Red Lobster is testing out a new store concept, but it’s trying not to stray too far from what diners already know.
“Our design decisions were guided by the idea of ‘newstalgia,’ preserving the elements guests know and love while expressing them in a fresh, contemporary way,” says Ashley Popich, managing director of the commercial interior design and architecture firm Zebra, which worked with Red Lobster on the new dining rooms.
The redesign is part of a broader comeback effort for the seafood chain following a recent bankruptcy, and it’s an attempt to become more appealing to young diners while retaining its loyal customer base.
Red Lobster once had fish-shaped tables, but it replaced them in the mid-2000s with interiors that looked like a standard, neutral, suburban sit-down restaurant with nautical artwork and decor. Its dining rooms and interiors were designed to evoke a sophisticated ambience inspired by the Maine coast, with wood and neutral colors for a more upscale experience.
The idea of “newstalgia” is about honoring the most recognizable and meaningful elements of the brand and carrying it forward in a way that feels fresh, relevant, and intentional, Popich tells Fast Company. For Red Lobster, that’s not necessarily a singular iconic aesthetic, but a generic, if elevated, sit-down style. The refreshed restaurant design rolled out first at three locations, in Kissimmee, Florida; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; and Clarksville, Tennessee, with more to come.
The redesign has elements like a lobster tank, portholes, and rope dividers, while it brings in a lighter color palette, refined materials, and cleaner lines. There are wood floors and chairs, and white wood-paneled walls. The style is called contemporary coastal modern, and it looks like a contemporary beach house: smart, not kitschy. The goal is to provide a nautical feel without seeming themed.
“Rather than layering in more nautical decor, we abstracted and refined these familiar elements,” Popich says. “Lighting, brass details, patterns, and textures quietly evoke waves, rope, weathered coastal materials, and traditional craftsmanship, creating an environment that feels cleaner, brighter, and more timeless.”
Red Lobster’s signature red color is used selectively amid the natural textures, warm wood tone, and layered lighting so as to feel purposeful and memorable. The restaurant’s original wood booths and banquettes have been upholstered with new, more modern-looking materials, and a curated selection of original artwork is mixed in with new pieces.
Red Lobster filed for bankruptcy in 2024 and closed more than 100 locations. It was acquired in September 2024 by RL Investor Holdings, a private investment group, for an undisclosed sum. In June, a trust of Red Lobster creditors filed a lawsuit against the seafood chain’s former CEO, owner, and others, accusing its Everyday Endless Shrimp promotion of milking value from the restaurant as it became insolvent.
If Red Lobster’s renovated dining rooms can manage to welcome old customers back, bring in new ones, and scale nationally, it stands to benefit from favorable conditions for casual table-service dining.
As fast-food prices have risen, chains like Applebee’s, Chili’s, and Olive Garden have seen their own foot traffic increase as consumers increasingly see value in table service and higher-quality food than the drive-through can offer. That means the guest experience for restaurants like Red Lobster can make all the difference.
“The guest experience begins the second someone walks through our doors, and that makes the restaurant environment one of the most important touchpoints we have,” says Kristen Briede, Red Lobster’s chief global development officer.
Red Lobster has worked to update its menu for younger diners, and the “newstalgia” design approach is in line with industry trends elsewhere. Cracker Barrel faced blowback when it modernized its restaurants too much, while Pizza Hut locations—with their vintage lighting, red cups, and red-and-white-checkered tablecloths—have become destination dining. There’s desire for a classic restaurant experience but a need to update it for the next generation.
Red Lobster is hoping to thread the needle between nostalgic and new, retaining enough of its brand heritage to remain familiar while being current enough for today’s guests.