Bloomin' Brands is stepping up investments in Outback Steakhouse remodels as part of its turnaround strategy, targeting roughly 85 locations in 2026 after completing about 31 refreshes through July. The company plans to invest $350,000-$400,000 per restaurant on targeted interior and exterior upgrades rather than costly overhauls, covering tables, chairs, floors, ceilings, bars, televisions, landscaping, lighting and paint. Management said remodeled restaurants have historically delivered a 100-200 basis-point traffic lift approximately six months to one year after completion, and with roughly 300 Outback locations still requiring similar attention, the opportunity remains sizable. The remodel program complements broader turnaround efforts, with Outback's guest metrics improving for the fourth consecutive quarter and service scores, food quality and value perception strengthening, though traffic still declined 2.8% in the second quarter. Bloomin' Brands shares have gained 47.5% over the past six months against the industry's 15.9% decline, and the stock trades at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 8.08 versus the industry average of 19.84.
Bloomin Brands IncBloomin' Brands is accelerating Outback remodels with $350,000-$400,000 per restaurant capex, a turnaround investment expected to drive 100-200 bps traffic lift.
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