View source for TGI Fridays

{{Short description|American restaurant chain}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox company
| name = TGI Fridays Franchisor, LLC
| trade_name = TGI Fridays
| logo = Tgi fridays logo13.svg
| type = [[Private company|Private]]
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1965|03|15}}<br />[[New York City]], U.S.
| founder = Alan Stillman and [[Daniel R. Scoggin]]
| owner = TriArtisan Capital Advisors
| location = [[Dallas]], Texas, U.S.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/business/2016/03/11/tgi-fridays-trims-staff-shifts-corporate-office-from-carrollton-to-fun-space-in-dallas/|title=TGI Fridays trims staff, shifts corporate office from Carrollton to 'fun' space in Dallas|date=March 11, 2016 |first1=Karen |last1=Robinson-Jacobs |work=[[Dallas News]]}}</ref>
| locations = 600+ (as of June 2023)<ref name="Franchise Opportunities">{{cite web |title=Franchise Opportunities |url=https://tgifridays.com/franchise/ |website=TFI Fridays |access-date=June 15, 2023}}</ref><ref name="International">{{cite web |url=https://www.tgifridays.com/content/dam/i/newsroom/pr/TGI%20FRIDAYS®%20ANNOUNCES%20CHIEF%20EXECUTIVE%20OFFICER%20TRANSITION.pdf |title=TGI Fridays announces chief executive officer transition |publisher=TGI Fridays |date=October 2, 2018 |access-date=October 12, 2018 }}{{Dead link|date=April 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><br />85 (U.S.)<ref name="Locations">{{cite web |title=TGI Fridays stores in the USA |url=https://locations.tgifridays.com/ |website=TGI Fridays |access-date=7 January 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
| area_served = Worldwide (except for [[Sub-Saharan Africa]])
| key_people = Weldon Spangler ([[Chief executive officer|CEO]])<ref>{{cite web |author= |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tgi-fridays-names-weldon-spangler-as-chief-executive-officer-301973212.html |title=TGI Fridays Names Weldon Spangler as Chief Executive Officer |lang=en |website=PR Newswire |publisher= |date=2023-10-31 |access-date=2024-11-05}}</ref>
| num_employees = 11,000 (2021)
| products = [[Steak]]s, [[Chicken (food)|chicken]], [[seafood]], [[pasta]], [[Hamburger|burgers]], [[sandwiches]], [[salad]]s<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tgifridays.com/|title=TGI Fridays Restaurant & Bar|website=TGI Fridays}}</ref>
| industry = [[Restaurant]]s
| genre = [[Casual dining]]
| revenue = $728 million (2023)<ref name="OBrien">{{cite web |last1=O'Brien |first1=Matt |title=TGI Fridays files for bankruptcy protection as sit-down restaurant struggles continue |url=https://apnews.com/article/tgi-fridays-bankruptcy-5979e002f72f5595a80d12beee5eeef1 |website=Associated Press |access-date=27 November 2024 |language=en |date=2 November 2024}}</ref>
| operating_income = 
| net_income = 
| homepage = {{URL|https://tgifridays.com/}}
}}

'''TGI Fridays Franchisor, LLC''', [[doing business as]] '''TGI Fridays''',{{efn|name=name|Originally and sometimes still stylized on corporate materials and locations as '''T.G.I. Friday’s''' or '''T.G.I. FRiDAY’S'''}} is an American [[casual dining]] [[List of restaurant chains|restaurant chain]] focusing primarily on [[American cuisine]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pehub.com/buyouts/sentinel-in-talks-to-sell-tgi-fridayss-stake/ |url-access=subscription |first1=Luisa |last1=Beltran |title=Sentinel in talks to sell TGI Fridays's stake|website=PE Hub|access-date=November 4, 2019|archive-date=November 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104172216/https://www.pehub.com/buyouts/sentinel-in-talks-to-sell-tgi-fridayss-stake/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The restaurant's name stands for "Thank God It's Friday".<ref>{{cite web |title=FAQ |url=https://tgifridays.com/faq/ |website=TGI Fridays |access-date=7 January 2025}}</ref> TGI Fridays operates over 600 locations in 55 countries,<ref name="Franchise Opportunities"/><ref name="International"/> including 85 in the United States.<ref name="Locations"/> The chain filed for bankruptcy in the United States on November 2, 2024.<ref name="TGIFridays">{{cite web |title=TGI Fridays Inc Files Voluntary Chapter 11 Petitions to Address Legacy Liabilities and Position Restaurants for Long-Term Success |url=https://tgifridays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/TGI-Fridays-Inc-Files-Voluntary-Chapter-11-Petitions-.pdf |website=TGI Fridays |access-date=November 8, 2024 |date=November 2, 2024}}</ref>

