Red Lobster is closing two Alabama restaurants on September 6, 2026, with locations in Montgomery and Huntsville set to shut permanently on the same day. The closures will further shrink the seafood chain’s presence in the state as it continues reshaping its restaurant network nearly two years after emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
For customers, the impact is immediate: Montgomery will lose its Red Lobster in the River Region, while Huntsville diners will lose the University Drive restaurant. The shutdowns follow other Alabama closures and are part of a broader reduction in Red Lobster’s U.S. footprint.
Which Red Lobster locations are closing in Alabama?
The two restaurants scheduled to close on Sunday, September 6, are:
- Montgomery: 300 Eastdale Circle, Montgomery, AL 36117, near Atlanta Highway and Eastdale Mall.
- Huntsville: 1818 University Drive NW, Huntsville, AL 35801.
The Montgomery restaurant has served the area for decades. Red Lobster previously operated on East South Boulevard before relocating to Eastdale Circle.
Why is Red Lobster closing these restaurants?
Red Lobster has not identified one specific problem behind both closures. The company has said it regularly evaluates individual restaurant performance and lease terms and may close locations during the normal course of business.
For Montgomery, Red Lobster said the decision reflected operating conditions specific to the location and was part of efforts to support long-term stability and growth.
The closures do not mean Red Lobster is going out of business. The company continues operating restaurants nationwide while reviewing which locations fit its post-bankruptcy strategy.
How many Red Lobster locations will remain in Alabama?
Early reporting about Montgomery said six Alabama restaurants would remain: Birmingham/Trussville, Florence, Huntsville, Oxford, Dothan and Gadsden. However, Huntsville is now also scheduled to close September 6.
That means the earlier “six remaining” figure should not be treated as the final statewide count. Recent information points to restaurants continuing in Trussville, Florence, Oxford, Dothan and Gadsden.
Customers should check Red Lobster’s official restaurant locator before traveling because online directories can take time to reflect closures.
Other Alabama Red Lobster restaurants have already closed
The latest shutdowns follow previous reductions in Alabama. Red Lobster permanently closed its Vestavia Hills restaurant at 1030 Montgomery Highway on May 24, 2026. The restaurant had operated since the 1970s. An Auburn location had already closed in 2024.
The contraction extends beyond Alabama. Earlier this year, the chain closed its longtime North Monroe Street restaurant in Tallahassee after 56 years. The closure of Red Lobster’s oldest continuously operating Florida location showed that even longstanding restaurants have been affected by the chain’s changing footprint.
Red Lobster is still rebuilding after bankruptcy
Red Lobster filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May 2024 after facing debt, expensive leases, inflation, competition and underperforming restaurants. Bankruptcy-related proceedings put its debt at roughly $300 million, while the company had reported a $76 million net loss for 2023.
The chain emerged from bankruptcy in September 2024 under new ownership led by Fortress Investment Group and other lenders. The restructuring addressed approximately $300 million in debt, and the new ownership group committed more than $60 million in additional funding.
Red Lobster subsequently installed Damola Adamolekun as CEO, with the company focused on rebuilding the brand while operating a smaller restaurant network.
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Red Lobster’s U.S. footprint has become smaller
The restaurant reductions did not end when Red Lobster left bankruptcy. Industry reporting estimated systemwide sales declined 6.2% in 2025 to about $1.56 billion, while the chain has closed more than one-fifth of its restaurants since 2024.
Similar financial pressure has affected other restaurant operators. A Hardee’s franchisee bankruptcy and restaurant closure case illustrates how rent, food costs and weaker demand can put individual restaurant portfolios under pressure.
What happened to Endless Shrimp?
Red Lobster’s Endless Shrimp promotion became closely associated with its pre-bankruptcy problems after a $20 version was made permanent in 2023. The company later estimated the promotion generated about $11 million in losses, although it was only one part of Red Lobster’s wider financial difficulties.
In August 2026, Red Lobster brought Endless Shrimp back as a limited-time promotion, rather than making it a permanent menu offer. The move highlights the company’s current balancing act: attracting customers with familiar promotions while trying to improve restaurant economics.
What customers should know before September 6
Customers planning a final visit to Montgomery or Huntsville should confirm hours before September 6. The closures are not part of a new bankruptcy filing, and Red Lobster remains in operation nationally.
For Alabama, the two same-day closures represent another substantial reduction in Red Lobster’s presence. For the company, they show that its post-bankruptcy turnaround still involves both rebuilding customer traffic and deciding which individual restaurants remain sustainable.
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