutting their doors all over the country, and unfortunately for local seafood lovers, two of these are located in the Kansas City area, specifically in Kansas.

Locations Facing Closure

The closing Red Lobster restaurants are situated in Olathe (14904 West 119th Street) and Kansas City, Kansas (10700 Parallel Parkway), according to the official Red Lobster website. It is a sad development for the local dining scene and leaves a question mark over the future of the remaining Red Lobster locations in the city.

Plagued by Financial Troubles

Founded in Lakeland, Florida in 1968, the Red Lobster chain has been facing increasing financial challenges in terms of escalating lease and labor expenses, as reported by Bloomberg in April. This contributed significantly to Red Lobster’s decision to close locations across the country. But that isn’t the whole story.

A Costly Campaign

In November 2023, CNN issued a report indicating that the chain had sustained losses of approximately $11 million during the third quarter of 2023. The major contributor? An ambitious all-you-can-eat shrimp promotion that was more popular than anticipated. Red Lobster added the unlimited shrimp to the menu permanently in June 2023, initially charging only $20 for the promotion. However, the response from the public was overwhelming, leading to the subsequent increase in price to $25 in November to offset the costs associated with the high demand. This takeover apparently failed to bridge the financial gaps, and we now see dozens of restaurant locations being closed down.

A Local Community Hit Hard

This news is disheartening not only for Kansas City patrons who enjoy the menu offerings of Red Lobster but also for the many employees affected by these closures. The financial fall-out of these closures will be felt particularly hard by waitstaff, cooks, and management personnel who relied on the restaurants for their income.

A Glimmer of Hope?

While the news is bleak for the Olathe and Kansas City branches, it is not yet clear if any other locations will be affected. Seafood lovers in the region will have to look ahead and hope for a more prosperous chapter in the Red Lobster story.

Note: The information in this article remains up-to-date as of May 14, 2024. Please visit the official Red Lobster website for more details regarding their restaurant locations and hours of operation.