Something New Coming to Old Red Lobster Site in Poughkeepsie?

The former Red Lobster on Route 9 in Poughkeepsie, NY, might not be sitting empty for much longer.

If you remember, back in 2024, Red Lobster filed for bankruptcy and announced it would be shutting down more than 100 locations nationwide, including a pretty big chunk of restaurants here in New York.

Red Lobster Closures in New York

At the time, more than 10 locations across the state suddenly closed their doors, including restaurants in Queensbury, Lakewood, Buffalo, the Bronx, Amherst, Williamsville, Rochester, Stony Brook, Scarsdale, and Nanuet, NY.

SEE ALSO: Retailer Closing 15 Stores Nationwide, Including Two New York Locations

Here in the Hudson Valley, both Kingston and Poughkeepsie locations were part of that wave, and it definitely caught a lot of people off guard. One day they were open, the next...gone. Ever since, the big question has been: what’s moving in next?

Kingston Already Has an Answer

Last year, we told you that the Town of Ulster Planning Board approved plans to redevelop the old Red Lobster off Route 9W at 1 Miron Lane in the Town of Ulster. The plans include tearing down the old building and replacing it with a brand new Chick-fil-A with a drive-thru.

So What’s Happening in Poughkeepsie?

The former Red Lobster at 2255 South Road has been sitting vacant ever since it closed, with a “for sale” sign out front for months. If you’ve driven by lately, you may have noticed that something has changed. The sign now says “sale pending!”

That’s right, after all this time, it looks like someone is in the process of buying the property.

What Could Be Moving Into Red Lobster in Poughkeepsie, NY?

As of now, there’s no official word on who the buyer is or what they plan to do with the space. But that hasn’t stopped the rumors from flying around the Hudson Valley. We've heard it could be a new convenience store, a LongHorn Steakhouse, or even a major fast food chain similar to Kingston’s upcoming Chick-fil-A

At this point, nothing has been confirmed, but it’s safe to say something is definitely happening.

As soon as more details are released, we’ll pass them along. Until then, here are some restaurants we wouldn't mind seeing in Poughkeepsie....