Red Lobster restaurants are getting their biggest facelift in years as the chain continues its trek back from bankruptcy.
The seafood chain unveiled a restaurant refresh program that is intended to make its locations brighter, fresher, warmer, and more welcoming while keeping many of the elements customers love about the brand, said Chief Global Development Officer Kristen Briede in an interview.
“Internally, we’re calling it ‘new-stalgia,'” she said. “Respecting our heritage while thoughtfully evolving the experience for today’s guests.”
The first three refreshes, in Clarksville, Tennessee; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; and Kissimmee, Florida; will be completed next week, and the chain is currently assessing which restaurants to include in the next round of renovations.
Customers will notice updates to both the inside and outside of the restaurants, including new flooring, lighting, paint, furniture, decor, outdoor lighting, and landscaping, Briede said. Signature elements, such as live lobster tanks and nautical theming, will remain.
“Guests should recognize they’re in a Red Lobster,” Briede said. “We’re simply making restaurants feel brighter, fresher, and more current.”
Renderings show a noticeably brighter design, with light wood paneling and floors, teal accents, and an abundance of booths.
A rendering of a refreshed Red Lobster. | Courtesy of Red Lobster
It comes as Red Lobster continues to claw its way back from a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in May of 2024 that was prompted by rising costs, steep traffic declines, and a disastrous all-you-can-eat shrimp promotion. The chain was acquired by a group led by Fortress Investment Group, which invested an additional $70 million into Red Lobster and hired former P.F. Chang's CEO Damola Adamolekun to lead the brand. Initial moves were focused on the menu, operations, and marketing. Renovations are the next step in the process.
The company has not done a systemwide update of its restaurants for many years, Briede said. It hopes that the new look will help drive traffic and sales and improve the experience for both customers and employees.
Red Lobster is not disclosing how much the refreshes will cost. Briede said the company is taking a disciplined approach and noted that the updates are not full-scale remodels. Restaurants can remain open and operating while some of the work is done. The first group will close for nine days before reopening next Wednesday.
There is no definite end date for the refresh program, and the company is still determining how many of its 500-plus restaurants will get the new treatment.
“Our vision is to continue investing in the brand over time,” Briede said. “We’ll make those decisions in a disciplined way based on what we learn and where we see the greatest opportunity.”
Red Lobster’s post-bankruptcy comeback has been slow to materialize. Last year, systemwide sales declined 6.2%, according to Technomic data. But the company said in April that it was tracking ahead of its revenue and earnings projections for 2026.
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