Bloomin' Brands is Closing Restaurants. Good Luck Finding Out Which Ones, Michigan.
Alright, folks, buckle up. Bloomin' Brands, the corporate behemoth behind Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's, Bonefish Grill, and even the fancy-pants Fleming's, just dropped a bombshell. Or, more accurately, they dropped a vague, corporate-speak-laced press release that's about as clear as mud. They're shutting down 21 restaurants, and another 22 leases? Poof, gone. Expiring over the next four years, they say. But here’s the kicker, the part that really grinds my gears: they ain't telling us which ones. Especially not for places like Michigan, where these chains are practically a staple. Outback, Carrabba's owner closing restaurants. Are any in Michigan?
This isn't just a business decision; it's a transparency vacuum. They're playing a shell game with people's livelihoods and our dinner plans, and honestly... it's insulting.
The Corporate Smoke Screen
Let's dissect this, shall we? CEO Mike Spanos, bless his heart, is out there talking about "great momentum" and "positive comparable store sales growth." Oh, really, Mike? You've got "momentum" while simultaneously slamming the brakes on 43 locations? That's like saying your car has "great acceleration" right before it drives off a cliff. Give me a break.
He spouts off about a "turnaround strategy" for Outback, focusing on "strategic investments" and paying down debt. And how are they funding this brilliant maneuver? By suspending the dividend. See, that’s the real tell. When the folks at the top stop paying out to shareholders, it ain't because things are booming. It's because they're circling the wagons, trying to shore up the balance sheet. It’s not a turnaround strategy. No, 'strategy' implies a thoughtful, proactive plan—this is a frantic scramble to plug holes in a sinking ship. They're just shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic, hoping we don't notice the iceberg. This whole press release reads like a magician's act: "Look over here at our 'momentum'!" while they're quietly making a bunch of restaurants disappear behind their backs.
They expect us to believe this nonsense, and honestly... it's a masterclass in corporate doublespeak. They're selling us a story about growth while their actions scream "cut losses."
Michigan's Waiting Game
And what about us, the actual diners, the people who might actually go to these places? Bloomin' Brands has locations scattered all over Michigan. We're talking Outbacks in Ann Arbor, Canton, Livonia, Traverse City. Carrabba's in Lansing, Novi, Troy. Bonefish in Grand Rapids and Novi. And Fleming's, for those feeling fancy, also in Novi and Grand Rapids. That's a lot of potential "poof, gone" signs for a lot of communities.
Imagine you're a regular, you drive past your local Outback, maybe the one in Saginaw, and you just see a dark parking lot. No cars. You pull up, squinting, trying to make out if there’s a hastily scrawled "Closed" sign taped to the door, the smell of stale steak sauce lingering in the air. That's the kind of uncertainty these corporate suits are dumping on people. Why can't they just be upfront? Is it really that hard to release a list? Are they worried about some kind of mass exodus of employees, or a collective sigh of disappointment from folks who just wanted a Bloomin' Onion? I mean, who knows why these specific locations are underperforming? Was it bad management? Sky-high leases? Or maybe, just maybe, people are getting sick of paying top dollar for mediocre chain food.
The fact that USA TODAY even had to request a list of closings and got no response? That tells you everything you need to know about how much they value transparency. It's a classic move: drop the bad news, then clam up and hope it blows over.
Distraction Tactics and the Real Cost
But wait, there's more! While Bloomin' Brands is playing hide-and-seek with its closures, Outback Steakhouse is out there, a few days earlier, loudly announcing a free three-course meal for veterans, active-duty military, and first responders on Veterans Day. Is Outback Steakhouse offering free meals on Veterans Day? Here’s what you need to know. Don't get me wrong, supporting our vets and first responders is a noble cause. Absolutely. But the timing? Chef's kiss for cynical PR.
It's almost too perfect, isn't it? "Hey, we're maybe shutting down your local restaurant, but look over here! Free steak for heroes!" It's a classic misdirection play, a shiny object to distract from the fact that they're shedding locations like a snake sheds its skin. While people are wondering if their jobs are safe, or if their favorite Friday night spot is about to vanish, Outback wants them to focus on a free meal. It's a calculated move, and it's something we should all be wary of. It shows a profound disconnect between the corporate strategy and the human impact. This isn't just about numbers on a spreadsheet; it's about communities, employees, and the small rituals of everyday life.