Poll of the Day > Red Lobster abruptly closes dozens of stores

(+) Yeah! (+)

Geez McDs is catching backlash for selling $15 dollar Big Mac meals and now Red Lobster is closing dozens of stores. I guess people are starting to fight back.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/13/business/red-lobster-is-abruptly-closing-dozens-of-restaurants/index.html

Red Lobster is not closing because their prices are too high. Its because they were too low and they lost millions from Endless Shrimp.

My nearest location is still open.

Here's a list I found of all the closed ones:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/food/2024/05/14/red-lobster-closed-restaurant-locations-list/73683118007/

The one nearest to me is still open. Maybe I should go there and tell them I heard the news and that I'm sorry. Of course, I wouldn't spend real money there, but I do have one of those American Express gift cards I've been trying to use up lately.

It's their own fault for continuing endless shrimp. The location I go to is very good and I get other stuff like the New Orleans Salmon and really hope they don't close.

OmegaM posted...

I wouldn't spend real money there, but I do have one of those American Express gift cards I've been trying to use up lately.

that's real money lmao

it's just a regular prepaid debit card

Abruptly? What do you mean? They filed for bankruptcy like a month+ ago

OmegaM posted...

Here's a list I found of all the closed ones:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/food/2024/05/14/red-lobster-closed-restaurant-locations-list/73683118007/

The one nearest to me is still open. Maybe I should go there and tell them I heard the news and that I'm sorry. Of course, I wouldn't spend real money there, but I do have one of those American Express gift cards I've been trying to use up lately.

damn not only my local but also the ones in every surrounding city
fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu-

BlackScythe0 posted...

Abruptly? What do you mean? They filed for bankruptcy like a month+ ago

There was no notice to the employees or anyone around. Employees came up to the doors and found them locked with notes. That's abrupt. Simply because a company files for bankruptcy (which they actually have not, so your assertion is incorrect), doesn't mean the company is going to close. Chapter 11 is not "Just give up and drop all debt and close down." It's restructuring to pay back the majority, if not all, of their debt, at a different pace.

While closures can be a part of this, they are not automatic.

Not to mention, again, they did not file for bankruptcy.

Melody_JR posted...

Employees came up to the doors and found them locked with notes.

That's such a dick move. Like getting laid off is going to suck regardless of the circumstances, but at least have the decency to give people enough advance notice to not waste time and effort commuting in for their shifts. It costs virtually nothing for managers to send a mass text.

Surprisingly, the one near me is still going to be open. I will continue to never set foot in it.

Melody_JR posted...

There was no notice to the employees or anyone around. Employees came up to the doors and found them locked with notes. That's abrupt. Simply because a company files for bankruptcy (which they actually have not, so your assertion is incorrect), doesn't mean the company is going to close. Chapter 11 is not "Just give up and drop all debt and close down." It's restructuring to pay back the majority, if not all, of their debt, at a different pace.

While closures can be a part of this, they are not automatic.

Not to mention, again, they did not file for bankruptcy.

I've seen multiple restaurants do this. When I first heard it I thought "this must surely be illegal" but apparently it's just the "common practice"

BlackScythe0 posted...

I've seen multiple restaurants do this. When I first heard it I thought "this must surely be illegal" but apparently it's just the "common practice"

Yes. They do it so people won't quit or stop caring. To get the most out of the employee they severely underpay before they fold.

The lobster kids meal costs over $60 with taxes. This is beyond expensive.
No wonder they are closing their stores due to a lack of business and profits.

Melody_JR posted...

Yes. They do it so people won't quit or stop caring. To get the most out of the employee they severely underpay before they fold.

That justifies not giving more than a day's notice for stores closing (it's still dickish an exploitative, but at least it makes some sense), but it's still no excuse to just lock the store and not tell employees anything until they show up and read a sign. Saying "we're closing, this is your last shift" and the end of all shifts the day before doesn't leave any opportunity to sabotage the business, nor does sending out a text overnight.

adjl posted...

That justifies not giving more than a day's notice for stores closing (it's still dickish an exploitative, but at least it makes some sense), but it's still no excuse to just lock the store and not tell employees anything until they show up and read a sign. Saying "we're closing, this is your last shift" and the end of all shifts the day before doesn't leave any opportunity to sabotage the business, nor does sending out a text overnight.

I don't think in most cases they know. Usually it is the district manager that finds out first thing in the morning "Oh, by the way, we are closing 10 of your restaurants effective immediately. Do the needful.", which by the way is still 3 management levels above the employee who needs to know that they shouldn't bother driving in to start their shift in an hour.

Dikitain posted...

I don't think in most cases they know. Usually it is the district manager that finds out first thing in the morning "Oh, by the way, we are closing 10 of your restaurants effective immediately. Do the needful.", which by the way is still 3 management levels above the employee who needs to know that they shouldn't bother driving in to start their shift in an hour.

Still, there's no reason they can't start that cascade soon enough to save employees the commute. For that matter, you don't even really need that chain of command because corporate could easily just automate sending out a mass text to all affected employees once there was no more opportunity for sabotage. That would likely leave them scrambling to contact their managers as needed until they went far enough up the chain to get an authoritative answer, but at least they'd save a commute.

I don't doubt that front-line managers are just as out of the loop as front-line staff are, but somebody knew this was coming at least a few days in advance. To do nothing to communicate it in a way that limits the inconvenience for front-line employees is just plain inconsiderate.

adjl posted...

