It all started when the original Red Lobster was introduced to America in Lakeland, Florida, in 1968. Company founder Bill Darden had tested his entrepreneurial success on a restaurant concept of a different color, "Green Frog," along with a 19-year-old protégé, Joe Lee, future president of Red Lobster and current Chairman and CEO of Darden Restaurants. Our vision then was to provide great service so that our guests could fully enjoy our great-tasting seafood and spend precious time with their family and friends.