==History==
===20th century===
[[File:TGI Friday's at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.jpg|thumb|TGI Fridays at [[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]]]]
[[File:Fridays Hastings Barbados-001.jpg|thumb|The TGI Fridays in [[Christ Church, Barbados]], which opened in November 2010 and closed less than three years later, in August 2013]]
[[File:TGI Friday's Restaurant Waterbury CT branch June 2014 (14349873515).jpg|thumb|TGI Fridays in [[Waterbury, Connecticut]] in June 2014]]
[[File:TGI Fridays logo.svg|thumb|The former TGI Fridays logo used until 2013; it is still used in older locations.]]
In 1965, Alan Stillman opened the first TGI Fridays restaurant in [[Manhattan]].<!-- both sources confirm 1965 --> He lived on 63rd Street between First and York Avenues,{{r|twilley20101115}} in a neighborhood with many airline [[stewardesses]], [[fashion model]]s, secretaries, and other young, single people on the [[East Side of Manhattan]] near the [[Queensboro Bridge]]. He hoped that opening a bar would help him meet women. Stillman's choices for socializing were non-public [[cocktail parties]] or guys' beer-drinking hangout bars that women usually would not visit; he recalled that "there was no public place for people between, say, twenty-three to thirty-seven years old, to meet." He sought to recreate the comfortable cocktail party atmosphere in public despite having no experience in the restaurant business.{{r|patton199412}}{{r|twilley20101115}}

With [[US$]]5,000 of his own money and $5,000 borrowed from his mother,<ref name="patton199412">{{cite web | url=http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/1994/8/1994_8_88_print.shtml | title=AGENTS of CHANGE | author=Patton, Phil | date=December 1994 | publisher=American Heritage |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906172634/http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/1994/8/1994_8_88_print.shtml |archive-date=September 6, 2008 }}</ref> Stillman purchased a bar he often visited, The Good Tavern at the corner of 63rd Street and [[First Avenue (Manhattan)|First Avenue]], and renamed it TGI Fridays after the expression "Thank God it's Friday!" from his years at [[Bucknell University]].{{r|prewitt19930329}}<ref name="witchel20081230">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/31/dining/31feed.html | title=A Grown-Up Takes the Long View | access-date=February 23, 2011 | author=Witchel, Alex | date=December 30, 2008 | work= New York Times}}</ref> The restaurant opened on March 15, 1965, serving standard [[Cuisine of the United States|American cuisine]], [[pub grub|bar food]], and alcoholic beverages,<ref name="twilley20101115">{{cite web |last1=Twilley |first1=Nicola |last2=Ninivaggi |first2=Krista |title=A Cocktail Party In The Street: An Interview With Alan Stillman |url=https://www.ediblegeography.com/a-cocktail-party-in-the-street-an-interview-with-alan-stillman/ |website=Edible Geography |access-date=May 2, 2022 |date=November 15, 2010}}</ref> and emphasized food quality and preparation.<ref name="prewitt19930329">{{cite news | url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_n13_v27/ai_13576116/ | title=Stillman: Fridays filled a generation's need | access-date=February 22, 2011 | author=Prewitt, Milford | date=March 29, 1993 | publisher=Nation's Restaurant News}}</ref> 

