TUKWILA, Wash. — Darden Restaurants, Inc. announced that Washington’s only Bahama Breeze restaurant will permanently close on April 5, marking the Tukwila location’s shutdown.
Since opening in 2003, the restaurant on Southcenter Pkwy has been easily accessible for shoppers as it’s situated within reach of the Westfield Southcenter Mall.
The closure is part of a broader move by the company to shutter 28 Bahama Breeze restaurants nationwide, according to a company statement.
Of those locations, 14 will be converted into other restaurant concepts owned by Darden, which also operates Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Yard House, and Ruth’s Chris Steak House.
“The company believes the conversion locations are great sites that will benefit several of the brands in its portfolio,” Darden Restaurants said in a statement. “Going forward, the primary focus will continue to be on supporting team members, including placing as many as possible in roles within the Darden portfolio.”
Nearly 12 years ago, Darden sold Red Lobster to investment firm Golden Gate Capital in a $2.1 billion cash deal after “increasingly unable to attract the higher-income customers Darden caters to with its more successful chains,” then Darden CEO Clarence Otis said.
Bahama Breeze is known for its colorful island interior, rum cocktails, margaritas, and overall lively environment.
On the menu, the chain blends the tropical flair of Caribbean, Jamaican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, and other island-influenced dishes.
The Tukwila restaurant reportedly employs 93 workers, according to the Washington Employment Security Department (ESD).
Bahama Breeze WARN Letter ESD 2-3-2026PDF previewPreview PDF
It is not yet known how many employees will ultimately be affected.
“It is not yet known exactly how many impacted team members there will be as the company is offering transfer opportunities to other locations,” the filing said.
Positions at the Tukwila site include managers, servers, bartenders, and line cooks, according to the document.
