Outback Nov. Comps. Fall 0.3%

TAMPA, FL-Outback Steakhouse reports a year-over-year 0.3% same-store sales drop for the month of November across its 775-restaurant namesake chain. One of the main factors for the decrease, according to a statement by company executives, was the loss of 204 restaurant-operating days due to Hurricane Wilma.

However, same-store sales at the company’s specialty chains fared better. Its 36 Fleming’s Steakhouse and Wine Bars came out on top, jumping 9.5%, and Outback’s 87 Bonefish Grills followed, rising 6.8%.

International locations lost 28 operating days due to the hurricane. One franchise location, in Cancun, Mexico, is still closed, and executives anticipate reopening the unit early next year. Outback has a total of 139 of its namesake restaurants abroad.