The exterior featured a red-and-white striped awning and blue paint; the [[Gay Nineties]] interior included [[Tiffany lamp|Tiffany-style lamps]], wooden floors, [[Bentwood]] chairs, and striped tablecloths; and the bar area added brass rails and stained glass. The employees were young men: handsome jocks in form-fitting red-and-white striped [[soccer shirt]]s;{{r|prewitt19930329}}<ref>{{Cite book|last=Simonson|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Simonson|title=A Proper Drink: The Untold Story of How a Band of Bartenders Saved the Civilized Drinking World|publisher=[[Ten Speed Press]]|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZJzhDAAAQBAJ|date=2016|isbn=978-1-60774-754-3|oclc=933567553}}</ref> when a patron was celebrating a birthday, the entire restaurant crew came around with a cake and sang TGI Fridays' traditional birthday song. Footage of interviews with patrons from this TGI Fridays was featured in [[Robert Downey Sr.]]'s film ''No More Excuses'' (1968).<ref name="Criterion">{{cite web |last1=Koresky |first1=Michael |title=Eclipse Series 33: Up All Night with Robert Downey Sr. |url=https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/2304-eclipse-series-33-up-all-night-with-robert-downey-sr |publisher=[[Criterion Collection]] |access-date=July 16, 2019 |date=May 22, 2012 |quote=Codirected with Downey's sometime editor Robert Soukis, it was originally conceived as a showcase for footage left over from a five-minute ABC news segment Downey had been hired to shoot about the singles-bar scene on New York's Upper East Side (including the original T.G.I. Friday's). In these segments, the offscreen director asks various partiers, in clubs and on the street, their thoughts about the “so-called sexual revolution.”}}</ref> The first location closed in 1994{{r|patton199412}} and became a British-style [[pub]] called "[[Baker Street]]".{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

Although [[Malachy McCourt]]'s nearby Malachy's [[singles bar]] preceded TGI Fridays<ref name="schneider19981227">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/27/nyregion/fyi-582921.html|url-access=subscription| title=F.Y.I |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518143920/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/27/nyregion/fyi-582921.html|archive-date=18 May 2024| author=Schneider, Daniel B. | date=December 27, 1998 | work= New York Times}}</ref> and Stillman credited the media for creating the term, he had unintentionally created one of the first singles bars. It benefited from the near-simultaneous availability of the [[birth-control pill]] and [[Betty Friedan]]'s book ''[[The Feminine Mystique]]'':{{r|prewitt19930329}}{{r|patton199412}}{{r|twilley20101115}}

{{Blockquote|I don't think there was anything else like it at the time. Before TGI Fridays, four single twenty-five-year-old girls were not going out on Friday nights, in public and with each other, to have a good time. They went to people's apartments for cocktail parties or they might go to a real restaurant for a date or for somebody's birthday, but they weren't going out with each other to a bar for a casual dinner and drinks because there was no such place for them to go.{{r|twilley20101115}}}}

TGI Fridays was one of the first to use promotions such as [[ladies' night]],{{r|prewitt19930329}} and Stillman achieved his hopes of meeting women; "Have you seen the movie ''[[Cocktail (1988 film)|Cocktail]]''? [[Tom Cruise]] played me!...Why do girls want to date the bartender? To this day, I'm not sure that I get it."{{r|twilley20101115}} He and the restaurant benefited from its location—according to Stillman, 480 stewardesses lived in the apartment building next door{{r|patton199412}}—and received publicity in national magazines. TGI Fridays became so popular that it had to install ropes to create an area for those [[waiting in line]], also unusual at the time for a restaurant. A competitor, [[Maxwell's Plum]], opened across the street, and others soon followed.{{r|twilley20101115}}

