Local Outback Steakhouse abruptly closes

PERKINS TWP. — The only Outback Steakhouse within a multi-county region unexpectedly ceased operations on Monday. "This location is now closed," according to a sign posted out front of the Sandusky-area Outback building on Milan Road (U.S. 250) in a Perkins Township-based plaza near Meijer. "Visit outback.com for the closest open location." When accessing the website, the closest open locations to this site are more than an hour away. A message sent to Outback's corporate team, Bloomin' Brands, seeking clarity on this closure, went unreturned. Many people, including employees, confirmed the shuttering on social media throughout Monday afternoon. Like many chains across the nation, Outback faces numerous challenges to stay financially feasible. While numbers and reports vary, Bloomin' Brands apparently shut down more than 20 locations across the U.S. in 2025. Executives cited the reasons as "cost-cutting measures." Earlier this year, meanwhile, the company indicated it would close another 20 or so "underperforming" restaurants, opting not to renew leases in buildings the chain occupied. It's possible this scenario played out in the Sandusky-area location. Competition from similar chains, namely Texas Roadhouse and LongHorn Steakhouse, also likely played a factor. Those restaurants outperform Outback on a national level, and both also operate on Milan Road (U.S. 250), Erie County's primary commercial corridor.