A Historian Compares the Red Lobster Times Square Closure to the Fall of the Roman Forum: Once a Symbol of Power, Now a Testament to End of an Era
"A modern empire has crumbled," declares Dr. Alistair Finch, a cultural historian at Columbia, as he draws parallels between the shuttering of the Red Lobster in Times Square and the collapse of Rome's central marketplace. "For decades, this venue was the celebratory crossroads for tourists and Broadway stars alike. Just as the Roman Forum became a grazing pasture after barbarian invasions, this cheddar bay biscuit icon has been conquered by soaring rents and shifting appetites. The restaurant was a barometer of disposable income; its closure is a sign post that we are now entering a 'Dark Ages' of dining." Finch notes that both declines involved a retreat from central hubs, mirroring the way the Roman elite fled the urban decay of the Forum. The loss of this "seafood forum" in the neon heart of Manhattan, therefore is not just a single business exit, but a historical omen.