Red Lobster is one of the most iconic and beloved restaurant chains in America. As the world’s largest seafood restaurant company Red Lobster has remained committed to making delicious high-quality seafood accessible and affordable to all since its founding in 1968. But where exactly did this seafood empire originate? Let’s dive into the history books and follow the development of Red Lobster from a single restaurant in Florida to an international dining destination with over 700 locations.
Humble Beginnings in Lakeland
The Red Lobster story starts with one man’s passion for seafood – Bill Darden. In the late 1960s, Darden dreamed of establishing a seafood restaurant that could bring fresh fish and shellfish to people across America. At the time, quality seafood dining was mostly confined to coastal regions. Darden wanted to change that.
In 1968, Darden opened the very first Red Lobster restaurant in Lakeland, Florida. Lakeland was the founding city for the company and the location of its first headquarters. This original restaurant was located on South Florida Avenue and seated just 120 guests.
While modest in size, that first Red Lobster made an impact with its dedication to freshness and affordable prices. Darden was meticulous about the seafood quality rejecting any fish that didn’t meet his high standards. He believed amazing seafood should be accessible to everyone not just an elite few.
Rapid Growth in the 1970s
By 1970, just two years after opening that small Lakeland restaurant, Red Lobster was catching the attention of larger corporations. General Mills acquired the growing company that year, providing the resources for major expansion.
With General Mills’ backing, new Red Lobster locations popped up rapidly throughout the United States. The chain grew from 6 restaurants in 1970 to over 400 by 1975. Some of Red Lobster’s earliest out-of-state locations included Peoria, Illinois and Toledo, Ohio.
Red Lobster solidified its popularity in 1974 with the debut of the now-famous Popcorn Shrimp. The bite-sized fried shrimp were an instant hit across the country.
By the end of the 1970s Red Lobster had over 500 restaurants in operation. New England and the Midwest were important growth markets during this period. Red Lobster brought affordable seafood and a taste of the coast to landlocked cities where quality seafood had been hard to come by.
National Expansion in the 1980s and Beyond
In the 1980s, Red Lobster set its sights north and continued expanding in Canada. The first Canadian location opened in Ontario in 1983. More popped up in Alberta, Nova Scotia, Quebec and other provinces soon after.
By 1985, just 17 years after Bill Darden launched his small seafood restaurant in Lakeland, Red Lobster hit a major milestone – 1,000 operating restaurants.
Major menu innovations like Lobsterfest and Cheddar Bay Biscuits propelled the brand’s popularity to new heights in the 1990s. Red Lobster kept growing through various corporate structures, first as part of General Mills, then under food industry giant Darden Restaurants.
In 2014, Red Lobster separated from Darden and became an independent company again. Under new executive leadership, the chain refreshed its image, updated restaurant designs and pushed menu innovation while staying true to its founding values.
Today, Red Lobster maintains over 700 restaurants across the globe, including locations in Japan, Dubai and Brazil. However, Lakeland, Florida remains a special city in Red Lobster’s company history. Darden’s very first restaurant put the chain on the map back in 1968.
Lakeland Location Today
While that original Lakeland restaurant closed in the 1980s, its legacy lives on. Today, a Red Lobster restaurant still stands at 4705 US Highway 98 North in Lakeland, just minutes from where Bill Darden changed the seafood restaurant game forever.
This Red Lobster location proudly displays photos and memorabilia honoring the history made on South Florida Avenue back in 1968. Guests can get a taste of where it all began while enjoying Lobsterfest or Cheddar Bay Biscuits created decades later.
Red Lobster may have grown into an international operation, but Lakeland, Florida remains the symbolic birthplace. Any time you crack open a popcorn shrimp or dip a biscuit at Red Lobster, remember the visionary Bill Darden who turned his passion for seafood into an iconic American brand right there in central Florida.
The Future of Red Lobster
While honoring its origins, Red Lobster continues innovating and expanding its services to improve the guest experience. In July 2022, Red Lobster announced a new partnership with DoorDash to offer improved delivery and carryout options.
