VERO BEACH — Casual dining chain Ruby Tuesday has permanently closed its restaurant in Vero Beach, marking the latest cutback for a brand still reeling from pandemic-era setbacks.
A notice posted on the building at 1825 58th Ave. stated the restaurant closed on Nov. 3. The closure leaves just two Ruby Tuesday locations on Florida’s Treasure Coast — in Jensen Beach and Sebastian — narrowing choices for locals who favored the chain’s signature salad bar, ribs and burgers.
No immediate reason was given for the Vero Beach shutdown, but it comes against a backdrop of ongoing challenges for the company.
In 2020, Ruby Tuesday filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection amid being battered by rising competition and the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, which forced the closure of 185 locations nationwide at the time. The Treasure Coast outlets had survived that round of cuts, but this latest move suggests the recovery remains uneven.
A sign taped to the restaurant’s entrance on Nov. 4 urged patrons to head to the Sebastian location at 13675 U.S. 1 instead. The Jensen Beach site at 3000 N.W. Federal Highway also remains open, offering the closest alternatives for Vero Beach residents.
Founded in 1972 near the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville, Tennessee, Ruby Tuesday built its reputation on affordable American fare in a relaxed atmosphere. But like many mid-tier chains, it has grappled with shifting consumer habits, higher costs and the rise of fast-casual competitors in recent years.
Company representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the closure or future plans in Indian River County.
