Restaurant's Last NJ Location Abruptly Closes Weeks Ahead Of Schedule

CHERRY HILL, NJ — Bahama Breeze abruptly closed its last location in New Jersey on Monday.

The Cherry Hill Mall restaurant was originally planned to operate through April 5, when nearly 100 layoffs at the location were anticipated to take effect.

"A heartfelt thank you...the memories made here will always stay with us," staff said on social media Monday.

Spokesperson Rich Jeffers with Darden Restaurants, who owns the Bahama Breeze chain, told Patch that they were unable to staff the location until April 5.

One third of the team took jobs at other Darden restaurants, while another third left the company for other job opportunities.

Around 30 team members were laid off and will be paid through April 12 and receive severance, Jeffers added.

Darden revealed on Feb. 3 that it would soon be shutting all of the brand's locations to explore "strategic alternatives."

This would also mean converting half of the chain's sites to other restaurants in their portfolio.

"Thank you for welcoming us into your community and for letting us be part of so many moments-big and small," the chain added in its abrupt goodbye message to the Township.

In talking with Patch in February, a spokesperson said their "first priority is to place as many team members as possible" in another Darden property.

Darden founded Bahama Breeze nearly 30 years ago, and also owns several restaurant chains with locations at or near the mall.

These include Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Seasons 52, The Capital Grille, Eddie V's Prime Seafood.

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