The Australian-themed Outback Steakhouse chain in Hong Kong is set to close 9 locations in Hong Kong on Aug. 4 as a result of changing dining habits in the city putting pressure on F&B businesses to turn a profit.
In an email sent to Outback Steakhouse customers, the American-owned restaurant chain wrote, “[w]e want to express our deepest gratitude for your continued support and patronage. It has been a privilege to serve you at our locations in Hong Kong, and we are genuinely thankful for the relationships we have built with you over the years.”
“We look forward to welcoming you at our 10 Outback restaurants and continuing to serve you with the same commitment to quality and excellence that you have come to expect from the Outback brand.”
It is reported that more than 300 staff of the Bloomin’ Brands company are set to lose their jobs in the closure. The statement read, “we would ensure that they are treated with the utmost respect and sensitivity.”
The Outback Steakhouse locations closing – Tseung Kwan O The LOHAS, Tsuen Wan D.Park, Tuen Man, Tsim Sha Tsui, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Whampoa, Kowloon Bay, Causeway Bay JP Plaza, and Wan Chai – reflect the current appetite for restaurant dining in Hong Kong, with many residents of New Territories travelling to Shenzhen for affordable dining options.
Hong Kong’s busiest shopping districts, namely Causeway Bay, Tsim Sha Tsui, and Mong Kok, have experienced a drop in retail sales since the turn of the year.