Red Lobster also proudly unveiled a new restaurant prototype in 2022, featuring an updated interior design and refreshed exterior. While staying true to its heritage, Red Lobster keeps evolving.
No matter how much changes over the decades, Red Lobster’s commitment to seafood stays constant. The chain is sure to remain a popular destination for affordable seafood dining with Lakeland, Florida forever in its company DNA.
So next time you crack open an order of popcorn shrimp or dig into a lobster in butter sauce, remember the pioneering founder who turned his Lakeland seafood restaurant into an American classic. Red Lobster has come a long way from its Florida roots while staying loyal to its original values of seafood accessibility, quality, and value for all.
Red Lobster company history timeline1968
As early as 1968, Darden had made plans to open his own seafood restaurant. In 1968, the first Red Lobster opened in Lakeland, Florida.
Despite only existing for two years, the partners sold Red Lobster — the entire chain — in 1970.
General Mills, the company that makes Pillsbury cinnamon rolls and Cheerios, wanted to get into the restaurant business in 1970, and Red Lobster looked like a good place to start.
In 1973, entrepreneur John L. Williams bought a Quality Inn in Adel, Georgia, and became the landlord of the successful Green Frog restaurant that was next door.
And neither of them are associated with Fishbone, who started in 1979.
The original Green Frog closed in Waycross in 1981.
Bill Darden stayed on with General Mills until 1983.
When you go to Red Lobster, you can’t leave without getting some of their famous Cheddar Bay Biscuits. They first came out in 1988 as an alternative to their hushpuppies.
After his death in 1994, General Mills came up with a plan to turn their restaurant business into a new company.
ABC News says that Darden Group began funding the Australian Research Council’s work on developing lobster farming programs in 1998. It was a shocking 16 years later that scientists were finally able to raise lobsters in captivity.
In 2002, they only allowed 172 million pounds of snow crab to be caught.
In 2003, Red Lobster held a $20 Endless Snow Crab promotion, similar to Endless Shrimp.
Darden Restaurants announced its plans to create Darden Aquafarm, the world’s first commercial lobster fishery, in 2012.
Was it just a coincidence? In 2013, a group from The Huffington Post tried it, and one person ate 101 shrimp all by themselves.
Darden Restaurants announced its decision to sell Red Lobster and all 705 locations in 2013.
With Endless Shrimp being most definitely endless, youd think that was the flaw in their business plan. That wasn’t the case, and when Red Lobster failed in 2014, it wasn’t because they ran out of shrimp; it was because of their prices. 2015.
One of Red Lobster’s “Create Your Own Combination” meals was named one of the worst things you could eat by the Center for Science in the Public Interest’s 2015 Xtreme Eating Awards.
In 2016, Golden Gate Capital paid $575 million to Thai Union Group PCL to become a minority owner.
Work At Red Lobster?
Rate Red Lobsters efforts to communicate its history to employees.
Do you work at Red Lobster ?
Is Red Lobsters vision a big part of strategic planning?
The Decline of Red Lobster…What Happened?
When did Red Lobster start?
In 1968, Darden founded the first Red Lobster restaurant in Lakeland, Florida, an inland city. The restaurant was initially called the Red Lobster Inn. Darden was inspired by Gary’s Duck Inn, an Orlando seafood restaurant that Darden bought in 1963 with some partners. The business became so successful that Darden opened four more restaurants.
Where is Red Lobster located?
Red Lobster Hospitality, LLC is an American casual dining restaurant chain headquartered in Orlando, Florida.
Who owns Red Lobster?
Golden Gate Capital was Red Lobster’s parent company after it was acquired from Darden Restaurants on July 28, 2014. Seafood supplier Thai Union acquired a 25 percent stake in the company in 2016 for a reported $575 million, and in 2020 purchased the remaining portion from GGC.
When did Red Lobster become a chain?
Under General Mills’ ownership, Red Lobster expanded into a chain of almost 400 locations by 1985. The company underwent several restructurings and transformed itself from an inexpensive fast-food seller into a chain of casual dining seafood restaurants by 1988.