Florida’s restaurant scene has long been a mix of tourist magnets, coastal gems, and beloved local eateries. But 2025 is shaping up to be a brutal year: closures are happening fast and without warning. From national chains to neighborhood spots in Orlando and beyond, the shuttered doors are a stark reminder of how rising costs, shifting demand, and stretched household budgets are hitting the food industry hard.
Below are some of the more high-profile, unexpected, and representative closures in Florida this year (though far from an exhaustive list…see factory closures here):
Bahama Breeze — 5 Florida Locations
In mid-May, Darden Restaurants announced it would be closing 15 Bahama Breeze restaurants nationwide, with five of those in Florida. The affected Florida locations:
- Gainesville — 3989 Plaza Blvd
- Naples — 2088 9th St N
- Daytona Beach — 1786 W International Speedway Blvd
- Sunrise — 2750 Sawgrass Mills Cir
- Oakland Park — 3339 N Federal Hwy
Those closures resulted in at least 342 job cuts across those Florida locations. Darden has since signaled that Bahama Breeze is no longer a strategic priority and is exploring converting or selling remaining locations…