California Red Lobster near LA closing down after 14-year run

It’s o-fish-al: a famed California Red Lobster location is closing its doors after 14 years.

Employees at the Palm Desert Red Lobster were informed Monday that the restaurant would be closing its doors soon.

First opened in 2012, the location was known for its live lobster tank display, a classic feature at Red Lobster locations.

“We kind of found out this morning that our restaurant is closing, and as of September 6 or 7, we would no longer be open, and it was just news to all of us today,” an unidentified employee told KESQ.

Red Lobster fans can still enjoy their favorites at nearby locations in San Bernardino and Temecula.

The closure follows Red Lobster CEO Damola Ademolekun’s comments that the chain needed to close more locations in order to cut costs.

“There’s a lot of positive signs, but we inherited a very damaged brand, so there’s still work to do to repair all of that,” Ademole told the Wall Street Journal in February.

In May, the chain closed its oldest continuously operating location after 56 years.

“This restaurant holds a special place in Red Lobster’s history and has been a meaningful part of the community for decades. We’re grateful to the guests and team members who have supported it over the years,” a Red Lobster spokesperson told The Post at the time.

“As part of the normal course of business, Red Lobster continuously evaluates restaurant performance and lease terms and may, from time to time, choose to close or relocate select restaurants.”

Red Lobster filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May 2024 after claiming $76 million in losses in 2023. The chain closed around 130 stores during bankruptcy.

Earlier this month, the chain brought back its infamous Endless Shrimp promotion, which allowed customers to order unlimited amounts of shrimp for a fixed price. Ademolekun previously blamed the promotion in part for the company’s financial woes.

Red Lobster said they brought the deal back because customers “never stopped asking for it.”

“They continued telling us they missed it, showed up when we brought it back this spring and kept asking for more after that run ended,” the company said.

“We weren’t going to walk away from something they love simply because the previous operating model did not work,” they continued. “The better answer was to fix what didn’t work and bring it back in a way that is right for our guests, our restaurant teams and the company.”

In June, Ademomolekun declared in a company-wide town hall that the chain was planning “the greatest comeback in the history of the restaurant industry.” That same month, the CEO told Vanity Fair that the company was now projecting a net positive income by the end of the fiscal year.

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