BREAKING: LongHorn Steakhouse Shuts Doors on Christmas, Accelerates Openings, Bets on Menu Nostalgia
LongHorn Steakhouse is taking a bold two step. I can confirm the chain will close every U.S. restaurant for 24 hours on December 25, 2025. At the same time, parent Darden Restaurants is pushing ahead with one of its largest expansion waves in years, and the brand is leaning into a high margin limited item. The signal is clear. Invest in people, grow smart, and keep guests excited.
A Holiday Closure With a Business Edge
The Christmas Day shutdown covers all U.S. locations. Normal hours return on December 26. One quiet day will not dent the year. It can even help operations. There is less overtime pay, simpler scheduling, and fresher teams for the week that follows. That week is often strong for casual dining.
This choice also fits the labor math. A protected holiday improves morale. Lower turnover cuts training costs. That lifts service quality, which supports traffic and mix in January. For a chain built around peak dinner demand, goodwill is a real asset.
All LongHorn U.S. locations will be closed December 25 only. Regular hours resume December 26.
Expansion Picks Up Speed
Darden plans to open 40 to 45 new units across Olive Garden and LongHorn next year. I am told LongHorn will account for about 25 to 30 of those sites. As of May 2025, LongHorn had more than 590 locations. Fiscal 2025 sales rose 7.8 percent to about 3.03 billion dollars. That momentum is funding the buildout.
New boxes are moving west. LongHorn’s first Nevada restaurant opened October 6 in Henderson, inside the Las Vegas Valley. The market is dense, tourism fed, and still suburban at the edges. That matches LongHorn’s core strengths, steady dinner traffic, large families, and value steaks. Early performance in a converted site also supports a capital light model where possible.
More units in underpenetrated regions lowers delivery times, improves brand cues, and widens the labor pool. Cannibalization risk is lower in the Mountain West and Pacific markets. That gives development room without crushing existing stores.
Watch Darden’s unit growth split and average build costs. Lower conversion costs can protect returns if rates stay high.
Menu Nostalgia, Smart Margins
LongHorn is also playing offense on the menu. Grilled Lamb Chops are back for a limited time. The Parmesan Crust add on is now official on the dish. This is a clear check builder. Limited items spur trial and repeat visits. They keep the kitchen focused on core prep, since the dish uses existing grill skills and pantry items.
For investors, the message is discipline. Limited time offers that lean on current labor and equipment tend to carry better margins. They also protect the brand’s steak first identity. Guests get something special without confusing the menu or slowing the line.
The Numbers That Matter
- Fiscal 2025 LongHorn sales, about 3.03 billion dollars
- Year over year sales growth, 7.8 percent
- Current footprint, more than 590 restaurants
- Planned new LongHorn locations next year, about 25 to 30
A single day closure will shift some sales to December 24 and December 26. That should smooth weekly labor and limit waste. The bigger lever is unit growth. New openings drive revenue growth more than holiday hours policy ever could.
Key risk factors, beef inflation, wage pressure, and construction delays. Any sharp move can squeeze traffic or new unit returns.
Investment View
LongHorn’s playbook looks balanced. The brand grabs share with new stores in growth markets. It protects its people with a clean holiday closure. It drives engagement with a smart, limited menu hit. That mix supports steady comps and stable margins.
For Darden shareholders, the focus now turns to execution. Construction pipelines, staffing in new states, and commodity hedging will set the tone for 2026 guidance. If average weekly sales hold and new units open on time, the model can compound. If beef costs jump or build costs creep higher, returns tighten.
What I will track next:
- Same store traffic versus check growth in Q3 and Q4
- New unit productivity at 12 and 24 weeks
- Hourly turnover after the holiday break
- Beef and dairy inflation versus menu pricing power
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will LongHorn be open on December 25, 2025?
A: No. All U.S. locations will be closed for 24 hours. Stores reopen December 26 with normal hours.
Q: How many new LongHorn restaurants are planned next year?
A: About 25 to 30, as part of Darden’s plan to open 40 to 45 units across its brands.
Q: Why open in the Las Vegas Valley now?
A: The market adds tourism volume and fast growing suburbs. That fits LongHorn’s dinner focused model and value steak positioning.
Q: What is back on the menu?
A: Grilled Lamb Chops have returned for a limited time. Guests can add the Parmesan Crust as an official option.
Q: What is the financial impact of closing on Christmas Day?
A: Minimal on a yearly basis. It can support labor retention and service levels, which helps sales in the weeks that follow.
Conclusion
LongHorn is proving that people and growth can move together. A clear holiday break sets the culture. A tight expansion plan pushes reach. A nostalgic, margin friendly dish keeps guests coming back. That is a simple plan with real financial power, if the team sticks the landing.
