Steakhouse dining chains have faced a challenging year of rising beef prices, which increased by 9.4% year-over-year in July 2026, making it harder for many restaurants to maintain profitable businesses and keep their doors open.
Among the restaurant chains implementing plans to improve their business performance is Bloomin' Brands' Outback Steakhouse, which has closed locations that no longer make economic sense to operate.
Outback Steakhouse is closing two more of its restaurants about 10 months after the chain's owner Bloomin' Brands launched a multi-year turnaround strategy that will eliminate locations that lack the potential for growth.
The 38-year-old steakhouse chain abruptly closed its Evansville, Wyo., location on Aug. 23, 2026, and posted a farewell note on its front door.
"G'Day Casper/Evansville: Outback Steakhouse is now closed. Thank you for all your support over the last 21 years. It has been a pleasure working with so many great, local Outbackers over the years. To all the fond memories!!! Cheers, The Outback Team," the note stated.

#closed

Perez Hilton remains hospitalized and is "receiving the medical care he needs" nearly two weeks after he appeared to harm himself on a TikTok livestream, his family confirmed in a post on Hilton's blog, which also announced Hilton's team will resume publishing content this week.
Perez Hilton was reportedly hospitalized after an apparent mental health episode on a livestream. (Photo by Denise Truscello/Getty Images for BOA Steakhouse Las Vegas)
In the latest update from Hilton's family, they said in a blog post Sunday night Hilton "remains hospitalized" and is receiving treatment from both medical and mental health professionals.
Hilton's family thanked fans for support and said Hilton's team would resume posting news and content on Hilton's blog this week.
Hilton's sister, Barbara Lavandeira, spoke with Page Six last week, describing Hilton's livestream incident as "one of the darkest days my family and I have ever experienced," saying she found Hilton in his bathroom before fleeing the house with his children and calling the police.

#blog

Bloomin' Brands raised its full-year earnings guidance Wednesday after higher menu prices pushed second-quarter profit above ***** yst expectations. The owner of Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, and Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar reported net income of $31.3 million, or 36 cents a share, for the quarter ended June 28, up from $25.4 million, or 30 cents a share, a year earlier.
Adjusted earnings per share came in at 39 cents. ***** ysts had expected 29 cents, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Total revenue rose 1.3% to $1.02 billion. ***** ysts had projected $1.00 billion.
U.S. comparable restaurant sales grew 2.3% in the quarter. Bonefish Grill posted the strongest gain among the company's chains, with an 8.1% increase. Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, and Fleming's each rose more than 1%. The company said revenue growth was driven by higher comparable restaurant sales, partially offset by net restaurant closures.
Higher menu prices lifted the per-guest tab, which the company said was the key driver of improved margins during the period. Spending on the Outback turnaround plan also declined during the period, contributing to lower general and administrative costs and a wider operating margin.

#cents #Share #restaurant

Bloomin' Brands (NASDAQ:BLMN) shares surged around 20% in pre-market trading after the restaurant operator reported second-quarter results that exceeded Wall Street expectations and raised its earnings guidance for the full year.
The company posted adjusted earnings of $0.39 per share, outperforming the ***** yst consensus estimate of $0.29 by $0.10. Revenue increased 1.3% year over year to $1.02 billion, exceeding market expectations of $1.0 billion.
Bloomin' Brands recorded U.S. comparable restaurant sales growth of 2.3% during the quarter.
Bonefish Grill led the group's performance with comparable sales growth of 8.1%, followed by Carrabba's Italian Grill at 1.7%, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar at 1.6% and Outback Steakhouse at 1.4%.
Following the stronger-than-expected quarter, Bloomin' Brands increased its adjusted earnings guidance for fiscal 2026.

#bloomin #year #grill #market

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For the second straight quarter, Bloomin' Brands stock is soaring after the company reported encouraging results from Outback Steakhouse.
Bloomin's share price was up 35% as of midday Wednesday, to $12.04, and has now increased more than 88% year to date.
It reflects continued progress at the 662-unit Outback, which is in the midst of a turnaround effort after falling behind its steakhouse competitors in recent years. In the quarter that ended on June 28, Outback's same-store sales rose 1.4% year over year, their highest mark since the first quarter of 2023.
Traffic was still down 2.8%. Executives noted that the chain did not run third-party delivery promotions in the quarter that drove traffic a year ago but were less profitable.

