Longhorn Steakhouse and Olive Garden, two nationwide eateries owned by Darden Restaurants, have announced that they will be closed on Christmas Day. The purpose is to allow employees to enjoy the holiday with their loved ones, according to The Sun.
When will LongHorn and Olive Garden reopen after Christmas?
LongHorn Steakhouse will close at 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve and reopen on the day after Christmas. Olive Garden, which is closing all of its 900 locations on Christmas, is also expected to resume business on Dec. 26. Customers are encouraged to check the schedule of their local restaurants to see which Olive Garden locations will be closed on Christmas Eve.
“Depending on the amount of business on the day before these holidays, the restaurants may close early,” the company said on its website, according to The Sun. “We leave this decision to the discretion of the management team.”
As noted by the company, locations in Hawaii, Guam and Puerto Rico and other international branches may have different holiday schedules.
While many restaurants have been struggling in the current economy in recent months, Olive Garden is telling its customers that the Christmas Day closure is unrelated to financial struggles. Instead, they insist it’s simply a chance to show gratitude to their employees.
Cracker Barrel and Taco Bell will also be closed on Christmas
Several other restaurants and various retailers also plan to close their doors on Christmas Day, including Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, Taco Bell, Chili’s and Cracker Barrel, as well as Hobby Lobby, T.J. Maxx and Marshalls. Additionally, all 52 of IKEA’s locations will be closed on Christmas Day.