With fellow Bucknell University graduate Ben Benson,<ref name="witchel20081230" /> Stillman opened other restaurants, including Tuesday's, Thursday's, Wednesday's, and Ice Cream Sunday's. [[Franchising]] of TGI Fridays began two years after the Manhattan location opened, in a since-closed location in [[Memphis, Tennessee]]'s Overton Square district.{{r|twilley20101115}}

In 1971, [[Daniel R. Scoggin]] acquired the rights to eight major Midwest cities.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}} In 1972, he opened with the first of a new prototype in Dallas.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}} The raised square bar and multilevel dining became the company standard. Dallas doubled the sales and tripled profits of TGI Fridays' previous best.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}} Families began visiting the new suburban locations during the day for casual food; "it took six or seven years, but T.G.I. Fridays became a very different animal", Stillman said.{{r|twilley20101115}} Attracted by this performance, he merged into the Dallas franchise forming TGI Fridays, Inc., and Scoggin was the CEO for the next 15 years. Scoggin is credited with the then-new 200 seat prototype and many of the TGI Fridays innovations including a large from-scratch menu, potato skins, bartender Olympics, and frozen drinks.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

In 1975, the company was sold to [[Carlson (company)|Carlson Companies]], and Stillman and the original investors departed. Stillman kept the original location and, now married, founded [[Smith & Wollensky]] in 1977 with Benson. Scoggin continued as CEO on an earn-out contract and finalized his sale in 1980,<ref name="nrn19860901">{{cite news | url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_v20/ai_4468081/ | title=Granddaddy of singles bars: a look at T.G.I. Fridays today | access-date=February 22, 2011 | date=September 1, 1986 | publisher=Nation's Restaurant News}}{{dead link|date=October 2024}}</ref>{{r|patton199412}}{{r|twilley20101115}}<ref name="witchel20081230" /><ref>{{cite book |title=Handbook of Marketing Research Methodologies for Hospitality and Tourism |first1=Dr. Ronald A |last1=Nykiel |year=2007 |isbn=9780789034267 |publisher=Routledge}}</ref>{{pn|date=November 2024}}<ref>High Profile, "Dan Scoggin", ''The Dallas Morning News'', Sunday, January 27, 1985, Section E</ref> signing a new contract to continue as the company's CEO.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

When the company was passing through the 100-store mark, it issued an [[initial public offering]] in 1983 with [[Goldman Sachs]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} Scoggin developed the first international franchise and the template for future international development. The first restaurant was opened in the UK with [[Whitbread|Whitbread PLC]].{{When|date=November 2024}} By the time Scoggin departed in 1986, the company had widened its appeal: alcohol consumption was de-emphasized, and quality was emphasized over quantity.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} The company became [[Private company|privately held]] again in 1989.{{r|prewitt19930329}} The focus was then switched from singles to families.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

A [[brand extension]], combining the TGI Fridays concept with the atmosphere of a [[sports bar]], called "Fridays Front Row Sports Grill", is found at two [[Major League Baseball]] stadiums which each overlook the playing field: [[Chase Field]] in [[Phoenix, Arizona]] and [[Miller Park (Milwaukee)|Miller Park]] in [[Milwaukee]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} There was also a Friday's Front Row Grill for a few seasons at Globe Life Park, then the Texas Rangers home field.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

===21st century===
The chain peaked in 2008, having 601 restaurants in the US generating $2 billion in revenue. By 2023, sales had fallen to $728 million.<ref name="OBrien"/>

In October 2009, Haymarket broke the world record for biggest profit made in any week, throughout TGI Fridays' history, and it has been home to several past winners from the bartenders Olympics, a contest started by Scoggin.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://business.highbeam.com/409700/article-1G1-15135623/tgi-friday-forges-ahead-unfriendly-territory |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102192041/http://business.highbeam.com/409700/article-1G1-15135623/tgi-friday-forges-ahead-unfriendly-territory |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 2, 2014 |title=TGI Fridays forges ahead in 'unfriendly' territory – Europe |work=Nation's Restaurant News |first=Richard | last=Martin |date=April 18, 1994}}</ref>

