Bad news for fans of unlimited shrimp: Red Lobster, which considered bankruptcy in April, has abruptly closed 87 restaurants temporarily in 27 states the week of May 13.
While the closures are currently temporary, an online restaurant liquidator is auctioning off kitchen equipment from 48 of the closed locations, leading to speculations that many closures may be permanent.
The website for liquidator TAGeX Brands says auctions are live and will end periodically on Thursday, and that each winner will receive the “entire contents of the Red Lobster location they bid on.”
Here’s the story behind Red Lobster’s financial troubles, plus which South Carolina location is temporarily closed.
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What Red Lobster location is closing in SC?
Only one of S.C.’s 11 Red Lobster locations has closed temporarily, and it is among the 48 locations with kitchen equipment currently being auctioned. The location is:
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Are Upstate SC Red Lobster restaurants closed?
As of now, the following Red Lobster restaurant locations are operating under normal hours:
Other SC Red Lobster locations
Red Lobster bankruptcy
This April, the seafood chain considered filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in order to attempt to restructure debts, according to USA TODAY.
Bloomberg reported that Red Lobster’s leases and labor costs had caused issues with Red Lobster’s cash flows. An additional issue for the company was due to an ill-advised promotion that led to massive debts.
When Red Lobster’s 2023 “Ultimate Endless Shrimp” deal became more popular than expected, it became a major contributing factor in an $11 million loss in the third quarter.
The limited-time promotional deal which allowed guests an unlimited amount of their choice of two types of shrimp for $20 landed a permanent spot on Red Lobster menus in June. It now costs $25. Red Lobster’s parent company, Thai Union Group, said in November 2023 that the chain was headed toward a $20 million loss for 2023.
USA TODAY reported that Thai Union Group CFO Ludovic Regis Henri Garnier said in an earnings report call that the offer was intended to draw customers into restaurants, but orders exceeded expectations.
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What Red Lobster locations are closing?
Here’s the full list of locations listed as temporarily closed on the Red Lobster website:
Alabama
Arizona
California
Colorado
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Louisiana
Maryland
Mississippi
Missouri
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin
Gabe Hauari and Chris Sims, USA TODAY NETWORK, contributed to this report.
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: What Red Lobster location is closing in South Carolina?
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