Beloved chain TGI Fridays has fans worried as it quietly closes locations across the U.S., with six more restaurants shutting their doors just this past week. Once a mainstay of American casual dining, the chain has been hard-hit by rising costs and shifts in dining habits, prompting many fans to question if this is the beginning of the end for Fridays in the U.S.
The latest closures have hit areas along the East Coast, Southeast, and Midwest, with locations in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York among those saying goodbye to loyal patrons. Signs at the closed stores offer little comfort, directing customers to nearby locations that, given the trend, may not be safe from closures themselves. The once-expansive TGI Fridays empire has been trimmed to barely 200 locations nationwide, down from a peak of 1,000.
With more than 36 locations already shuttered in January and another round of closures over the summer, TGI Fridays is not alone. Iconic competitors like Red Lobster, Applebee’s, and Hooters are also feeling the heat as customers, deterred by higher menu prices, are eating out less often. TGI Fridays’ last big announcement came in January, when CEO Ray Risley hinted at a “streamlining” strategy. But fans worry that closures seem to be the new norm rather than a rare occurrence.
TGI Fridays still holds a strong international presence, with over 650 locations globally, but here at home, the classic casual-dining era feels shaky. With Red Lobster filing for bankruptcy and BurgerFi facing similar woes, the future for many chains looks uncertain. For Fridays fans, it’s a bitter reminder of how much the American dining scene has changed.
