OAN Staff James Meyers
9:18 AM – Wednesday, October 16, 2024
T.G.I. Fridays, the restaurant chain known for its loaded potato skins and $5 happy hour cocktails, announced it closed 12 U.S. locations in September and shut down 35 restaurants in the U.K.
According to the restaurant chain’s website, multiple T.G.I. Fridays locations in the Northeast closed last week, including in Clifton Park, Middletown and Poughkeepsie, New York; Allentown, Pennsylvania; Enfield, Connecticut; and Leesburg, Virginia.
More closures took place earlier this month in the Southeast and Midwest areas, in states such as North Carolina, Michigan, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Indiana, as well as two locations in Minnesota.
The UK-based Sky News also reported last week that the restaurant chain closed an acquisition deal to save 51 locations and their employees jobs, but had to close 35 stores immediately resulting in over 1,000 workers being let go.
Additionally, in January, the restaurant chain closed an additional 36 of its restaurants that were “underperforming,” stating that it was part of a long-term growth strategy to ensure viability.
“We’ve identified opportunities to optimize and streamline our operations to ensure we are best positioned to meet – and exceed – on that brand promise,” T.G.I. Fridays Chief Operating Officer Ray Risley previously said in a press release.
“By strengthening our franchise model and closing under-performing stores,” he continued, “we are creating an unprecedented opportunity for Fridays to drive forward its vision for the future.”
Meanwhile, T.G.I. Fridays has been serving customers for over 50 years and has 215 open and operating locations in the U.S., according to the company website.
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