The Toco Hills location of LongHorn Steakhouse was destroyed in a early morning fire two months ago today. The cause of the blaze has not been made public and the decimated building sits idle, as yet undemolished.
A number of readers have asked via comments and emails for an update as to when the restaurant will reopen. While there is a message on review site Yelp.com claiming the LongHorn would reopen September 30th, I've verified that is most definely untrue.
LongHorn is part of the Orlando-based restaurant juggernaut Darden Restaurants. I contacted Heidi Schauer, media relations contact for the LongHorn brand, to inquire about the reopening timetable. Unfortunately, Ms. Schauer claimed she could neither confirm nor deny when or if the Toco Hills LongHorn would reopen. Ms. Schauer did state that an update should be available "soon."
Darden Restaurants also owns Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, The Capital Grille, Eddie V's, and Yard House. Darden completed the sale of their former flagship brand, Red Lobster, to Gold Gate Capital last month in a deal valued at $2.1 billion. Late last month, Darden Chairman & CEO Clarence Otis announced he was stepping down, but will stay on as CEO until a successor is named or December 31, whichever comes first. Otis joined Darden in 1995.