Bonefish Grill To Close 14 Locations After A 5.4 Percent Sales Drop

Bloomin' Brands, Inc., which owns Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, and Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, announced in its fourth quarter earnings report that it will be closing 14 Bonefish Grill locations.

The decision comes as part of a revitalization plan for the brand and perhaps fueled by the 5.4 percent drop in same-store sales. Same-store sales fell for all Bloomin' Brands chains, with a 2.2 percent drop at Outback Steakhouse, a four percent drop at Carrabba's Italian Grill, and a 0.3 percent drop at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar.

Most of the Bonefish Grill closings are set to occur by the end of the year, and will continue through the first quarter of 2019, according to the company. The exact locations that are slated to close are yet to be disclosed. Elizabeth Watts, director of media and community relations for Bloomin' Brands Inc. writes in an e-mail to Greenville Online, "Closing a restaurant is never easy. Out of respect for our employees and being able to share information with them first, we have not yet released the locations."