Note: This story was updated with gift card redemption details.
Carrabba’s Italian Grill has quietly closed its North Palm Beach location, leaving longtime fans wondering what happened to the popular chain’s northernmost Palm Beach County outpost.
Bloomin’ Brands spokesperson Elizabeth Daly, representing Carrabba’s parent company, said the lease at the 11201 U.S. Highway 1 location is expiring.
The restaurant’s final day of service was Sept. 28.
Employees were offered the opportunity to transfer to nearby Carrabba’s locations and received a transition bonus.
“We truly appreciate the community’s support over the past 20 years,” Daly said.
The North Palm Beach Carrabba’s was part of the Shoppes at City Centre, a retail plaza built in 1999 whose tenants include Sherwin-Williams, The UPS Store and More Space Place.
Community reaction online to Carrabba’s closing in North Palm Beach
Carrabba’s closure sparked a wave of heartfelt reactions on Nextdoor, where longtime patrons mourned the loss of what many described as a “go-to” neighborhood spot.
Posters expressed sadness over the sudden shutdown, especially for the staff. Several lamented the end of the restaurant’s monthly wine dinners and praised the consistency of its food, particularly lentil soup, pork chops and steaks to-go.
While a few commenters offered alternatives, most agreed: Carrabba’s was more than a chain — it was a community fixture.
The closure left many feeling blindsided, especially with season just around the corner.
Some speculated about rising rents and redevelopment plans for the plaza, while others shared memories of friendly servers and favorite dishes.
Corporate cuts
As Fortune reported last year, Tampa-based Bloomin’ Brands announced it would shutter dozens of underperforming restaurants across its portfolio, which includes Outback Steakhouse, Bonefish Grill, Fleming’s and Carrabba’s.
Then-CEO David Deno explained the closures were part of a periodic asset review and primarily affected older restaurants with leases dating back to the 1990s and early 2000s.
While the company did not release a full list of the dozens of affected locations, reports confirmed closures in multiple states. The Boca Raton Carrabba’s also appears to have been affected late last year.
Is my Carrabba’s gift card still valid?
For now, Carrabba’s fans in northern Palm Beach County will need to travel south to enjoy the chain’s signature chicken Bryan or linguine Positano. The nearest remaining locations include Boynton Beach and Royal Palm Beach where Carrabba’s gift cards are accepted.
Carrabba’s gift cards remain valid and can be sometimes be used at other Bloomin’ Brands restaurants, including Outback Steakhouse, Bonefish Grill and Fleming’s.
Check the back of your card to show where it can be redeemed. Bloomin’ offers both single concept cards as well as multiple concept cards. When there’s only Carrabba’s designated on the back of the card, it can only be redeemed at Carrabba’s.
Diana Biederman is the Palm Beach Post’s new food & restaurant writer. Care to share news tips about the local dining scene? Please send them to dbiederman@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
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