Restaurant chain Bubba Gump Shrimp Company Malaysia has closed two of its three outlets.

In a surprise announcement, the US chain says its Citta Mall and The Curve outlets have been closed permanently, while it is business as usual for its first Malaysian outlet in Sunway Pyramid in Selangor.

Inspired by the 1994 movie Forrest Gump starring Tom Hanks, Bubba Gump Shrimp Company opened its first outlet in Monterey, California, in 1996. It entered the Malaysian market in 2008. The restaurant is named after characters in the film – Benjamin Buford “Bubba” Blue (played by Mykelti Williamson) and Forrest Gump (Hanks). Even the dishes are named after characters in the movie.

The chain has expanded to more than 40 outlets worldwide, including outposts in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, the Marianas, the Philippines and Malaysia.