Seafood chain Red Lobster made headlines in 2024 when it announced plans to shutter more than 50 of its locations across the US and filed for bankruptcy — but before the days of Endless Shrimp and Cheddar Bay Biscuits, Red Lobster was just one restaurant in Lakeland.
Entrepreneurs Bill Darden + Charley Woodsby opened the Red Lobster Inn on the shores of Lake Parker in 1968 (they dropped “Inn” from the name soon after). The building at 1330 E. Memorial Blvd. was leased from Lawton Chiles, a native Lakelander and eventual governor of Florida. Chiles was one of Red Lobster’s first investors.
Red Lobster became known for its casual feel and fresh seafood, and it didn’t take long for the rest of the nation to take notice of the small Lakeland eatery. General Mills acquired the business just two years after opening. It quickly started expanding from there, branching across the US and into Canada by 1983. After exiting bankruptcy in fall of 2024, the chain came under the ownership of RL Investor Holdings LLC.
Through the decades, Red Lobster added fan favorite menu items and specials. It introduced popcorn shrimp in 1974, and Cheddar Bay Biscuits hit the menu in 1992. The all-you-can-eat Endless Shrimp promotion began in 2004, but it led to $11 million in losses in the third quarter of 2023.
Despite several closures in Central Florida, the Lakeland location at 3706 US Hwy. 98 N. near the Lakeland Square Mall is still alive and well. Want to get a glimpse inside the original restaurant? It’s now paying homage to its seafood roots as Lakeland Fishing Outfitters Tackle Shop — just look for the building with the sealife murals on Lake Parker.
