Entire contents of shuttered Red Lobster restaurants sold for $5k - as DUMPSTER DIVERS help themselves to unsold items
A giant removal truck full of lobster tanks, giant fridges and freezers, industrial ovens, microwaves, coffee makers, bars, patio heaters, tables and chairs and more - all for under $5,000.
That is what the winning bidder of the entire contents of the outlet on Hawthorn Boulevard in Torrance, California paid for the hundreds of items.
In fact, the entire contents of 48 of the almost 100 shuttered Red Lobster restaurants were sold at auction on Thursday.
The struggling seafood chain is on the brink of bankruptcy - after its 'endless shrimp' for $20 deal was so popular it cost the chain millions of dollars. It is shutting locations in a bid to stem its losses.
Buyers of the lots were seen collecting the goods in giant vans Friday. What they paid varied from just under $2,000 to $15,000.
Chairs from the Red Lobster in Torrance being taken away
Patio heaters were among the goods bought from the Red Lobster in Torrance
In Torrance, outside Los Angeles, the winning bidders filled a Budget rental truck with all the gear from the shuttered Red Lobster in the city - bought for $4,886.
Meanwhile, in Colombia, Maryland, buyers who paid $10,101 filled up a U-Haul. THey got a similar slection, and also five old 37inch TVs.
It was only on Monday night, after a full day serving customers, that staff got any idea what was happening. Many didn't find out until their shift the next day.
But with brutal efficiency, by Wednesday, the stock for 48 of the outlets was all listed on an auction site.
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It was online-only with the contents of each outlet being sold as a job lot likely to attract owners of other restaurants rather than customers.
Fans of the chain were able to get an insight into just how abruptly restaurants were shut - thanks to pictures posted online by the auction house.
Some showed leftover food still on trays and fresh food for the next day ready.
In total, almost 100 restaurants across 27 states were shut on Monday night.
The auctions of the restaurants' contents, run by Restaurant Equipment Bid, took place online on Thursday.
The firm, which specialize in selling off gear from restaurants that close down and need to liquidate quickly, released images of items up for grabs at some of the locations on Wednesday.
No fresh food or alcohol was old in any of the auctions. And while lobster tanks were sold, the creatures themselves were not.
At a third Red Lobster in San Diego, dumpster divers were seen collecting items that were not included in the auction lots.
A U-Haul can is seen outside the now shuttered Red Lobster in Colombia, Maryland
Red Lobster auction winners clear out kitchen equipment & furniture from the Red Lobster restaurant in Columbia, Maryland
A lobster tank goes in the back of a truck in Maryland
A man collects items from a dumpster in front of a closed Red Lobster restaurant whose entire contents are up for auction in San Diego, California, U.S., May 15, 2024
A dumpster is shown in front of a closed Red Lobster restaurant whose entire contents are up for auction in San Diego, California
The images of items up for grabs at some of the locations made for fascinating viewing.
At the Grand Forks location in North Dakota goods included a fish tank still containing live lobsters.
Potatoes left on trays ready to be cooked, milk in fridges and cutlery strewn across the tables are also seen in images advertising the contents of Grand Forks.
Other newly released images show a fully stocked walk-in fridge on the auction page for Council Bluff's Red Lobster in Iowa.
Fresh lettuce and fruit as well as packaged sauce and baked bread suggests the speed at which the restaurants were closed and auction administrators brought in.
The struggling chain is eyeing up a possible Chapter 11 filing to restructure its debt, allowing it to discard long-term contracts and renegotiate new leases.
Live lobster still in their tank at the Grand Forks red Lobster in North Dakota
Potatoes left on trays ready to be cooked seen in images advertising the contents of Grand Forks
The chain, which started as a single restaurant in Lakeland, Florida, in 1968 has around 650 locations across almost all states.
An image released by the auctioneers at the Colonial Heights, Virginia restaurant shows a large fridge with a pineapple, juice and plenty of liquor including beers and wine still in place.
Other images of Colonial Heights appear to show leftover food on trays, prepared meals in a food heater, and dishes waiting to be washed on a rack, likely from the restaurants last serving day on Sunday.