What took them so long?

[Jenise]

Red Lobster Preparing to File for Bankruptcy Protection This Month

Red Lobster is expected to file as early as next week as the casual-dining chain seeks to pare down its debt load. It recently closed dozens of its roughly 650 U.S. locations.

Too much all-you-can-eat shrimp. Homer Simpsons abound in this country.

[Jenise]

I have only eaten at one Red Lobster. We were stuck in some chain motel in an out of the way place, hungry, and there was one next door. It was pretty terrible. Similar to several experiences with Olive Garden and my one experience with an Applebee's. No real cooking going on. Just everything fried or assembled according to a formula designed in some far off corporate kitchen and left to idiots to execute, which they did poorly. They deserve this.

Red Lobster, Olive Garden, and Marie Callenders, never did float my boat, Applebees here did have some good food and I went there many times with police department staff and volunteers. The owner of Marie Callenders here gifted our volunteer program with a room and food every year for National Volunteer Week celebrations. Very generous man, and much appreciated until the program grew too big to fit into his room, we had to move on to a large church that gifted us the room but no food. Always sad to see a large franchise close down in a town, so many folks lose jobs. I rarely go out to eat these days, prices are outrageous and I can make my favorites at home, at a less expensive cost.

Red Lobster Preparing to File for Bankruptcy Protection This Month

Red Lobster is expected to file as early as next week as the casual-dining chain seeks to pare down its debt load. It recently closed dozens of its roughly 650 U.S. locations.

Given the quality of their cuisine I'd say that was a clear case of claws and effect.....

[Robin Garr]

Business Insider covers the story in detail. As you’d expect, it’s complicated.

https://www.businessinsider.com/red-lob ... ate-2024-5

Thanks, Robin.

Interesting article, Robin. This observation stood out for me:

""What's truly happened with Red Lobster is that the consumer base has changed and Red Lobster hasn't,"

It sounds like Howard Johnson's all over again.

-Paul W.