Bahama Breeze, Chesterfield (Closed)

blusky7 · PostJun 22, 2007#12007-06-22T23:08+00:00

I just learned that the Bahama Breeze in Chesterfield, next to the mall, is now closed. Does anyone know why they closed? I really loved going there. They had great food and an awesome atmosphere. It was always packed when I was there. The wait would always be 30+ minutes. I can't imagine that they would be losing business. I'm curious why they closed. They were the only location here in Missouri.

Does anyone know what establishment will take over that place? Oh well...I guess they'll be some other new restaurant going in there. Who knows.

moorlander · PostJun 22, 2007#22007-06-22T23:16+00:00

http://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/s ... lumn5.html

This is from Louisville biz journal but should answer your question.

It was one of nine Bahama Breeze restaurants nationwide that closed last weekend, according to Mike Bernstein, a spokesman with the company, which is part of Orlando-based Darden Restaurants Inc. Bahama Breeze now has 23 locations across the country.

Bernstein said the shuttered stores were unprofitable and "not in the best locations or trade areas for the brand."

He said Bahama Breeze's location strategy has evolved since the Louisville store opened in 1999, and the company is looking to open new stores in areas with better access and visibility.

Closing underperforming restaurants "lets us refocus our efforts and resources on other restaurants and growth," Bernstein said. He declined to disclose how many new stores the company has planned or where they will be located, except to say that one is expected to open in Woodbridge, N.J., next year.

threeonefour · PostJun 23, 2007#32007-06-23T05:11+00:00

I first tried Bahama Breeze in Indianapolis a few years ago and loved it. It quickly became one of my favorite chains. I've been to the Chesterfield location just a couple of times, but frankly, I probably would've gone more often if they had set up shop somewhere closer to home.

Maybe the Galleria/Boulevard/Promenade area would've been a better fit, I don't know. For me it was simply too far to drive when I have many great restaurants from which to choose inside of Interstate 170. That said, it isn't their location in front of Chesterfield Mall was lacking for visibility or demographics. Go figure.

trent · PostJun 23, 2007#42007-06-23T19:43+00:00

I went to a Bahama Breeze in Tampa when I lived there. They told me it would be an hour and a half wait. I laughed and went someplace else.

jax · PostJun 24, 2007#52007-06-24T18:07+00:00

BLUsky7 wrote:Does anyone know what establishment will take over that place? Oh well...I guess they'll be some other new restaurant going in there. Who knows.

It might be vacant for quite a while. The old KC Masterpiece location only recently got a new restaurant (the churrascaria). I haven't been to the mall in quite a while, but I think the old Chili's location is still vacant as well (and has been for quite a while). I'm sure the new restaurant space in the mall's expansion (Cheesecake and Wapanga and that nasty burger place) didn't help the vacant spaces too much either.

chesterfieldkid03 · PostJun 25, 2007#62007-06-25T00:38+00:00

It might be vacant for quite a while. The old KC Masterpiece location only recently got a new restaurant (the churrascaria). I haven't been to the mall in quite a while, but I think the old Chili's location is still vacant as well (and has been for quite a while). I'm sure the new restaurant space in the mall's expansion (Cheesecake and Wapanga and that nasty burger place) didn't help the vacant spaces too much either.

Chili's will be reopening in a few months. I've haerd that Maggiano's Little Italy may be looking to open a location in Chesterfield, but I'm not sure if they will look at the former Bahama Breeze location or not.

jondk · PostJun 26, 2007#72007-06-26T03:13+00:00

I've been there a few times, and honestly, the last time I went we were quite dissappointed. The food didn't impress either me or my wife. It seemed like they changed their menu for the worse. We also thought it was somewhat overpriced. I won't miss it.

threeonefour · PostJun 26, 2007#82007-06-26T04:47+00:00

jondk wrote:It seemed like they changed their menu for the worse. We also thought it was somewhat overpriced. I won't miss it.

It's been awhile since I've been there. You may be right about the changes as reasons for BB's demise.

martin logan · PostAug 15, 2007#92007-08-15T14:15+00:00

I think the location was less than ideal - you had to either know it was there, or notice it on a trip to the mall (and once you were already going to the mall, you'd be more likely to just eat in the mall somewhere). You would never know it was there just driving down Clarkson, and while it was visible from the highway, to some it might not have been obvious how to get to it. I would imagine these were the same problems the old Casa (next door) suffered from....

Alex Ihnen · PostAug 15, 2007#102007-08-15T14:30+00:00

^ True - I had a gift certificate there and saw it a few times driving west, but never planned to go there and always seemed to be past the exit when I saw it. No surprise to me that it closed.

martin logan · PostAug 15, 2007#112007-08-15T22:00+00:00

Grover wrote:^ True - I had a gift certificate there and saw it a few times driving west, but never planned to go there and always seemed to be past the exit when I saw it. No surprise to me that it closed.

I could be wrong, but I think Darden also controls Olive Garden and Red Lobster - I seem to recall gift certs. I've had also being good at those....

juiceinkirkwood · PostAug 20, 2007#122007-08-20T15:50+00:00

I have been trying to remember the name of that place. I had an interview there over a year ago with an IT recruiter. Great food. I was there at lunch time and it was decently busy but the wait for seating or food was not bad at all.

Sucks, ive been craving it later. Just talking to my wife about it like a week ago.

jeff707 · PostAug 20, 2007#132007-08-20T15:54+00:00

I fell liek it's been closed for awhile. I was underwhelmed by it the one time I went. The glossy menu and brightly colored drinks threw me off, I guess.

juiceinkirkwood · PostAug 20, 2007#142007-08-20T16:09+00:00

Yeah, I was definitely not looking forward to eating there because of the "Bahama Breeze" name and atmosphere, so I was surprised when the food looked and tasted good.