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Outback Steakhouse Closes 21 Locations With More on the Way (Is Your Spot at Risk?)

Outback's parent company is fighting slowing traffic and rising costs.

By Josh Koebert , Edited by Andrea Basse

Updated Sept. 22, 2026

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Outback Steakhouse has been a familiar stop for birthdays, casual date nights, and dependable comfort food. But behind the scenes, the chain is going through a major reset. In November 2025, Bloomin' Brands disclosed that it had quietly closed 21 U.S. restaurants across its portfolio, which includes Carrabba's, Bonefish Grill, Fleming's, and Outback Steakhouse. More closures have happened since, with more potentially on the way.

If you want to stretch your restaurant budget, these closures raise an important question: Is your local Outback at risk? Here's what's driving the shutdowns, how many more restaurants could disappear, and what Bloomin' Brands says it's doing to turn things around.

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How many Outback locations have already closed?

Bloomin' Brands confirmed that 21 of its U.S. restaurants, which include brands like Outback, Bonefish Grill, and Carrabba's Italian Grill locations, closed during the three-month period ending in late September.

The shutdowns were completed in October 2025, though it is unknown how many of these were Outback Steakhouse locations. The company has not released a full list of addresses, making it difficult for customers to track exactly which communities were affected.

Some confirmed closures occurred in Florida, Outback's home state, but executives have not named all locations. That lack of transparency has left many loyal diners wondering if their neighborhood restaurant could be next.

In 2026, Bloomin' Brands closed 19 U.S. restaurants during the first half of the year, according to its latest reported restaurant counts.

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Why is Bloomin' Brands closing locations?

Bloomin' Brands' closures are part of a broader effort to deal with underperforming restaurants, rather than a sudden collapse. The company says many of the shuttered locations were older, high-cost stores that no longer matched customer expectations or traffic patterns.

Casual dining has become far more competitive, with diners gravitating toward chains that are more affordable or have a more modern experience. Outback has struggled to keep pace, particularly as rivals posted stronger sales growth and higher traffic.

More Outback closures are planned over the next four years

Bloomin' Brands has closed at least 48 U.S. restaurants since October 2025, according to the company's reported restaurant counts through the second quarter of 2026. More closures are expected to happen gradually over the next several years.

This means the company is taking a long-term approach, trimming weaker locations as leases expire rather than rushing into mass shutdowns. For customers, that creates ongoing uncertainty about which restaurants may quietly disappear.

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How many Outback Steakhouse locations remain?

Despite the closures, Outback remains a large national chain. According to company disclosures, there are still 659 Outback Steakhouse locations operating across the U.S., as of June 2026.

While the brand still has significant reach, it's no longer expanding aggressively the way it once did during its peak years.

How is Outback performing financially right now?

Outback Steakhouse is showing modest signs of improvement, but its turnaround is still a work in progress. In the second quarter of 2026, U.S. comparable sales increased 1.4%, while customer traffic fell 2.8%, suggesting higher spending per visit is helping offset fewer customers. For the first half of 2026, comparable sales rose 0.5%, compared with a 0.9% decline a year earlier. Bloomin' Brands has also raised its full-year 2026 adjusted earnings guidance. Still, continued closures and declining traffic show Outback has more work to do.

What the suspended dividend says about the company's priorities

One notable move was Bloomin' Brands' decision to suspend its shareholder dividend. That money will instead be used to pay down debt and fund renovations and operational improvements.

For everyday diners, this signals seriousness about survival. The company is choosing long-term stability over short-term payouts, a common step when a business believes changes are necessary to remain competitive in a tightening economy.

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What is Bloomin' Brands' "comprehensive turnaround strategy?"

Bloomin' Brands says the closures are only one piece of a broader turnaround plan centered on Outback. The company plans to invest $50 million dollars over the next few years to refresh menus, improve service, and renovate restaurants.

Key changes include highlighting steak quality, simplifying menus, offering more value-focused deals, and reducing the number of tables each server handles. The goal is to improve both the dining experience and employee retention simultaneously.

Renovations are also coming to remaining Outback restaurants

Nearly all remaining Outback locations are also expected to be renovated by the end of 2028. The redesigned restaurants will feature brighter interiors, updated bars, and layouts better suited for takeout and pickup orders.

These renovations signal that Bloomin' Brands is not abandoning Outback, but rather betting on a smaller, more modern footprint. For diners, that could mean fewer locations overall, but a noticeably different experience at the ones that remain.

What Outback customers may miss and what could improve

Longtime fans may miss familiar dining rooms or nearby locations that quietly close without much notice. Fewer Outbacks could mean longer drives or less convenient options for casual steak dinners.

At the same time, Bloomin' Brands hopes customers will notice better service, improved food quality, and clearer value pricing to help eliminate some money stress. Whether those improvements are enough to win back diners remains an open question.

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Bottom line

Outback Steakhouse isn't disappearing, but it is shrinking and reinventing itself. For diners watching every dollar, now is a smart time to prepare yourself financially as restaurants adjust pricing, locations, and value offers.

If your local Outback is still open, it may soon look very different. And if it's gone, the closures offer a reminder that even familiar brands are feeling pressure in today's economy and adapting however they can.

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