Chain is shuttering restaurants across the country, but Wichita appears safe for now.

Amid speculation that the Red Lobster chain will soon declare bankruptcy come reports that the chain has abruptly closed 48 restaurants across 21 states.

And though it looks like Salina will lose its restaurant and the Kansas City area will likely lose two, the two Wichita Red Lobsters — at 555 S. West St. and at 333 S. Towne East Mall Drive — are safe for now.

National media outlets began reporting on Tuesday morning that online liquidator TAGedX Brands had just announced “The Largest Restaurant Equipment Auction Ever” and listed 48 Red Lobster locations that it would liquidate. Those who bid in the auction, which ends on Thursday, will get the entire contents of the restaurants they win.

Though the Salina restaurant at 2925 E. Ninth St. and the two Kansas City restaurants — at 10700 Parallel Parkway in Kansas City, Kansas, and at 14904 W. 119th St. in Olathe — are not on the list of 48, they are among 87 restaurants across the chain whose websites say they’re closed, at least for now.

The national reports say that Red Lobster has been struggling to turn a profit after its “Ultimate Endless Shrimp” promotion caused the company’s previous owner, based in Thailand, to lose millions of dollars.

Both of Wichita’s Red Lobster restaurants are still listed as open on their websites, and employees who answered the phones at the two restaurants on Tuesday confirmed that they are still open.

“Don’t believe everything you read,” said one employee.

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