On May 20, 2014, TGI Fridays was sold to [[Sentinel Capital Partners]] and TriArtisan Capital Partners.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://americasmarkets.usatoday.com/2014/05/20/fridays-red-lobster-casual-dining-for-sale/ |title=Fridays, Red Lobster: Casual dining for sale |work=America's Markets (USA Today) |access-date=May 20, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140724011133/http://americasmarkets.usatoday.com/2014/05/20/fridays-red-lobster-casual-dining-for-sale/ |archive-date=July 24, 2014 |first1=Bruce |last1=Horovitz }}</ref> In October 2019, TriArtisan acquired Sentinel's stake in TGI Fridays.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pehub.com/buyouts/sentinel-in-talks-to-sell-tgi-fridayss-stake/|title=Sentinel in talks to sell TGI Fridays's stake|website=PE Hub|access-date=November 19, 2019|archive-date=November 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104172216/https://www.pehub.com/buyouts/sentinel-in-talks-to-sell-tgi-fridayss-stake/|url-status=dead |date=2019-10-08 |first1=Luisa |last1=Beltran}}</ref>

Allegro Merger began working towards taking Fridays public in 2019, buying it away from MFP Partners and TriArtisan Capital,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/tgi-fridays-to-go-public-in-380m-sale-to-allegro-merger/566992/ |title=TGI Fridays will no longer go public in wake of coronavirus |first1=Emma Liem |last1=Beckett |date=2019-11-08 |work=[[Restaurant Dive]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://tgifridays.com/faq/#:~:text=Is%20Fridays%20and%20TGI%20Fridays,food%20is%20Fridays%20known%20for? |title=FAQ |website=TGI Fridays |at=Is Fridays and TGI Fridays the same? |accessdate=2024-11-09}}</ref> but withdrawing in April 2020.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/financing/tgi-fridays-380m-deal-called |first1=Peter |last1=Romeo |first2=Jonathan |last2=Maze |date=2020-04-06 |title=TGI Fridays' $380M deal is called off}}</ref>

[[Utz Quality Foods]] entered a marketing agreement with Inventure Foods in 2017 to use the "TGI Fridays" name for some of its snacks.<ref>{{cite web |title=Utz agrees to purchase Nathan's Famous, TGI Fridays snack company |url=https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/contests/utz-agrees-to-purchase-nathans-famous-tgi-fridays-snack-company/521-4741464c-3ab5-4b1f-8841-c01fd86c14d2 |first1=Keith |last1=Schweigert |date=2017-10-31 |website=fox43.com}}</ref>

In the UK, TGI Fridays re-branded to "Fridays", dropping the "TGI" prefix during 2020.<ref>
{{cite web |url=https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/7-july-13-july-2020/tgi-fridays-rebrand/ |work=[[Design Week]] |first1=Henry |last1=Wong |date=2020-07-06 |title= TGI Fridays becomes Fridays in brand shake-up |accessdate=2024-11-09}}</ref> About three years later, the naming reverted to "TGI Fridays".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.transformmagazine.net/articles/2023/tgi-fridays-returns-to-roots-following-brand-update/ |website=transformmagazine.net |first1=Jack |last1=Cousins |title=TGI Fridays returns to roots following brand update |date=June 28, 2023 |accessdate=2024-11-09}}</ref>

