Discover the unexpected closure of Secaucus’ Bonefish Grill after 19 years. This article covers the reasons, the impact on employees, and the community’s reaction to losing a beloved dining spot.
- Bonefish Grill in Secaucus closed suddenly on February 23, ending a 19-year operation.
- The closure is part of a larger strategy by Bloomin’ Brands, affecting 41 locations nationwide.
- While some employees may transfer, others will receive severance packages, marking a significant community impact.
A Sudden Announcement
In a move that left the Secaucus community in disbelief, the Bonefish Grill, a favorite local dining spot, has shut its doors for good. This announcement on February 23 ended its 19-year presence, where it was famous for its great happy hours, delicious meals, and being the chosen place for many special moments.
The news of the closing came all of a sudden, catching everyone off guard, especially the workers who found out the same day the restaurant stopped serving. Even Mayor Mike Gonnelli was taken aback, highlighting how sudden the decision was. This closure was part of a bigger plan by Bloomin’ Brands, the company that owns Bonefish Grill.
They shut down 41 of their restaurants all over the country that day, including other Bonefish Grills, Outback Steakhouses, Carrabba’s Italian Grills, and Fleming’s.
More restaurants closings. Bloomin’ Brands, which owns Outback Steakhouse, Bonefish Grill, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, has closed 41 underperforming locations permanently. Secaucus Bone Fish closed permanently.
— Adele Amato Tamburo (@AdeleSellsNJ) March 1, 2024
Reasons Behind the Closure
Elizabeth Daly, speaking for Bloomin’ Brands, explained that shutting down the restaurant was a business choice, pointing out it wasn’t because the restaurant’s team or managers were doing a bad job. The company decided to close some of its older restaurants to make its business run smoother. Even though the Bonefish Grill in Secaucus was a favorite among local people, visitors, and folks traveling for work, it was still chosen to be closed because it was one of these older spots.
Impact on Employees and the Community
The shutting down of the restaurant has really affected the people who worked there, many of whom live in Secaucus. Some workers might get to work at different locations, but the rest will be given severance packages. This impacts the employees and means fewer places to eat for the people living in town and the visitors staying in nearby hotels, who liked going to Bonefish Grill a lot.
Looking Forward
As the town deals with the closing of its Bonefish Grill, the company behind it, Bloomin’ Brands, points out that you can still visit their other restaurants in Paramus and Pine Brook. Besides Bonefish Grill, this company also runs Outback Steakhouse and Carrabba’s Italian Grill, and thankfully, the Outback Steakhouse in Secaucus is still open for business.
The Final Day
On its final day, the restaurant was open like usual, and at the end of the day, the employees were told it was closing down. Now, they’re starting to take down the Bonefish Grill signs and throwing out tables, chairs, and other stuff. This really shows that it’s the end of a chapter for eating out in Secaucus.
