No more Tours of Italy with unlimited breadsticks in Maplewood. The Olive Garden in Maplewood Commons closed permanently on Saturday.
A sign posted on the front door stated: “Permanent Closure, Beginning August 15, 2015 this location will be closed. We apologize for any inconvenience.”
See also: Arrivederci, Olive Garden
Red Lobster, next to it, has a different parent company and will remain open according to an employee there Saturday night. Red Lobster was owned by Darden Restaurants, Olive Garden’s parent company, but was sold to Golden Gate Capital about a year ago.
Olive Garden employed 80 workers and four managers, St. Louis Business Journal reported.
An Olive Garden closed in Philadelphia on Friday, Philly.com reported. “A Darden representative said the chain continually evaluates the performance of its restaurant locations.”
Update: Olive Garden manager of media relations and communications, Hunter Robinson, said in an email Monday morning: “Closing this restaurant is a difficult business decision, and I can promise you it’s one we made very carefully and thoughtfully, particularly because it impacts our employees and our guests. In no way does this reflect on the quality of our employees’ work, and we’re doing everything we can to help every team member find a new job.”
He said every Maplewood employee was offered a job at other area Olive Gardens; in Affton and Bridgeton.
Yeah, no doubt. Like a straight on saddleup on the three pound mosquito. Woot to the snoots. Dont look for clues here, pieneigh. The answer is in the shed. THE SHED!
end transmission.
Agreed – I always forgot about it completely when we were thinking of where to eat out!
Not surprised. You hardly knew it was there. Very poor location for a restaurant.