Outback Steakhouse shuts stores

By Rachel Lee

American family restaurant chain Outback Steakhouse has closed 34 stores over the past three months, reportedly due to quality control plans.

“We came up with plans to focus on store quality and developing menus rather than business expansion,” a company spokesman said.

But industry experts blamed the closures on the prolonged recession, the increasing number of single households and changing dining habits.

Outback Steak House, established in 1987, entered the Korean market in 1997.

Other restaurant chains such as T.G.I. Friday's, Tony Roma's and Bennigan's closed stores in Seoul in 2013.