TGI Fridays has closed more than a dozen locations in the past month, including six just this week.
The popular casual dining chain is the latest to struggle as Americans, frustrated with higher menu costs, opt to eat at home more. Other chains, including Red Lobster, Applebee’s and Hooters, have also closed locations.
Signs posted at TGI’s shuttered locations – focused in the East Coast, Southeast, and Midwest – described the decision as ‘difficult’ and directed customers to nearby restaurants.
The latest closures follow the 36 ‘underperforming’ TGI locations shuttered in January, and several more in the summer. It now barely has more than 200 left in the US.
The six most recent closures were in Leesburg, Virginia; Allentown, Pennsylvania; Middletown, Poughkeepsie, and Clifton Park, New York; and Enfield, Connecticut.
TGI Fridays continues to shutter restaurants – with another in Brick, New Jersey serving customers for the final time on Sunday. This is the Manhattan TGI Fridays
Other closures over the past month include restaurants in Charlotte, North Carolina; Charleston, South Carolina; Grand Chute, Wisconsin; Saginaw Township, Michigan; Schererville, Indiana; and two locations in Minnesota – St. Louis Park and Edina.
The chain also shut two restaurants in May, including one in New Jersey and another in downtown Buffalo in New York State.
TGI Friday’s has not commented on the latest closures.
But in May, US president Ray Risley said: ‘We’ve identified opportunities to optimize and streamline our operations to ensure we are best positioned to meet – and exceed – on that brand promise.’
TGI Fridays – which first opened in New York City in 1965 – was down to around 215 US restaurants before these latest closures. Globally, it operates more than 650 restaurants in 51 countries.
At the announcement in January, TGI Fridays said the 36 would shut down right away. At the time it did not name these, but seven of those were also in New Jersey – the state most affected by the closures.
The US arm – known as TGI Fridays Inc – is was due this year to merge with Hostmore, which runs 89 TGI sites in the UK.
But the deal fell apart, as did the plan to create a larger firm listed in London.
Casual dining restaurants like TGI’s and fast food giants like McDonald’s have seen sales fall as a result of Americans voting with their wallets in response to two years of menu price hikes.
Worst hit have been the older, more traditional chains that have not modernized.
Red Lobster shut almost 100 in May and filed for bankruptcy, while Applebee’s is closing 35.
BurgerFi was the latest for file for bankruptcy in September – sparking sparks fears of mass closures of its 162 locations.
Hooters has closed around 40 restaurants this year
Meanwhile, it emerged in September that Hooters – known for its scantily-clad waitresses – is the latest to face financial problems as it deals with $300 million of debts. It also closed about 40 ‘underperforming’ restaurants earlier this year.
Chains have been worst hit in California where the minimum wage for fast food restaurants jumped to $20-an-hour from April 1.
In early June, Mexican chain Rubio’s shut 48 locations in the state and also filed for bankruptcy.
TGI did not respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment.