#outback #brands

Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton's family and team confirmed he is "able to communicate" and is receiving medical care after he was hospitalized following a disturbing TikTok livestream in which he appeared to harm himself.
Perez Hilton was reportedly hospitalized after an apparent mental health episode on a livestream. (Photo by Denise Truscello/Getty Images for BOA Steakhouse Las Vegas)
A statement posted to Hilton's blog Wednesday evening, signed by his team and family, said Hilton is "able to communicate, which has given our family hope," though this has been a "difficult" time as "very little information has been made available to our family."
In another statement posted to Hilton's blog hours earlier, his team and family confirmed he is "receiving medical care" and his "family's focus right now is on his well-being," thanking fans for their support.
Hilton, a gossip blogger whose real name is Mario Lavandeira, was taken to a hospital late Tuesday, the Miami-Dade County Sheriff's Office confirmed to multiple outlets, after his disturbing livestream prompted police calls from multiple fans.

#family

Cracker Barrel will soon have a new leader.
The company announced on July 27 CEO Julie Masino will step down as CEO and member of the board effective Aug. 10. Masino will be replaced by David Deno, most recently the CEO of Bloomin' Brands, the owner of casual restaurant chains such as Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill and Bonefish Grill.
Masino will remain with Cracker Barrel as an adviser until Oct. 9, the company said.
"Following a robust and thoughtful search process, we are pleased to welcome David as Cracker Barrel's next CEO," said Carl Berquist, independent chairman of the Cracker Barrel board, in a news release. "He brings decades of experience across the restaurant and retail industries, with a strong track record of leading businesses through growth and a demonstrated commitment to operational excellence, guest experience, and team member engagement."
Deno said in the news release he is "honored to lead the Cracker Barrel team" and looks forward to "unlocking the full potential of this remarkable brand." Deno began his tenure as CEO of Bloomin' Brands in 2019, having previously served as the company's executive vice president and chief financial officer from 2012 to 2019.

#barrel #masino

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Cracker Barrel is changing CEOs as it works to regain traffic and trust from guests.
The company announced Monday that David Deno will become CEO and join the board of directors effective August 10. He replaces Julie Masino, who has led Cracker Barrel since November 2023 and will step down from the top role and board on the same date. Masino will stay with the company in an advisory role through October 9 to ******* ist with the transition.
Deno brings decades of restaurant experience to the position, including five years as CEO of Bloomin' Brands, parent company of Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, and Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar. He joined Bloomin' Brands in 2012 as CFO before taking over as CEO in 2019. He previously held senior positions at Best Buy, Yum! Brands, Pizza Hut, and Burger King.
During Deno's tenure, Bloomin' credited him with strengthening profitability and its balance sheet, including navigating the company through the COVID pandemic and optimizing its international portfolio. He retired from the CEO position in 2024.

#barrel #deno #steakhouse

While markets data shows that the global market for dining out is projected to grow from $1.9 trillion now to more than $3 trillion by 2030, many individual chains that were popular in another era are struggling to survive amid changing consumer trends.
U.S. chains like Smokey Bones, Peet's Coffee, and Joe's Crab Shack have collectively closed dozens of locations this year. Meanwhile, over in the United Kingdom, Leon and The Real Greek both nearly halved their store locations in 2026 despite once going through a period of rapid expansion that made them well-recognized chains in the country's major cities.
With the first location opening in the Greater London borough of Enfield in 1974, the restaurant chain Beefeater has, over several generations, earned a reputation for being a family-friendly steakhouse chain serving grilled steak cuts, burgers, and fish and chips at more accessible prices.
At its peak, the chain had approximately 140 standalone and Brewers Fayre brewery-attached locations in the United Kingdom and Ireland. But amid soaring operating costs the hotel and dining company Whitbread confirmed plans to shutter all remaining 106 restaurants by September.
Earlier in the year, Whitbread announced a restructuring plan that aims to bring down annual costs down costs by £250 million ($333 million USD).

