Your chance to savor TGI Fridays’ famous loaded potato skins and sip on $5 happy hour drinks is fading, as the popular chain has recently shuttered 12 U.S. locations and closed 35 more across the U.K. This wave of closures adds to the uncertainty surrounding the future of the restaurant chain, which has been a staple of casual dining for over 50 years.
The latest round of U.S. closures hit hard in the Northeast, affecting locations in Clifton Park, Middletown, and Poughkeepsie, New York; Allentown, Pennsylvania; Enfield, Connecticut; and Leesburg, Virginia.
These closures followed earlier shutdowns in the Southeast and Midwest, with locations in North Carolina, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, and Minnesota also saying goodbye to their customers.
Across the Atlantic, the situation was no better. U.K. reports confirmed that while TGI Fridays managed to secure a deal to save 51 locations, 35 of its stores shut down immediately, leading to over 1,000 employees being laid off. These closures reflect a troubling trend for the once-dominant chain, which has struggled to maintain profitability in a rapidly evolving restaurant landscape.
TGI Fridays has remained tight-lipped on the details, offering no comment to Fox News Digital about the closures. However, this downturn comes after a January announcement in which the company closed an additional 36 “underperforming” restaurants as part of a long-term strategy aimed at revitalizing the brand.
At the time, TGI Fridays leadership emphasized that these moves were necessary for “growth” and maintaining viability, especially in an increasingly competitive market for casual dining.
The company has been undergoing significant changes, including selling eight corporate-owned restaurants to former CEO Ray Blanchette earlier this year. The sale was framed as part of an “era of transformation” intended to streamline operations and fuel revenue growth.
Chief Operating Officer Ray Risley stated that by closing underperforming stores and strengthening its franchise model, TGI Fridays would be better equipped to meet the needs of its customers while driving forward its vision for the future.
Despite these closures, the chain still boasts 215 open locations across the U.S., according to its website. However, the shrinking number of restaurants signals that TGI Fridays is grappling with the same issues that have plagued much of the casual dining sector in recent years—rising costs, changing consumer preferences, and stiff competition from fast-casual alternatives.
