Oldest Red Lobster in the U.S. Closes Unexpectedly in Tallahassee After 56 Years

The oldest Red Lobster in the restaurant is closing its doors after 56 years.

The news was confirmed by the Tallahassee Democrat, the major newspaper where the closing restaurant is located. The restaurant in Tallahassee is the "chain's oldest continuously-operating location," the newspaper reported. According to the Tallahassee Democrat, the restaurant tried a "grand re-opening" to stay afloat, but it didn't work.

Red Lobster has been shrinking its footprint nationwide for the last few years due to financial issues. “I have cooked over a hundred meals a day, sometimes 150,” grillmaster Horace Williams told the Democrat. “I take pride in the food. I cook it to make it look presentable. Like I could go out and eat it myself.”

In March, the chain reported recovery signs nationwide with increased sales and a fresh menu.

The Tallahassee Red Lobster Restaurant Will Close Its Doors for Good on May 24

In this photo illustration, a cooked lobster is displayed on a plate at a Red Lobster restaurant.

(Photo Illustration by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

The restaurant won't be open much longer.

"The final day of operation of the restaurant on North Monroe Street is Sunday, May 24," the Tallahassee Democrat wrote, adding that the restaurant's manager confirmed the closure news.

Red Lobster CEO Damola Adamolekun told The Wall Street Journal last February that the chain “needed to get smaller."

In a 2024 court filing in a bankruptcy action, Red Lobster said, "the Debtors currently operate more than 530 casual seafood restaurants primarily located across the United States and Canada with nearly 36,000 employees." The motion revealed the chain was planning to close 23 more locations.

In June 2025, a federal judge approved the chain's reorganization plan, according to CBS News. When Red Lobster filed for bankruptcy, several reasons were cited. The filing came "following years of mounting losses and dwindling customers while it struggled to keep up with competitors," noted CBS News. According to CBS, around that time, the chain's ownership decided to reduce its footprint to "simplify the business."

As of August 2024, TODAY wrote, "Red Lobster closed 83 locations earlier this year, bringing its total shuttered stores to 106 now." According to the Tallahassee Democrat, that year, "In 2024, "17 storefronts in Florida were among the 126 that closed nationwide."

The chain still lists 32 Florida locations on its locator map.

A Man Named Bill Darden Opened the 1st Red Lobster Restaurant in 1968 in Lakeland, FL

Red Lobster describes its Florida origin story on its website. "Before there was Red Lobster, there was Bill Darden, a man passionate about making delicious, high-quality seafood available and affordable to everyone, including people who lived far from the coast and regardless of race, gender, religion or economic means," the chain wrote. "What was once a single, family-owned restaurant in Lakeland, Florida, now has over 500 locations around the world."

In 1968, "Bill Darden opens the first Red Lobster in Lakeland, Florida," the chain noted. Two years later, "Red Lobster catches the attention of General Mills. Backed by their resources, Red Lobster restaurants rapidly multiply from coast to coast."

In 1974, Red Lobster debuted popcorn shrimp. By 1983, the chain had expanded to Canada. The iconic Cheddar Bay Biscuits debuted in 1992. In 2014, "We begin charting a new course as an independent company," Red Lobster wrote. In 2015, the chain added salmon to its menu.

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