Bahama Breeze’s Kennesaw location at 755 Ernest W. Barrett Parkway NW is set to close soon, though it will remain open through April 5, 2026 for a few more months. The restaurant is part of a companywide plan tied to Bahama Breeze’s future. Darden has decided to convert the Kennesaw Bahama Breeze restaurant into another Darden concept over the next 12 to 18 months.
According to their press release, “The 14 restaurants designated for permanent closure are expected to continue operating through April 5, 2026. The company anticipates converting the remaining 14 locations over the next 12-18 months. They are expected to continue to operate until any temporary closures are needed for the conversion.”
Darden recently completed a review of “strategic alternatives” for Bahama Breeze and determined the brand is no longer a priority. Of the 28 remaining Bahama Breeze restaurants, the company plans to permanently close 14 of the locations and convert the other 14 to a different Darden concept, with conversion locations continuing to operate until temporary closures are needed for construction and rebranding.
For local diners, that means there’s a clear deadline to grab one more round of jerk chicken pasta, coconut shrimp, or a farewell slice of Rebecca’s key lime pie before they close for conversion. After that, the address is expected to reappear later as a different Darden restaurant, with the company saying it intends to support team members by placing as many as possible into roles across its broader portfolio of restaurants.
The Bahama Breeze Kennesaw size and location gives Darden plenty of options for a conversion after the Bahama Breeze closes. Based on the size of the building and the way Darden typically deploys its concepts, a few Darden brands look like stronger fits than others. Yard House is a logical contender because it’s designed for high-volume dining with a large bar and a footprint that matches a former Bahama Breeze. Seasons 52 also fits the building size and could work as a slightly more upscale option for the Town Center corridor. Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen is another strong and practical possibility, since it’s built for broad appeal and can operate well in a larger casual-dining space.
Some concepts look much less likely because they already have nearby locations. Olive Garden is already just down the street on Barrett Parkway, LongHorn Steakhouse is also nearby off Cobb Place Boulevard, and both Chuy’s (located next door) and Ruth’s Chris Steak House (2.9 miles away) already operate in Kennesaw.
Two of Darden’s more upscale concepts look like real long shots for the Kennesaw conversion for other reasons. The Capital Grille typically shows up in higher-end shopping and business districts, and in Georgia its locations are in Buckhead Village and Dunwoody at Perimeter Mall, not along big-box corridors like Barrett Parkway. Eddie V’s is more a “special-occasion dinner,” making it less likely to land in a Town Center retail strip conversion. For now, Darden has said it is not disclosing which brand will replace Bahama Breeze at conversion sites.
Our guess: Cheddar’s.
Bahama Breeze
755 Ernest W Barrett Pkwy NW
Kennesaw, GA 30144
(678) 354-7777
BahamaBreeze.com