{{anchor|fridays_and_go}}[[File:Fridays and Go Dundee (TGI Fridays takeaway) (i).jpg|thumb|"Fridays and Go" in [[Dundee]], Scotland]]
In March 2022, the first "Fridays and Go", a takeaway and quick service version<ref name="caterer_and_go">{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119124016/https://www.thecaterer.com/news/fridays-launch-first-fridays-and-go-dundee|archivedate=January 19, 2022|url=https://www.thecaterer.com/news/fridays-launch-first-fridays-and-go-dundee|accessdate=September 19, 2024|title=Fridays to launch first Fridays and Go concept in Dundee |first1=Katherine |last1=Price |publisher=The Caterer}}</ref> of TGI Fridays, launched in [[Dundee]], Scotland.<ref name="courier_and_go">{{cite web|url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/dundee/3108941/tgi-fridays-takeaway-opens-dundee/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316203820/https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/dundee/3108941/tgi-fridays-takeaway-opens-dundee/|archivedate=March 16, 2022|date=March 16, 2022|accessdate=September 19, 2024 |first1=Caroline |last1=Spencer |title='World first' Fridays takeaway's grand opening in Dundee|publisher=[[The Courier (Dundee)|The Courier]]}}</ref> Despite initial plans to open up to thirty other branches,<ref name="caterer_and_go" /> it remained the sole example<ref name="fridays_and_go_official">{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240414193516/https://www.tgifridays.co.uk/takeaway/fridays-and-go|url=https://www.tgifridays.co.uk/takeaway/fridays-and-go|accessdate=September 19, 2024|archivedate=April 14, 2024|title=Fridays And Go|publisher=tgifridays.co.uk|quote=Fridays And Go - Takeaway at Dundee [..] 26-28 Reform Street, Dundee, DD1 1RH [..] ABOUT FRIDAYS AND GO DUNDEE [ no other branches listed ]}}</ref> until it closed in October 2024 following the sale of the bankrupt UK franchise.<ref name="fridays_and_go_closure">{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007193344/https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/dundee/5098463/fridays-reform-street-dundee-close/|archivedate=October 7, 2024|date=October 7, 2024|accessdate=October 7, 2024|author=Andrew Robson|title=Dundee's Fridays and Go permanently shuts as TGI Fridays closes several UK restaurants|publisher=[[The Courier (Dundee)|The Courier]]|url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/dundee/5098463/fridays-reform-street-dundee-close/}}</ref>

In October 2023, SouthRock Capital, the operator of all of the TGI Fridays locations in Brazil, declared bankruptcy, continuing to operate most TGI Fridays locations normally while closing a few underperforming ones, while restructuring through the bankruptcy procedure.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/brazil-court-okays-bankruptcy-protection-for-tgi-fridays-starbucks-operator|title=Brazil court okays bankruptcy protection for TGI Fridays, Starbucks operator|date=December 12, 2023|access-date=December 14, 2023|website=Nasdaq|language=en}}</ref>

On January 4, 2024, TGI Fridays abruptly closed 36 underperforming restaurants and sold eight more to former CEO Ray Blanchette. Most employees were offered transfer to other locations.<ref>{{cite news |last=Valinsky |first=Jordan |title=TGI Fridays abruptly closes 36 'underperforming' restaurants|publisher=CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/04/food/tgi-fridays-closures/index.html |access-date=4 January 2024 |date=4 January 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Tenser |first1=Phil |title=No more Fridays: Restaurant chain closes nearly half of Mass. locations |url=https://www.wcvb.com/article/tgi-fridays-massachusetts-closures/46276476 |access-date=4 January 2024 |work=WCVB |date=4 January 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

In April 2024, TGI Fridays entered an agreement to be acquired by Hostmore LLC, the owner of TGI Friday's restaurants in the UK, and for the combined company to go public on the London Stock Exchange.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Littman |first1=Julie |title=TGI Fridays enters $220M agreement to combine with UK franchisee |url=https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/tgi-fridays-hostmore-business-combination-merger-transaction/713311/ |website=Restaurant Dive |access-date=17 January 2025 |date=15 April 2024}}</ref>

Friday's entered a licensing agreement with [[Kraft Heinz]] in May 2024 to sell Fridays-branded appetizers in supermarkets.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://news.kraftheinzcompany.com/press-releases-details/2024/Kraft-Heinz-and-TGI-Fridays--Announce-New-Perpetual-Licensing-Deal-to-Sell-TGI-Fridays-Branded-Frozen-Appetizers-in-Retail/default.aspx |date=2024-05-01 |title=Kraft Heinz and TGI Fridays ® Announce New Perpetual Licensing Deal to Sell TGI Fridays Branded Frozen Appetizers in Retail |accessdate=2024-11-02}}</ref>

