Jake and Spike skeptical of Red Lobster’s rebrand: ‘They wanna sell vibes’
Jul 1, 2025, 5:58 PM
A sign is posted in front of a Red Lobster restaurant on May 14, 2024. (Photo: Justin Sullivan, Getty Images)
(Photo: Justin Sullivan, Getty Images)
After bouncing back from bankruptcy, Red Lobster is making a comeback, CBS News reported in June. The seafood restaurant chain is changing up its menu with new summer cocktails and seafood boils, according to Food and Wine.
“The restaurant was about to go bankrupt, and my world was about to get a little bit safer,” KIRO host Jake Skorheim said begrudgingly as he’s allergic to shellfish. “And now they’re back, they have a new CEO changing things up for Gen Zers, and they wanna sell vibes.”
KIRO host Spike O’Neill has observed a decline in mid-level dining experiences for families.
“The restaurant industry, as we know, is a tough ship to sail any time of day,” Spike said on “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio. “Red Lobster had, they say, the perfect storm of financial troubles.”
Red Lobster lost $76 million in 2023 and closed dozens of restaurants, according to CBS News. However, now that the chain has been bought by a lender group led by Fortress, it expects to operate around 544 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Red Lobster also gained new CEO Damola Adamolekun, the media outlet reported, the former chief executive of P.F. Chang’s.
Red Lobster’s new Crabfest menu
Adamolekun introduced a new Crabfest menu, including a Mariner’s Boil, Sailor’s Boil, Crabby Stuffed Mushrooms, crab-topped asparagus, crab-topped potato, Steak Oscar, and Salmon Oscar, according to Food and Wine. The menu also features new drinks, including the Purple Haze by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, Passion Star Spritz, and Starry Eyed Surprise.
However, Jake said he isn’t sure if the new lineup will be successful.
“I don’t know if this is going to work for the Gen Zers, because they don’t drink alcohol,” he said. “We did this story recently, not drinking, stepping away from the bottle. I don’t know what’s going on with them, but they’re not drinking.”
Listen to the full conversation below.
Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.
