Restaurants

Casual Dining

The Only Recap Of TGI Fridays' Downfall You Need

TGI Fridays was once the heartbeat of casual dining in America, from its vibrant beginnings as one of the original restaurants to put happy hour on the map. Even still, the famous apps and classic cocktails could not shield the chain from a relentless decline that was fueled by a mixture of pandemic pressure, financial overreach, and shifting consumer tastes. The chain has lost 55% of its locations in the U.S. since 2008, while its sales have also gone down by more than 60%.

The big blow came in November 2024, when TGI Fridays filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, citing structural debt issues and COVID-19 impacts as primary contributors. In the months that followed, the chain closed nearly 130 U.S. restaurants, and

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