Red Lobster Liquidation

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Find a Red Lobster Auction Near You

If you resell this kind of equipment or own a restaurant or want to start one, this might be the auction for you.

As of today, select Red Lobster locations are CLOSED. On our Restaurant Equipment marketplace, we are auctioning off 50+ locations across the country. These auctions are WINNER TAKES ALL – meaning, each winner will receive the ENTIRE contents of the Red Lobster location they bid on. Auctions are live and will end periodically on Thursday, May 16, 2024.

 

[BrandonV]

"Perishable goods and alcohol not included."

 

[loganb]

Talk about a fire sale. 1 lot for the entire store, no catalog or inventory of what is included(at least for the location I reviewed), pick up next day.

Should be some decent dumpster diving the week after

 

[WildBill]

I love a good all at once deal and I buy and sell a lot of stuff. But this just doesn't sound like a good idea to me. I would need at least an inventory list and a ton of pics. You know that stuff is going to smell terrible.

 

[WildBill]

The one near me is at $5000 with about two days left to bid.

 

[Xti04]

There arent any closing in Tennessee. Does that mean people here think Red Lobster is actually good?

 

[Old tool guy]

I think they are only closing 49 or 50 stores.

 

[BrandonV]

There arent any closing in Tennessee. Does that mean people here think Red Lobster is actually good?

It's so-so. I would never choose to go there but its consistent.

 

[txvwnut]

I read an article about Red Lobster the other day that stated they are basically bankrupt. When whoever bought the chain they did some in house movement of things and the buildings got handed to a property management company or division of the parent company but not the restaurant operations. If I remember it correctly the restaurant side is trying to get out from under the high rent they are having to pay the property management for the lease on the buildings. With the high rent and the all you can eat items they have on the menu has tapped into the profit margin, not that there was a large one to begin with.

 

[PCustoms]

I was about to report this as spam...

 

[Certified Drunk]

One of the pictures still has food in the refrigerator. YUUK!

 

[The Cobbler]

seems like they put almost zero into describing assets and they just want it cleared out at any cost .

 

[Old tool guy]

seems like they put almost zero into describing assets and they just want it cleared out at any cost .

Caveat emptor.

 

[RPH]

All you can eat shrimp deal new ceo put on killed them. They lost about $5.00 on every plate ordered. Soon, she was gone along with the rest of Red Lobster, the chain is in the swirly’s zone.

 

[billconner]

USA Today has list of 87 closing - and not the one near us which also closed - but seems only around 50 being auctioned now.

Just saw a recent article - nearly 100 closed.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

I'm not sure what I'd do with restaurant equipment, but better to have it and not need it, I guess. Bidding!

 

[BrandonV]

One of the pictures still has food in the refrigerator. YUUK!

Two worst food experiences I have involve Red Lobsters. I'm not shocked.

 

[MOS3522]

I can't imagine how poor will be the condition of a Red Lobster kitchen. The chain has underinvested for years since the parent owned much more profitable chains.

 

[slowtwitch73]

Hard pass.... same as their food.

 

[tmshort]

Man ... I looked at some of those pics. Poor condition is right. Glad I can't remember the last time I ate there (maybe never?)

 

[P0234]

The chain is swirling thanks to some really poor leadership. I'm here for all the people that say they hate the place. Sorry, but it's like their sister restaurant, Olive Garden. Not snob dining but it has tons of mass appeal. I like both. I'll gladly eat at an exclusive seafood restaurant for the same price as RL but at $40-70 a plate, they aren't 2-3x more tasty.

 

[XXL__]

I read an article about Red Lobster the other day that stated they are basically bankrupt. When whoever bought the chain they did some in house movement of things and the buildings got handed to a property management company or division of the parent company but not the restaurant operations. If I remember it correctly the restaurant side is trying to get out from under the high rent they are having to pay the property management for the lease on the buildings. With the high rent and the all you can eat items they have on the menu has tapped into the profit margin, not that there was a large one to begin with.

It's the Eddie Lampert grift model. Company execs sell property to Reit (that they happen to own), then lease back to restaurant business at exorbitant rates, which eventually bankrupts company... CEO says "Oops, sorry" then when he goes home, he counts the stacks of money he bilked his own company out of.

 

[GRN96WS6]

I don't want anyone to go out of business, hell I grew up with Chesapeake Bay Seafood House which was a TREAT as a young kid, but I honestly do not recall the last time I went to Red Lobster (but I do live within 10 miles of a coast FWIW).

I'm not big on chain places in general, do I eat at them? Sure, but if I'm someplace new I eat local and soak in the culture.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

The chain is swirling thanks to some really poor leadership. I'm here for all the people that say they hate the place. Sorry, but it's like their sister restaurant, Olive Garden. Not snob dining but it has tons of mass appeal. I like both. I'll gladly eat at an exclusive seafood restaurant for the same price as RL but at $40-70 a plate, they aren't 2-3x more tasty.

Dardon the original owner had owned Olive Tree, Bahama Breeze And probably some others. Dardon sold Red Lobster to the supplier of their Thailand Shrmp supplier.
My SIL was a manager but packed it in about 3 months ago after about 15 years with the company. He said the upper management was pushing pretty hard with little regard for their employees. He simply had enough and said enough is enough. Another manager packed it in shortly after. Our RL is still in business but I believe my SIL said they pushed up the price by $5 on the all you can eat fiasco.

