Red Lobster is ending its long run in Times Square after more than 20 years. The company says the June 14 closure follows construction that hurt access and foot traffic, along with the property’s planned shift to residential use.
By the time the lights of Times Square dim again after a busy night. the sign at 5 Times Square will be heading toward silence. Red Lobster says its restaurant in one of Manhattan’s busiest tourist corridors will close on June 14. ending a presence the seafood chain has maintained in the heart of New York City since 2003.
“Times Square has been an important chapter in Red Lobster’s history, and this was a difficult decision,” the company said in a statement. It also thanked the people who kept the location going—“the team members and guests who have made this restaurant special over the years.”
The company’s explanation is blunt: extensive and prolonged construction at the building has significantly impacted access. visibility. and foot traffic at the restaurant. Red Lobster also pointed to the property’s planned conversion to residential use. saying continued operations at the location were no longer viable.
The closing doesn’t just mark the end of a prime corner for diners and theatergoers. It lands while the chain is still working its way back after a collapse and reorganization that reshaped the business. Red Lobster continues efforts to rebuild the company after emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2024. The chain filed for bankruptcy in May 2024 after closing dozens of restaurants nationwide amid mounting financial pressures.
A bankruptcy court later approved the company’s reorganization plan. allowing Red Lobster to exit Chapter 11 under new ownership backed by Fortress Investment Group. At the time. Red Lobster said it would continue operating as an independent company with 544 locations across 44 states and four Canadian provinces.
As part of the restructuring, RL Investor Holdings LLC—an entity backed by Fortress Investment Group—acquired the company. Damola Adamolekun took over as CEO following the reorganization and has led efforts to revive the iconic seafood chain.
Even as the Times Square decision is now set, Red Lobster has not said the closure is part of a broader round of restaurant shutdowns. The company’s statement leaves a key question hanging for customers watching for what comes next: is June 14 an isolated ending, or the beginning of a bigger reset?
What is clear is how central this site has been. The Times Square restaurant has occupied a prominent corner location at 41st Street and Seventh Avenue since 2003, serving tourists and theatergoers visiting the area.
Red Lobster says it is preparing for the human fallout of a closing that has been running for more than two decades. The company said all affected employees will be offered the opportunity to transfer to another company location. and they will receive additional pay to support them through the transition.
For Times Square visitors, though, the change arrives with a special kind of finality. After a long stretch defined by constant movement—crowds, show schedules, and late-night dining—one restaurant’s presence at the corner will end on June 14, and the city will keep walking past it.
Red Lobster Times Square June 14 closure 5 Times Square 41st Street and Seventh Avenue Chapter 11 bankruptcy Fortress Investment Group Damola Adamolekun RL Investor Holdings restaurant closure