Florida’s restaurant scene has long been a mix of tourist magnets, coastal gems, and beloved local eateries. But 2025 is shaping up to be a brutal year: closures are happening fast and without warning. From national chains to neighborhood spots in Orlando and beyond, the shuttered doors are a stark reminder of how rising costs, shifting demand, and stretched household budgets are hitting the food industry hard.
Below are some of the more high-profile, unexpected, and representative closures in Florida this year (though far from an exhaustive list…see factory closures here):
Bahama Breeze — 5 Florida Locations
In mid-May, Darden Restaurants announced it would be closing 15 Bahama Breeze restaurants nationwide, with five of those in Florida. The affected Florida locations:
- Gainesville — 3989 Plaza Blvd
- Naples — 2088 9th St N
- Daytona Beach — 1786 W International Speedway Blvd
- Sunrise — 2750 Sawgrass Mills Cir
- Oakland Park — 3339 N Federal Hwy
Those closures resulted in at least 342 job cuts across those Florida locations. Darden has since signaled that Bahama Breeze is no longer a strategic priority and is exploring converting or selling remaining locations.
Orlando Independents
Orlando, long a hotbed for dining innovation, has not been immune. A local roundup identified 17 restaurants and bars that had closed by April 2025, including:
- Hanamizuki — 8255 International Drive (Japanese cuisine) Orlando Weekly
- HighT — an Alice in Wonderland–themed bar in the same complex Orlando Weekly
- Park Avenue Tavern (Winter Park, a NYC outpost) Orlando Weekly
- Several others: brew houses, brunch spots, and popup concepts couldn’t survive the tightening margins.
Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano (Disney World)
Speaking of Orland, even theme-park dining felt the pinch. Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano, located in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, permanently closed on May 10, 2025. Its closure is tied to Disney’s retooling of that area to make room for new attractions (like a Pixar-themed zone).
Red Lobster
For decades, Red Lobster has been a Florida staple — the chain was founded in Lakeland back in 1968. But 2025 brought a storm few expected. After filing for bankruptcy protection earlier this year, the seafood chain announced dozens of nationwide closures, including several in its home state.
Among the Florida restaurants confirmed to have closed are units in Orlando (Lee Vista Promenade), Tallahassee (Apalachee Parkway), and Daytona Beach (International Speedway Blvd). Some shuttered with almost no notice, leaving staff blindsided.
Red Lobster’s parent company has declared bankruptcy — a stunning turn for a brand that once defined Florida casual dining.
TGI Fridays
It’s been a tough year for TGI Fridays fans in Florida. As part of its 2025 restructuring, the chain has closed more than a dozen U.S. locations, including several in the Sunshine State — with reports confirming closures in Coral Springs and Gainesville in 2025 after the Royal Palm Beach and Ormond Beach locations closed in 2024.
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