3 More VA Red Lobster Locations Slated To Close: New List

ALEXANDRIA, VA — After closures of 50 Red Lobster restaurants and a bankruptcy filing that put more locations in limbo, more Virginia locations could be on the chopping block.

Three Virginia sites — the Alexandria location at 555 S. Van Dorn St., Virginia Beach location at 709 Independence Blvd. and Richmond location at 4415 S. Laburnum Ave. — are among 23 Red Lobster locations for which the chain petitioned to end unexpired leases.

The filing, first reported by Washington Business Journal, says Red Lobster intends to end leases by Aug. 31. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 29.

The latest action follows the seafood chain abruptly closing 50 locations and filing for chapter 11 bankruptcy in May. That bankruptcy filing means 125 additional locations are at risk as Red Lobster tries to recoup losses from its endless shrimp promotion.

ALX Now reported that employees at the Alexandria Red Lobster maintained that the location was not closing. A manager told the publication the location recently had a lease renewal.

No other Virginia locations were included in Red Lobster's new request to end leases.

When the chain filed for bankruptcy in May, it said the following Virginia restaurants had a risk of closing if leases couldn't be renegotiated:

• 4115 Chesapeake Square Blvd., Chesapeake
• 10325 Fairfax Blvd., Fairfax
• 3109 Spotsylvania Mall Drive, Fredericksburg
• 8009 West Broad Street, Richmond
• 821 Lynnhaven Pkwy., Virginia Beach

Virginia locations that have permanently closed this year are:

• Colonial Heights: 119 Temple Lake Drive
• Newport News: 12580 Jefferson Ave.
• Williamsburg: 2100 Richmond Road

Red Lobster locations in Virginia which appear to remain open, include:

• Bristol
• Christiansburg
• Hampton
• Harrisonburg
• Lynchburg
• Manassas
• Midlothian
• Richmond (8009 W. Broad St.)
• Staunton
• Sterling
• Winchester
• Woodbridge

Red Lobster's bankruptcy filing is intended to sell the chain to lender Fortress Investment Group, according to Washington Business Journal. In its Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition, Red Lobster said it had more than $1 billion in debts and less than $30 million cash on hand. Washington Business Journal says Red Lobster has $365 million owed to Fortress Investment Group.