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By Willie Brown
When I heard the news that Red Lobster is closing nearly 50 of its U.S. restaurants, my heart sank a little. It’s been such a staple in my family, for celebrations and just for a nice evening out.
While the Inglewood location is safe, our neighbors in Torrance will have to say goodbye to the restaurant on Hawthorne Blvd.
I’ve always loved the fresh, delicious entrees and the cheesy biscuits are to die for. But when I read the back story, I grew to love Red Lobster even more.
It all began in 1938 when Bill Darden opened his first restaurant, the Green Frog. It opened in Georgia amid the Great Depression and racial segregation.
Regardless of these conditions, however, there was no backdoor policy for Black folks at any of Darden’s restaurants. Darden allowed his Black and White customers to sit wherever they wished. This was a bold move for the outspoken restauranteur—one that could have ended his business career or even his life. He chose to do the right thing—and in doing so, the Green Frog became more popular and more lucrative.
In 1968, Darden parlayed his earnings from the Green Frog and opened the first Red Lobster in Lakeland, Florida. According to reports, just one month later, the restaurant was so popular he had to open another one right away to keep up with the demand. Today, there are approximately 700 restaurants occupying 20 states.
Darden died in 1994 at age 75.
Red Lobster is currently considering filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to address rising overhead and the financially unsuccessful all-you-can-eat shrimp promotion.
Darden Restaurants, Inc. is currently headquartered in Orlando, Florida, and owns and operates numerous restaurant chains, including Olive Garden Italian Restaurant, Yard House and LongHorn Steakhouse.
The next time you’re in the mood for a nice dinner, consider patronizing a Darden Restaurant in honor of the man who made a statement against racism through the way he conducted business.
