Red Lobster’s CEO shares how he saved the chain from bankruptcy
Red Lobster’s 36-year-old CEO highlighted three moves that sparked the seafood chain’s resurgence on the Breakfast Club podcast in March 2025.
luck
- If a business closes, consumers may be able to obtain a gift card refund by contacting the business owner or credit card company.
More than 8,100 stores from Joanne Fabrics to Forever 21 will close across the U.S. in 2025, according to retail industry analysis firm Coresight Research.
What if I still have unused gift cards from these companies?
Warehouse chain Costco recently announced a recall of Synergy Restaurant gift cards sold between October 27, 2025 and January 26, 2026. According to FOX Business, the recall stems from gift and points card company Synergy World, which abruptly shut down last month after filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Therefore, the gift card will no longer be redeemable.
What happens if I have a gift card and the store closes?
If your business closes, the Consumer Federation of America provides the following instructions on its website for how to get your money back:
Contact the business: “Try contacting the town hall or city hall where the business is located, or the Secretary of State’s office, to obtain contact information for the business owner so you can request a refund.”
Ask your credit or debit card provider to reverse the charge: “Every credit or debit card company has its own policies, but some allow you to reverse the charge if you (or your friend or relative) purchased a gift card with a credit or debit card. Contact your credit card company as soon as possible to request that the charge be reversed.”
Contact your state or local consumer protection agency. “If you can’t contact anyone at the company to get a refund, contact the government agency that provides consumer protection services in your state. That way, you can alert them to the problem (you’re probably not alone) and get your money back.”
Submit proof of claim: “If a business files for bankruptcy, they can file a certificate of claim with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and be added to the list of outstanding creditors. However, keep in mind that filing a certificate of claim does not guarantee that you will receive a refund. A business may be acquired during bankruptcy proceedings, and gift cards may become available again.”
They note that if all else fails, you may also consider taking legal action to get your money back.
What if the store has not yet closed? Can I use a gift card?
probably. According to Debt.Org, it depends on the store and the reason for the closure.
“If a business files for bankruptcy, it can only continue receiving gift cards if it seeks permission from the bankruptcy court and the court grants it,” the website shares. “Thus, businesses that declare bankruptcy may be less likely to receive gift cards than businesses that go out of business for other reasons.”
Please check with the store in advance to see if the gift card is still available.
Samantha Neely is a trend reporter for USA TODAY NETWORK in Florida, covering pop culture, theme parks, breaking news and more. Sign up for our free Florida TODAY newsletter at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters to get all of Florida’s best content straight to your inbox every weekday..