===Bankruptcy===
In September 2024, TGI Fridays lost day-to-day control of its assets after failing to submit documents to bondholders on time, with consulting firm [[FTI Consulting]] taking temporary control.<ref>{{cite web |last1=John Milton |first1=Immanual |last2=Carpenter |first2=Scott |title=TGI Friday's Loses Control of Assets Following Document Delay |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-09-05/tgi-friday-s-loses-control-of-assets-following-document-delay |website=Bloomberg |access-date=17 January 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240907171934/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-09-05/tgi-friday-s-loses-control-of-assets-following-document-delay |archive-date=7 September 2024 |language=en |date=5 September 2024}}</ref> As a result, Hostmore LLC, the owner of TGI Friday's UK restaurants, dropped its plans to acquire TGI Fridays<ref>{{cite web |last1=Maze |first1=Jonathan |title=Hostmore calls off its purchase of TGI Fridays |url=https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/financing/hostmore-calls-its-purchase-tgi-fridays |website=Restaurant Business Online |access-date=17 January 2025 |language=en |date=9 September 2024}}</ref> and went into [[Administration in United Kingdom law|administration]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Davison |first=Tamara |date=2024-09-18 |title=TGI Fridays collapses into administration: the UK restaurants affected |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/tgi-fridays-owners-hostmore-administration-affected-uk-restaurants-b1182757.html |access-date=2024-09-18 |newspaper=Evening Standard}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-09-18 |title=Restaurant in Bournemouth at risk of closing as administrators called |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/24593265.tgi-fridays-bournemouth-poole-risk-closing/ |first1=Matt |last1=Simpson |access-date=2024-09-18 |work=Bournemouth Echo}}</ref> putting an estimated 4,500 jobs at risk.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-09-18 |title=4,500 jobs at risk as TGI Fridays enters administration |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czrm7z5n0y1o |first1=Mitchell |last1=Labiak |access-date=2024-09-18 |work=BBC News}}</ref> A month later, private equity firms Calveton UK and Breal Capital acquired 51 sites and saved 2,389 jobs, but didn't acquire 35 sites which immediately closed, resulting in the loss of 1,012 jobs.<ref name="Croft">{{cite news |last1=Croft |first1=Jane |title=TGI Fridays secures rescue deal but more than 1,000 UK jobs lost |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/oct/07/tgi-fridays-secures-rescue-deal-but-more-than-1000-uk-jobs-lost |access-date=27 November 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=7 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007172655/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/oct/07/tgi-fridays-secures-rescue-deal-but-more-than-1000-uk-jobs-lost |archive-date=7 October 2024 |quote=Calveton UK and Breal Capital [have] bought 51 sites from [the administrators, with] the transfer of 2,389 employees [however] 35 restaurants were not included within the sale and so have been closed with immediate effect, resulting in 1,012 job losses.}}</ref>

On October 19, 2024, TGI Fridays announced it was seeking financing as it warned that it was preparing to file for [[Chapter 11 bankruptcy]] in the United States within the coming weeks. The company blamed its bankruptcy on rising interest rates, increased competition and heavy debt.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-10-19/tgi-friday-s-seeks-new-financing-in-preparation-for-bankruptcy|title=TGI Friday's Seeks New Financing in Preparation for Bankruptcy|last1=Basu|first1=Reshmi|last2=Ronalds-Hannon|first2=Eliza|date=October 19, 2024|access-date=October 19, 2024|website=Bloomberg|language=en}}</ref> On November 2, 2024, TGI Fridays filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-11-02/tgi-friday-s-becomes-latest-casual-dining-chain-to-go-bankrupt|title= TGI Friday's Is Latest Casual Dining Chain to Go Bankrupt|last=Randles|first=Jonathan|date=November 2, 2024|access-date=November 2, 2024|website=Bloomberg|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hosted.ap.org/post-gazette/article/5979e002f72f5595a80d12beee5eeef1/tgi-fridays-files-bankruptcy-protection-sit-down|title=TGI Fridays Files For Bankruptcy Protection As Sit-Down Restaurant Struggles Continue|last=O'Brien|first=Matt |date=November 2, 2024|access-date=November 3, 2024|website=Associate Press|language=en}}</ref> The company's press release specifically cited its capital structure as one primary driver of its bankruptcy filing.<ref name="TGIFridays"/> 

