Bahama Breeze

[sdsooners]

Anyone know what is going on with Bahama Breeze? I was told by Louie's waiters that all their employees have been told not to return to work and they have already removed the signs. Seems kind of sudden?

[Easy180]

Wow...That's bad news if they are shutting down...Love that place

Always seemed busy enough especially on the weekends

[Millie]

Looks like they're gone. The website now shows Memphis as the closest location to OKC.

[Easy180]

Well the countdown is on for the next tenant...Too good a spot to stay vacant for long

[writerranger]

Well the countdown is on for the next tenant...Too good a spot to stay vacant for long

No kidding - talk about a prime spot. Maybe we'll get something better.

---------------

[BG918]

Maybe something local?

[Patrick]

That's weird. The place was always packed.

[Millie]

I hope we get a Mexican place there- the patio would be great for chips and margaritas on a summer night...

[BG918]

Maybe something like Los Cabos, a locally-owned Mexican restaurant that overlooks the river in Jenks. It almost has to be either a Mexican or Caribbean-type place.

[BaconCheeseburgerDeluxe]

For the longest time I thought Bahama Breeze was a unique concept to Lake Hefner.

Then I found out that it was owned by Darden Restaurants.

Darden Restaurants

The same people that own Olive Garden, Red Lobster, and Smokey Bones.

Chances are it was a cooperate decision based on profit and traffic flow.

I hope we can get something out there that is not in OKC. Mexican food may not due very well out there because pearls lakeside was a mexican restaurant at one time.

The food was good and the service was great. It just did not do well because there are so many mexican food choices in the surrounding area.
Ninos, Abuelos, El Chico, Ted's as well as several other mom and pop places are all within ten minutes of that area.

[Millie]

^
What do you mean? I can't see Darden pulling Olive Garden and Red Lobster out of OKC.

[BaconCheeseburgerDeluxe]

^
What do you mean? I can't see Darden pulling Olive Garden and Red Lobster out of OKC.

I just mean that Darden is looking at making a certain level of profit. When that level drops below expectations they will close the restaurant.

[metro]

I imagine BaconCheese is right, the traffic flow was good, but such a prime location probably cost them a pretty penny rent wise. Therefore, making their profit margin lower than what the corporate office may target for. I'm sure there will be no problem filling the vacant spot. And FYI, Pearls was never a mexican restaurant. There was previously a mexican restaurant where Pearls Lakeside now is.

[SoonerDave]

I hope we get a Mexican place there- the patio would be great for chips and margaritas on a summer night...

A Mexican restaurant in Oklahoma City! Now THERE's novel thought. Wish four billion restarateurs (it seems) hadn't thought of it first.

Sorry for the sarcasm, but frankly I'm sick to death of the idea of Yet Another Mexican Restaurant around here. Geez, how many ways can there be to stuff grilled steak or chicken into an enchilada and slap a $10 price tag on it?? There has to be a fresh idea out there somewhere.

-soonerdave

[Stinger]

I love the location and structure, but wasn't at all into the food at Bahama Breeze. I look forward to an exciting new tenant.

[jbrown84]

I know it's just a chain restaurant from the people that brought you 10,000 Olive Gardens, but this is their higher end, exclusive brand and OKC not supporting it is a bad sign for our ability to get things like Chipotle and Ruth's Chris.

[Easy180]

It lasted a good while there...Anyone know how many years?...This may be a good shot for a higher end chain such as Ruth's to break into our market

Hefner isn't real convenient for lunch goers so it will likely be a higher end restaurant no matter what type of food goes in

My guess is a steak place

[MadMonk]

I know it's just a chain restaurant from the people that brought you 10,000 Olive Gardens, but this is their higher end, exclusive brand and OKC not supporting it is a bad sign for our ability to get things like Chipotle and Ruth's Chris.

But, that place was always packed. How were we not supporting it?

[jbrown84]

I don't know but obviously we weren't supporting it to their standards, so they closed it.

[Easy180]

I did notice the lunch crowd was pretty weak when I was there so maybe they overestimated in that regard

Or maybe the owner has someone dying to get in that place and jacked up the rent to get it vacated

[jbrown84]

Does Hogan still own it?

[Patrick]

Does Hogan still own it?

Yes!

[Julesc2001]

The Bahama Breeze chain has been having problems for years, I used to go to one near Dallas, it was always busy, and it closed suddenly... one in Austin did the same thing... I just dont think the concept overall was doing well.

We went to eat there Saturday night and saw the paper signs on the door... what a surprise! They were moving out all the furniture, etc. I cant wait to see what goes in there next! I will miss the Bahamaritas though...

[jbrown84]

The Bahama Breeze chain has been having problems for years, I used to go to one near Dallas, it was always busy, and it closed suddenly... one in Austin did the same thing... I just dont think the concept overall was doing well.

Thanks for that info. I feel immensely relieved to know that Austin and Dallas locations closed too.

[SoonerDave]

I think the assessment of BB being "in trouble" for some time is on the money. Darden has an archived press release from 2004 in which it reported the sudden closure of six Bahama Breeze locations, and one of those was in Texas (may be the one referred to in posts above).

I, for one, never really "got" what Bahama Breeze was supposed to be; seafood restaurant, Carribbean food (whatever that might mean), or mostly a watering spot, some/none of the above..? It never appealed to me, but I'm not a seafood person, so that's no biggie.

It would be great if a Ruth's Chris got a tryout up there...

-soonerdave