Still, there's no reason they can't start that cascade soon enough to save employees the commute. For that matter, you don't even really need that chain of command because corporate could easily just automate sending out a mass text to all affected employees once there was no more opportunity for sabotage. That would likely leave them scrambling to contact their managers as needed until they went far enough up the chain to get an authoritative answer, but at least they'd save a commute.

I don't doubt that front-line managers are just as out of the loop as front-line staff are, but somebody knew this was coming at least a few days in advance. To do nothing to communicate it in a way that limits the inconvenience for front-line employees is just plain inconsiderate.

You think corporate cares about its employees?

Haha, that's cute.

Oh, I don't think I do. In fact, I know they don't. I'm just saying it's a massive dick move.

Melody_JR posted...

Red Lobster is not closing because their prices are too high. Its because they were too low and they lost millions from Endless Shrimp.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqT-AvswCZo

Good, fuck red lobster and their shitty food. Hope they all go out of business

Susanowo posted...

The lobster kids meal costs over $60 with taxes. This is beyond expensive.
No wonder they are closing their stores due to a lack of business and profits.

Youre not gonna make it a habit to keep posting on this board, are you?

NO to injection sites.

What do you mean by injection sites, @Susanowo ?

My local red lobster does not have a kids meal lobster but the most expensive thing on the kids menu is like 10.99.

Mine survived the mini purge it seems. Doubt ill ever go to it again though.

kinda want some endless shrimp tbh

Susanowo posted...

The lobster kids meal costs over $60 with taxes.

You're going to need to show some proof of that. Nothing at Red Lobster is $60 for the base. My partner and I go there and spend under $100 for two meals, with a beer or two.

Also, why would you be letting your children order lobster? Lobster is terrible, don't spend money on it.

Melody_JR posted...

Lobster is terrible

Get outta here with that. Lobster roll is elite tier food

OhhhJa posted...

Get outta here with that. Lobster roll is elite tier food

You can eat what you want, especially when it's overpriced, was originally considered peasant food, and doesn't have any taste without drowning it in butter. Not to mention how it's almost always overcooked, rubbery, and even more tasteless.

I will not get out of here with that, or any thing else for that matter, simply because you desire.

All in all, eat what you want, but why would you let your kids eat something so terrible, and stupidly expensive...

Melody_JR posted...

You can eat what you want, especially when it's overpriced, was originally considered peasant food, and doesn't have any taste without drowning it in butter. Not to mention how it's almost always overcooked, rubbery, and even more tasteless.

If you think lobster is tasteless, I encourage you to stop eating processed foods with 5000 grams of sodium.

Good riddance. I don't eat shellfish anyway. It's not kosher and not healthy. Lobster are like giant bugs. Shrimp are cockroaches of the sea.

How can that user have such a political sig on this board lmao

Melody_JR posted...

You can eat what you want, especially when it's overpriced, was originally considered peasant food, and doesn't have any taste without drowning it in butter. Not to mention how it's almost always overcooked, rubbery, and even more tasteless.

I will not get out of here with that, or any thing else for that matter, simply because you desire.

All in all, eat what you want, but why would you let your kids eat something so terrible, and stupidly expensive...

If you can't afford lobster just say so. I don't need 3 paragraphs

Jen0125 posted...

How can that user have such a political sig on this board lmao

Looks like their sig just got cancelled by the woke agenda

kinda want some lobster tbh

OhhhJa posted...

If you can't afford lobster just say so. I don't need 3 paragraphs

Interesting deflection without being able to actually address what I said about its texture and flavor. Makes sense for someone telling others to leave over personal taste.

Dikitain posted...

If you think lobster is tasteless, I encourage you to stop eating processed foods with 5000 grams of sodium.

Hello baseless assumption.

Melody_JR posted...

Interesting deflection without being able to actually address what I said about its texture and flavor. Makes sense for someone telling others to leave over personal taste.

You're really taking this seriously aren't you lmao

OhhhJa posted...

You're really taking this seriously aren't you lmao

I actually am not. Please continue though.

Melody_JR posted...

I actually am not. Please continue though.

Please refrain from posting on this board. We thank you in advance.

Cacciato posted...

Please refrain from posting on this board. We thank you in advance.

You can continue to whine about my posting if you want, but I suggest you just go ahead and either ignore or block me, because I have no intention of following the orders of someone like you. Thank you.

Excuse me. You were asked to refrain from posting here.

Melody_JR posted...

Red Lobster is not closing because their prices are too high. Its because they were too low and they lost millions from Endless Shrimp.

No, they're closing because they got bought by a vulture capitalist firm who bought them with a LBO, gutted them, wrecked their value, and then sold the company to a group who, even if they were capable, had no hope of turning it around. Instead, the new group acted as the supplier, selling products at a mark-up.

BlackScythe0 posted...

I've seen multiple restaurants do this. When I first heard it I thought "this must surely be illegal" but apparently it's just the "common practice"

I think it's just how bankruptcy filings work. There's a chance even the managers weren't involved, it was the DMs or corporate chaining them up.

Count_Drachma posted...

No, they're closing because they got bought by a vulture capitalist firm who bought them with a LBO, gutted them, wrecked their value, and then sold the company to a group who, even if they were capable, had no hope of turning it around. Instead, the new group acted as the supplier, selling products at a mark-up.

I think it's just how bankruptcy filings work. There's a chance even the managers weren't involved, it was the DMs or corporate chaining them up.

Yeah Ive seen the new updates. Its actually worse than that. Red Lobster used to own most of its buildings and the properties for the restaurants. The Venture Capitalists sold all the real estate, and then made the restaurants pay above market value for rent.

Venture capitalists fuck shit up for short term gains once again.