#kingdom

(Refiles to correct dateline)
By Nicolás Misculin
BUENOS AIRES, July 16 (Reuters) - Higher global beef prices and new trade deals under President Javier Milei are encouraging Argentina's ranchers to raise heavier cattle, betting on a sustained export boom that could reshape the country's meat industry.
One **** yst said they expect exports from Argentina — ‌famous for its asado barbecues, steakhouses and world-leading per capita beef consumption — to rise by as much as 50% over the next four years, building on strong ‌export revenue growth already seen in 2026.
The shift marks a break from a longstanding model focused heavily on domestic consumption, as ranchers respond to stronger overseas demand from a range of markets, including the United States, Israel, Europe and China, alongside fresh trade opportunities created by new agreements with the U.S. and European Union.

We recently published Bill Miller Portfolio: Top 10 Stock Picks. Bloomin' Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ:BLMN) is one of the top stock picks.
Bloomin' Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ:BLMN) is a new appearance in Miller Value's 13F holdings as the firm disclosed two million shares worth $10.9 million in its first quarter filings. The stock is down by 17.9% over the past year and is up by 30.7% year-to-date. Depending on when Miller Value added the shares, the decision might have been a wise one. This is because Bloomin' Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ:BLMN)'s stock closed a whopping 41% higher on May 6th. On the 6th, the firm posted its fiscal first quarter earnings report before markets opened at Eastern time. The results saw Bloomin' Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ:BLMN) post $1.1 billion in revenue and $0.65 in earnings per share to meet ******* yst revenue estimates and beat them for earnings.
With the restaurant sector struggling, the results marked a nice breath of fresh air. Bloomin' Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ:BLMN)'s comparable sales grew by 0.9% in the first quarter to reverse the 0.5% drop in the previous quarter. The firm's Bonefish Grill brand grew sales by 6% while sales at Outback Steakhouse dipped by 0.3%.
While we acknowledge the risk and potential of BLMN as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than BLMN and that has 10,000% upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, the award-winning, polished-casual American restaurant and steakhouse, announced the appointment of Florence Ho as the Company's new Chief Marketing Officer, effective July 7. Ms. Ho brings more than 25 years of marketing leadership to Firebirds, with a track record of driving meaningful business growth for both emerging and well-established hospitality, lifestyle, and consumer brands.
"I'm delighted to welcome Florence to the Firebirds team at a pivotal moment as we continue our growth nationally," said Steve Kislow, Chief Executive Officer, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill. "Florence brings a combination of creativity, ***** ytical insight, and hands-on marketing leadership that will be instrumental as we continue to grow the Firebirds brand and deepen our connection with guests. Her track record of building high-performing marketing teams and driving measurable results makes her the right leader to take Firebirds' marketing efforts to the next level, including evolving our Inner Circle program into a best-in-class loyalty experience for our guests."
Ms. Ho most recently served as Senior Vice President of Marketing, Loyalty and Customer Experience at Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants, where she played a key role in brand-building during a period of rapid expansion that more than doubled the concept's unit count. Over more than six years, Ms. Ho built the company's digital marketing program from the ground up and successfully enhanced loyalty and CRM programming for Cooper's Hawk, growing its namesake Wine Club membership by more than 1.5x and significantly strengthening its social media presence, while delivering industry-leading Net Promoter Scores.
"Firebirds is a beloved restaurant brand defined by craft, hospitality, and an exceptional guest experience that keeps people coming back," said Ms. Ho. "What excites me most about joining Firebirds is the opportunity to combine its fiery brand heritage with modern, data-driven marketing to grow broader awareness of the concept and create meaningful and lasting relationships with our guests. I look forward to partnering with Steve and the entire leadership team to write the next chapter in Firebirds' story."
Prior to her role at Cooper's Hawk, Ms. Ho spent a decade at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, where she held senior marketing and loyalty leadership roles across a portfolio of more than 20 brands at scale. She has also served in marketing and ***** ytics leadership positions at well-known brands including Mercedes-Benz USA, Kraft Foods, and Gartner. Ms. Ho holds a PhD in Economics from the City University of New York and a Bachelor of Arts, Economics from the College of William & Mary.

