1 MI Red Lobster Abruptly Shuts Down Amid Nationwide Closures

MICHIGAN — One Red Lobster restaurant in Michigan was listed as "temporarily closed," according to the company's website, with dozens more nationwide suddenly shuttered.

The closures happened on Monday and, according to social media postings from restaurant employees, the closures came without notice.

The shuttered Michigan restaurant is located in Fort Gratiot Township in St. Clair County.

Other Michigan restaurants remain open.

Various media reports put the number of temporary closures nationwide at 80.

A liquidation company, TAGeX Brands, also announced an online auction of Red Lobster's kitchen equipment, furniture, and more from many of the locations. The auction went live on Monday at 3 p.m. and will end on Thursday.

"As of today, select Red Lobster locations are CLOSED. On our Restaurant Equipment marketplace, we are auctioning off 50+ locations across the country. These auctions are winner takes all – meaning, each winner will receive the entire contents of the Red Lobster location they bid on," according to the company.

Red Lobster has not made any public comments about the closures and a request for comment from Patch was not immediately returned.

Just last month, Red Lobster reported that it was considering filing for bankruptcy after suffering a substantial loss from its endless shrimp promotion. The closures come as bankruptcy rumors circled the seafood restaurant chain in recent weeks.

The restaurant has been looking for a buyer, but is staggering from multiple problems, including being cut off by a key supplier.

Red Lobster locations in Michigan, which all appear to still be open, include:

• Adrian
• Ann Arbor
• Battle Creek
• Bay City
• Dearborn Heights
• Flint
• Grandville
• Jackson
• Kentwood
• Lansing
• Livonia
• Madison Heights
• Marquette
• Monroe
• Mount Pleasant
• Muskegon
• Novi
• Portage
• Rochester Hills
• Saginaw
• Southgate
• Sterling Heights
• Traverse City
• Warren
• Waterford
• Westland

A liquidation company said it is conducting an online auction of Red Lobster kitchen equipment and other contents of the closed restaurant locations.

The Orlando-based chain, known for its endless shrimp deals, has reportedly been eyeing bankruptcy filing to restructure its debt and downsize from its 650 US locations, CNN reports.