Could This Popular Steakhouse Close Down All Texas Locations?
Without a doubt, Outback Steakhouse is one of the most popular chain steakhouse restaurants in Dallas, Texas. According to reports from CNN and other media outlets, the parent company of Outback Steakhouse has closed 41 restaurants across the nation.
Why were the Outback Steakhouse locations closed?
The parent company of the chain restaurant, Bloomin' Brands, announced last Friday that it had closed 41 of its 'underperforming' restaurants. The closures were across the company's four major brands:
- Outback Steakhouse
- Carrabba's Italian Grill
- Bonefish Grill
- Flemings
The company is still operating more than 700 restaurants across the U.S.
Why did so many locations close?
Bloomin' Brands CEO David Deno says,
it closed the locations because of a "variety of factors," including sales, shrinking customer traffic and financial investments that were too costly to improve the locations. Plus, a "majority of these restaurants were older assets with leases from the ’90s and early 2000s."
While a full list of locations that were closed was not released by the company, CNN reports that Outback locations in Pennsylvania have been closed along with locations in Iowa and all locations in Hawaii.
The other affected brands had closures in New Jersey, Virginia and New York. A company representative tells Nation's Restaurant News that with any business decision,
closing restaurants is never easy. This was a business decision that has no reflection on the staff or their service at the closed locations.
Will any Texas Outback Steakhouse Be Affected Or Closed?
If they have not yet been closed down, they appear to be safe, at the moment. Despite all the closures, there is some good news for the brands, Fox 4 reports that the company plans on expanding and opening as many as 45 additional restaurants this year as well as increasing brand awareness through traditional and digital advertising.
Here's Where Folks Say You Find the Best Steaks in Longview, TX
8 Mistakes You Don't Want to Make at a Texas Steakhouse
Gallery Credit: Billy Jenkins
8 Things Chefs REALLY Wish We Wouldn't Do at Steakhouses
Gallery Credit: Tara Holley
5 Most Expensive Steaks Served in Dallas, Texas
Gallery Credit: Billy Jenkins