High labor and food costs have severely impacted the restaurant sector, with recent economic setbacks forcing establishments out of business.
The rising cost of beef has been detrimental for U.S. steakhouses leading some popular restaurants to permanently close locations.
An increase in the cost of beef led to steak prices spiking 16% to $12.73 per pound in March 2026, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. This affected menu prices and discouraged some diners from dining in steakhouses, reducing restaurant revenue.
Several steakhouses have closed locations in the U.S. over the last three months including Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar, McCormick & Schmick's, Stoney River Steakhouse and Grill, and Quaker Steak & Lube.
And now, iconic dining chain Claim Jumper Steakhouse & Bar closed its 41st restaurant since 2010, as it quietly shut down its San Bernardino, Calif., location on June 23.

High labor and food costs have severely impacted the restaurant sector, with recent economic setbacks forcing establishments out of business.
The rising cost of beef has been detrimental for U.S. steakhouses leading some popular restaurants to permanently close locations.
An increase in the cost of beef led to steak prices spiking 16% to $12.73 per pound in March 2026, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. This affected menu prices and discouraged some diners from dining in steakhouses, reducing restaurant revenue.
Several steakhouses have closed locations in the U.S. over the last three months including Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar, McCormick & Schmick's, Stoney River Steakhouse and Grill, and Quaker Steak & Lube.
And now, iconic dining chain Claim Jumper Steakhouse & Bar closed its 41st restaurant since 2010, as it quietly shut down its San Bernardino, Calif., location on June 23.

A real estate company is suing country music stars Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan as well as former MLB player Adam LaRoche following the closure of their Nashville steakhouse.
Village 21 Investment Partners LLC is seeking more than $1.4 million in damages, claiming the closure was a default on their lease agreement, the lawsuit filed in Davidson County Circuit Court reads.
According to the complaint, the trio previously operated a restaurant called E3 Chophouse but "stopped paying the monthly rent and abruptly closed the restaurant" in February.
The steakhouse, located in the city's Hillsboro Village neighborhood, opened its doors in 2019 and is one of two in the country. The other location, owned by LaRoche and his brothers Jeff and Andy, is in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and opened in 2013.
"Nashville − we're hitting pause," the E3 Chophouse Nashville website read on Tuesday, June 23. "We're temporarily pausing operations as we evaluate what Nashville needs next. Our team is **** sing market opportunities and exploring potential rebrand and re-concept strategies for the future of this location."

Rising food costs driven by inflation have been a problem for U.S. steakhouses ranging from high-end to budget establishments, leading some well-known restaurants to permanently shut their doors and in some cases file for bankruptcy
An increase in the cost of beef that led to steak prices spiking 16% to $12.73 per pound in March 2026, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, affected menu prices and discouraged some diners from dining in steakhouses, taking a bite out of restaurant revenue.
Steakhouses that have closed locations in the U.S. over the last three months have included Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar, McCormick & Schmick's, and Stoney River Steakhouse and Grill, with Quaker Steak & Lube about to close one, too.
A Golden Corral restaurant franchisee, Conroe Corral Murphy LLC, however filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Texas on June 8 and continues to operate.
Outback Steakhouse's owner Bloomin' Brands closed 21 locations in 2025 and said it would close another 22 locations in 2026 as leases expire, according to its third quarter earnings call.

Even chain restaurants have to continually reinvent themselves to stay fresh with customers. That means menu innovation, and evolving the concept.
"The lifeblood of the restaurant industry is new items. You need something to speak about," Panda Restaurant Group Chief Supply Chain Officer Roland Ornelas told Restaurant Dive, adding, "You have to really focus on that value to guests — but you also have to steal customers from your competitors."
It's not just a question of change for change sake, but also executing in way that makes sense to customers.
Outback Steakhouse, a 38-year-old chain, has struggled in recent years with its menu, its execution, and keeping customers coming back. That led to Bloomin' Brands deciding to close some restaurants while overhauling most of the rest of the chain.
"This year, we completed a detailed review of our restaurant base and identified 21 underperforming restaurants, which we closed last week. We also identified 22 restaurants in which we would not renew the lease," Bloomin' Brands CFO Eric Christel shared during the company's third-quarter 2025 earnings call.

LongHorn Steakhouse

My Mom and I came in for a nice dinner. We were seated without waiting on a Thursday evening at about 6:00pm. Our server was very attentive. We were seated in a quiet area, which was great, as we... More

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