A POPULAR TGI Friday’s has permanently shut its doors without warning and fired all of their staff a week before Christmas, sparking outrage among customers.
A customer revealed the closure on Facebook, saying the Charleston location had been “Permanently Closed” just days away from the holiday.
“TGI FRIDAYS in Cross Lanes is Permanently Closed!” Facebook user Jessica A Martin said.
“They did not give their employees any warning & fired all of them the week before Christmas.”
Martin urged all customers to “pray for their staff” who had just lost their jobs during the holiday season.
Another customer mourned the closure, saying they just visited the restaurant “the other night” and one of their servers was pregnant.
“We were JUST there the other night .. our waitress was pregnant,” Kate LeMaster said.
It is just the latest in a swathe of closures for the 59-year-old restaurant chain.
TGI Fridays in October quietly closed almost 50 restaurants following initial reports it was headed for bankruptcy.
Following reports from Bloomberg, the chain filed for bankruptcy in November saying it would use the Chapter 11 process to “explore strategic alternatives in order to ensure the long-term viability of the brand.”
The restaurant chain has faced a raft of financial challenges in recent months amid high inflation.
The company said in a statement that fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic was the “primary driver of our financial challenges”.
“The next steps announced today are difficult but necessary actions to protect the best interests of our stakeholders, including our domestic and international franchisees and our valued team members around the world,” Rohit Manocha, TGI Fridays’ executive chairman, said in a statement.
Additional closures from earlier this month took place in the Southeast and Midwest regions, in states like North Carolina, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana, as well as two locations in Minnesota.
The new closures were revealed by local media reports in New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Florida, Missouri and California finding the business had shuttered spots in recent months.
Some reports suggest a complete exit from a city including in Ohio, Buffalo and New York.
RESTAURANT APOCALYPSE
The closures come after a number of other chains filed for bankruptcy this year, including Red Lobster, America’s largest seafood chain, and Italian dining chain Buca di Beppo.
The restaurants have blamed changing consumer behavior for the closures as inflation hits shoppers.
Food prices are on the rice, with diners paying 4% more than they did in May last year.
Amid sticky inflation, diners have been favoring home cooked meals rather than eating out at restaurant chains.
CULT FAVOURITE
The chain was founded in New York City in 1965.
According to its website, the dining chain describes itself as “the original casual dining bar and grill”.
“TGI Fridays offers authentic American food and legendary drinks, served with genuine personal service,” it said.
“Bringing people together to socialize and celebrate the freeing and liberating spirit of ‘Friday’ was the concept’s founding premise.”
It was originally designed to be a place for young, singles to meet.
Restaurant closures in 2024
BOSSES at major dining chains have announced a series of restaurant closures. The U.S. Sun has compiled a list of the chain's affected.
Cracker Barrel: Stores in Medford, Oregon, Columbia, South Carolina, and Sacramento, California, have closed. Mod Pizza: Bosses dramatically shuttered 27 shops in April, including some in the state of California. Frisch’s Big Boy: Restaurant chiefs confirmed the closure of a restaurant in Covington, Kentucky in April. Outback Steakhouse: The chain will shutter 41 ‘underperforming’ locations this year. Two Bucks: Four restaurants in Ohio closed in April. Chili’s: A restaurant in Port Arthur, Texas, has shut permanently as well as one in Irvine, California, and one in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Friendly’s: Bosses confirmed an establishment in Ronkonkoma, Long Island will close. Pizza Hut: A restaurant in Glen Falls, New York, closed at the end of March, followed by four in Ohio in June and 15 in Indiana. This was followed in July by a bankruptcy filing from its parent company which announced the closure of 150 locations. Carl’s Jr.: The first Boise, Idaho location has closed. In-N-Out: An Oakland location closed earlier in the year due to crime in the area. Cheesecake Factory: The chain is set to shutter a location in Memphis, Tennessee in July. Applebee’s: Announced the closure of between 25 and 35 locations this year. Red Lobster: The seafood chain filed for bankruptcy in May and shuttered over 100 locations. Taco John’s: Shuttered a restaurant in Minnesota and put the building up for sale in May. Frisco’s Chicken: The poultry restaurant shuttered all of its locations over the summer Rubio’s Coastal Grill: Has announced the closure of 48 locations in California after filing for bankruptcy. Burger King: Shuttered a location in California in June after 30 years. Foster’s Freeze: Shuttered a location in California after five decades in business due to financial struggles. Chicken Salad Chick: After nine years the restaurant shuttered one location in Jacksonville, Florida, with no reason given. México Lindo: The New York City-based restaurant announced its final day after 52 years and finally shuttered its doors for good on July 31. American Dream Pizza: Closed all of its locations in Oregon in July. Tender Greens: The Southern California-based chain filed for bankruptcy. Lefty’s Famous Cheesesteaks, Hoagies, & Grill: Abruptly shuttered 18 locations in July due to a family feud. Firehouse Subs: Shuttered a location in the Tri-Cities area of Washington State over the summer citing “unforeseen circumstances” Taco Time: The Taco Bell rival shuttered a location in Seattle after 50 years following a death in the franchise owner’s family. Burgerim: Shuttered a location in Burlington, Massachusetts in July, reigniting bankruptcy fears from 2020. Denny’s: The chain has shuttered over 40 locations so far this year with the owner of the one outlet blaming vandalism. Starbucks: The chain shuttered one of its most iconic locations in New York City after almost three decades with fans blaming crime. It also lost a location in Seattle. Subway: In August, the sandwich chain shuttered over 20 locations across the US and Canada after a franchisee lost money after being a victim of fraud. IHOP: A restaurant in New Hampshire shut its doors after 24 years, leaving four locations in the state. Switchback Coffee Roasters: The popular chain filed for bankruptcy in August after over a decade in business. Jimmy John’s: The sandwich shop chain shuttered a location in Nevada on August 19 after 12 years citing overexpansion issues. KFC: Closed the remaining three locations in Rockford, Illinois all on the same day on August 19. In total, it closed six locations across four cities in Illinois. Rusty Bucket: The chicken shop chain confirmed it would officially leave Florida as it announced a handful of closures including in Sarasota and Ohio. Buca di Beppo: The Olive Garden rival abruptly shuttered 44 locations across five states before filing for bankruptcy. Red Robin: Announced the closure of its Ashburn, Virginia location on August 25 after 15 years in business. Noodles & Company: Shuttered dozens of locations due to their contribution to around $2 million worth of losses. Shoney’s: The classic American-style food chain founded in 1947 officially exited Ohio after three decades of business as it reduced its operational footprint. Homegrown: The sandwich chain based in Seattle announced the closure of 10 locations leaving 150 employees in the lurch. World of Beer: Filed for bankruptcy after closing 14 outlets. Arby’s: The chain announced a number of closures this year including in Lexington, Kentucky, Akron, Ohio, Uno Pizzeria & Grill: Shuttered a location in New Jersey in July, leaving just two in the state, followed by the closure of a Baltimore location in August. Hart House: Shutterd all four locations in California in September just two years after the vegan fast-food restaurant chain was launched by actor and comedian Kevin Hart. Read More Details
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