A restaurant now makes an unexpected closure after 25 years in business with plans for a ‘new concept’, the company has confirmed.
A staple location for TGI Fridays has closed as fans fear the worst for the brand.
Those who frequented the restaurant were forced to go elsewhere after it closed on June 2, reports The-Sun.
Collier Restaurant Group confirmed the closure news for its TGI Fridays location in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, about 35 miles southeast of Knoxville, at the end of May, per a post on its Facebook page.
The company, which owns several restaurants in the area through brands like Golden Corral, Melting Pot, and others, operated the TGI Fridays in Gatlinburg for around 25 years.
It opened the location in 1999 but closed its doors this year, at least for a brief period.
The TGI Fridays in Gatlinburg will re-open as early as next year but as a “new concept” restaurant.
Collier Restaurant Group didn’t list details about what the concept would feature.
Still, Beau Massey, President of Collier Restaurant Group, noted that the company was in the process of extensive planning for the restaurant’s re-opening.
“We’ve been diligent throughout the planning process with Gatlinburg leaders, and it is our plan to provide a new and exciting addition at 959 Parkway,” he noted in the post.
Massey also teased that more details would be revealed about the project later in June.
While it would appear to be good news for customers that the TGI Fridays location isn’t closing permanently, some feel it’s an ominous sign of where the restaurant chain is headed.
“The brand is dead…not shocked,” a fan commented in a thread about the Gatlinburg closure.
“I really hate this,” another wrote.
“This isn’t a surprise,” a third added.
“A lot of TGI Fridays across the country have been shutting down.”
It’s true, at least 36 TGI Fridays locations have closed across 12 states in 2024.
Before the wave of closures, TGI Fridays had about 270 locations in the United States.
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An unexpected restaurant now abruptly closes 7 locations in one state after revealing plans to shutter a total of 36.
TGI Fridays is closing a total of seven restaurants in one state as part of the company’s ongoing growth strategy.
This comes after the chain abruptly closed 36 locations across 12 states in at the beginning of the year, per The-Sun.
The restaurant chain will pull the plug on seven locations across the state of New Jersey in the coming weeks.
Today, Fridays will welcome in famished diners at its location in Brick for the final time.
“As we continue along our path of transformation to revitalize the Fridays brand and implement a long-term growth strategy, we see a bright future for TGI Fridays,” said Weldon Spangler, CEO of TGI Fridays earlier this week.
“We are at the helm of a pivotal moment that will allow us to explore boundless advancement, expansion, and innovation to keep delivering ‘That Fridays Feeling’ that our fans know and love.”
Before the closures, TGI Fridays had about 270 US locations, according to the company’s website.
“As part of the store closures, TGI Fridays is offering more than 1,000 transfer opportunities, which represents over 80% of total impacted employees,” the company previously said in a statement.
“Our top priority has always been delivering a superior experience for each and every TGI Fridays guest, and we’ve identified opportunities to optimize and streamline our operations to ensure we are best positioned to meet – and exceed – on that brand promise,” said Ray Risley, US president and chief operating officer, in the release.
Eight other locations were sold to former CEO Ray Blanchette, a longtime stakeholder who will acquire the previously corporate-owned restaurants.
The sale comes as major changes have been made to the brand’s leadership, including the news of Weldon Spangler being made CEO.
“As we continue along our path of transformation to revitalize the Fridays brand and implement a long-term growth strategy, we see a bright future for TGI Fridays,” said Spangler in a statement.
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