 

[Lassen Forge]

If you look at the pictures, it appears they gave everyone their walking papers and told them to GTFO - clean up stuff? Eff that - they get the grease and dirt also, just ot the food or alcohol.... Also you have 24 hours to pick up that uncleaned nasty equipment - hope you have a crew that likes to get dirty. Just that 24 hour clean everything out AND "we can cancel the sale up until you pick it up" (wtf??) stinks scammy.

Every one I ate at were so so at best. Add the "lobster tails" that were more like large shrimp... and now looking at the inside of one of their kitchens - Ick. (And yet their customer base are all broken up it's closed... )

The other thing - they're not getting huge bids. The local one to our last house is now at $1700. For a ton of equipment. Fire sale, and we want to know what they'll do with the stuff that doesn't get picked up, eve though its paid for...

 

[gungatim]

I read an article about Red Lobster the other day that stated they are basically bankrupt. When whoever bought the chain they did some in house movement of things and the buildings got handed to a property management company or division of the parent company but not the restaurant operations. If I remember it correctly the restaurant side is trying to get out from under the high rent they are having to pay the property management for the lease on the buildings. With the high rent and the all you can eat items they have on the menu has tapped into the profit margin, not that there was a large one to begin with.

This happens to restaurant chains all the time. The exact same thing happened to Quizno's subs.

 

[rooster59]

Are they throwing any maintenance tools in the dumpster? Asking for a friend

 

[3baygarage]

Are they throwing any maintenance tools in the dumpster? Asking for a friend

Not the plunger! The one here smells like a sewer inside. Wait, it isn't on the list!

The one I used to go to, I swear always had the same women in large hats complaining about their alcoholic beverages and trying to get things removed from their bill. It was painful to listen to.

 

[niget2002]

I mean... A commercial fridge, freezer, and fryer would be kinda nice. Could use the prep tables in the shop.

 

[MOS3522]

There are a few photos at this article:

Details revealed about Red Lobster auctions to sell restaurant gear

New details have been revealed about the auction sales of Red Lobster's recently shuttered locations. Photos also show scenes of restaurants hastily closed.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[gungatim]

I mean... A commercial fridge, freezer, and fryer would be kinda nice. Could use the prep tables in the shop.

If you have a local weekly online auction, they sell stainless prep tables and restaurant equipment all the time. I have a 36" wide commercial grill/griddle with a 3/8" steel top I converted to propane (which is super easy on restaurant equipment) for only $60. It kicks a blackstone's a**. I originally bought it just for the top to make a welding table but it was too nice to use.

1800LastBid.com®

 

[PelicanPines]

Did you see how dirty that stuff is... imagine your food being cooked there. YUKK. FILTHY. If my kitchen looked that bad... I would fire my housekeeper.

Wonder if that bottle cooler comes with those beer bottles??

 

[alfadan]

It's so-so. I would never choose to go there but its consistent.

I like it, but like so many other places, the cost is making it less than worth-it.

 

[larry4406]

I don't want anyone to go out of business, hell I grew up with Chesapeake Bay Seafood House which was a TREAT as a young kid, but I honestly do not recall the last time I went to Red Lobster (but I do live within 10 miles of a coast FWIW).

I'm not big on chain places in general, do I eat at them? Sure, but if I'm someplace new I eat local and soak in the culture.

I remember the Chesapeake Bay Seafood House! The all you could menus were awesome!

 

[duc916]

Sounds more like a scam/publicity stunt. Not sure why they are doing it, but if you look at the terms they are not giving you much time to empty the store, if they even let you get that far:

Pick Up Date: Friday, May 17th 2024 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM local time

Pick Up Notes: This is the only pick up date for this auction! Doors close promptly at the end of designated time slot and items leftover will be forfeited without refund. Winning bidders are responsible for the appropriate removal and loading of their items. No one on site can assist with disconnect, removal, or loading items.

So you are supposed to empty an entire restaurant in 6 hours, with 20 hours notice, and nothing is prepared. The specific auction terms allow them to charge you at the end of the auction, but they can cancel the sale up to 9:00am the following day (right before you have to start loading) after you have lined up moving equipment and people. You will still be out the money for equipment and people, and get the pleasure of trying to get a refund.

Payment Processing: Immediately following the auction closure, all credit cards on file will be processed. Please contact Customer Service if you need to make alternative payment arrangements (e.g., paying with Paypal or another credit card). Note: we do not accept American Express.

Specific Auction Terms:​

We reserve the right to cancel this auction at any given time, up to time of equipment pick up.
Payment required immediately upon auction close, or the order will be forfeited.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

They have filed for bankruptcy.
Top bad they never thought to ask this man for help.

 

[930dreamer]

Amarillo location isn't on the chopping block-yet.

 

[P0234]

They have filed for bankruptcy.
Top bad they never thought to ask this man for help.

Maybe because his track record wasn't that good?

Restaurant Impossible Open or Closed?

A list of all Restaurant Impossible episodes and whether the Restaurant Impossible restaurants are open or closed, closure rates and air dates

www.realitytvrevisited.com

 

[Shiftless]

They have filed for bankruptcy.
Top bad they never thought to ask this man for help.

I bet he would have advised them to stop serving unlimited shrimp to the gluttons who are strongly attracted to such deals.
I saw an article reporting that one young woman made it a challenge on TikTok to set a record.
She ate 108 shrimp over 4 hours in the restaurant.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Maybe because his track record wasn't that good?

Amazing
He is an amateur runner also.