Red Lobster’s oldest continuously running location is closing after 56 years

The “Endless Shrimp” are, in fact, coming to an end at Red Lobster’s oldest continuously-operating location. 

Cheddar Bay biscuit buffs in Tallahassee, Florida, are bidding farewell to the seafood sanctum’s address on North Monroe Street after 56 years of shell-cracking service, the restaurant chain confirmed to The Post. 

The long-lived locale will officially broil its last lobster on Sunday, May 24, according to media reports. 

“This restaurant holds a special place in Red Lobster’s history and has been a meaningful part of the community for decades. We’re grateful to the guests and team members who have supported it over the years,” a spokesperson told The Post. 

“As part of the normal course of business, Red Lobster continuously evaluates restaurant performance and lease terms and may, from time to time, choose to close or relocate select restaurants,” they added. 

“This decision reflects individual business circumstances specific to this location.”

After casting a wide net in an effort to reel in customers, including hosting a grand “re-opening” fête featuring new “wild caught” menu items in 2024, the Tallahassee-based eatery, evidently, could not swim out of the red. 

Its closure trails CEO Damola Adamolekun telling the Wall Street Journal in February that Red Lobster was reviewing its real estate footprint and leases to cut costs and potentially close locations. 

The chain previously shuttered 130 restaurants in its 2024 Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. 

Adamolekun blamed the chain’s $20 “Endless Shrimp” deal — offering foodies an unlimited supply of grilled, scampi and fried delights at a fixed price — for inciting “a lot of chaos” in restaurants. It, too, cost the company an estimated $20 million in losses in 2023 alone, contributing to the bankruptcy filing. 

“You stress out the kitchen. You stress out the servers. You stress out the host,” Adamolekun told CNN. “People can’t get a table. It creates a lot of chaos operationally.”

The waves of mayhem spurred by the promotion notwithstanding, Red Lobster announced the revival of its endless shrimp offering in April, introducing a saucy, new entrée, “Marry Me Shrimp,” alongside fan favorites such as the “Shrimp Linguini Alfredo” and the “Parrot Isle Coconut Shrimp.”

“This is about putting our guests first and bringing back something they truly love,” Adamolekun said in a statement. “Endless Shrimp has been a part of Red Lobster’s legacy for 20 years, and our guests have never stopped asking for it. We’re excited to bring it back, for a limited time, in a way that works for our business today and honors what made it special from the beginning.

“Because when our fans talk, we listen.”

Still, unfortunately, the historic Tallahassee location is no longer the talk of the town. 

Upon setting sail in October 1970, the nautical-themed restaurant proudly served up “family-priced seafood” to Florida’s capital, offering baby shrimp, crabmeat and baked oysters at just $1.85, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. Steak and lobster dishes were priced at $3.55 — a far cry from the double-digits gourmands are paying today. 

And now, online crying, rhapsodizing and eulogizing is on the menu for Tallahassee residents, who fondly remember the hotspot as a neighborhood institution. 

“I’m sorry to see them go. I really don’t frequent any of the other seafood restaurants! Red Lobster is a legend,” groaned a Tallahasseean on the city’s official Facebook page.

“I’m so sad to see them go,” another lamented. “I have so many different memories of eating there. From a childhood treat, to my prom night, to my many meals with my husband and children, to my last meal out with my dad. Thanks for the memories. So sorry to see you go after all these years.”

A frequenter tagged his wife in a comment, writing, “I will forever remember when we first started making money and I’d take you to Red lobster for the Ultimate Feast with them biscuits with clam chowder. We thought we had hit the big time… Time flies.”

“[Ate] there many times with my mom. Thanks for the memories,” a separate nostalgic guy wrote with gratitude. 

“R.I.P. Tallahassee,” added another.