On January 2, 2025, it was announced that former CEO Ray Blanchette and his company Sugarloaf Hospitality – which owns seven TGI Fridays franchised restaurants in the US – had been chosen to manage all of TGI Friday's franchised restaurants worldwide. It was also announced that nine of the company's corporate-owned restaurants had been sold to MERA Corp, a TGI Fridays franchisee based in [[Cancún]], Mexico, for $34.5 million, outbidding Blanchette – who had made a bid of $30 million – for the locations. The sale allows TGI Fridays to repay its $23.9 million bankruptcy loan, with about $8 million in cash left over.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Biswas |first1=Soma |last2=Haddon |first2=Heather |title=TGI Fridays Ex-CEO Blanchette to Take Over Chain's Management |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/tgi-fridays-ex-ceo-blanchette-to-take-over-chains-management-8d67a4c4 |website=[[Wall Street Journal]] |access-date=4 January 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250102165313/https://www.wsj.com/articles/tgi-fridays-ex-ceo-blanchette-to-take-over-chains-management-8d67a4c4 |archive-date=2 January 2025 |date=2 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Knauth |first1=Dietrich |title=TGI Fridays gets bankruptcy court approval to sell 9 locations |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/tgi-fridays-gets-bankruptcy-court-approval-sell-9-locations-2025-01-02/ |website=[[Reuters]] |access-date=4 January 2025 |date=2 January 2025}}</ref> On January 29, 2025, it was announced TGI Fridays UK's flagship restaurant in [[Leicester Square]], London, had closed down.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Prynn |first1=Jonathan |title=TGI Fridays Leicester Square flagship shuts down |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/tgi-fridays-leicester-square-west-end-restaurants-steak-diners-b1207762.html |website=[[Evening Standard]] |access-date=8 February 2025 |language=en |date=29 January 2025}}</ref> On January 30, 2025, it was reported that 30 more locations had closed, which left the chain with only around 100 locations remaining in the US.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Guszkowski |first1=Joe |title=TGI Fridays closes 30 more locations |url=https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/financing/tgi-fridays-closes-30-more-locations |website=Restaurant Business Online |access-date=31 January 2025 |language=en |date=30 January 2025}}</ref> 

On February 3, 2025, it was announced that 19 of TGI Fridays' corporate-owned restaurants had been sold to two separate franchisees: three to Sugarloaf Hospitality and 16 to Yadav Enterprises, and that TGI Fridays had rejected the leases for six more restaurants.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Guszkowski |first1=Joe |title=TGI Fridays sells 19 restaurants out of bankruptcy |url=https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/financing/tgi-fridays-sells-19-restaurants-out-bankruptcy |website=Restaurant Business Online |access-date=8 February 2025 |language=en |date=3 February 2025}}</ref>

==Controversies==
{{Criticism section|date=November 2024}}
[[File: Picture Frames at TGI Friday's in Fort Wayne, Indiana on March 12, 2020.jpg|thumb|Picture frames on a wall at a TGI Friday's by Glenbrook Mall in [[Fort Wayne, Indiana]] in March 2020; this location later closed.]]
*In 2013, as part of "Operation Swill", investigators in [[New Jersey]] raided 17 TGI Fridays franchised restaurants owned by [[The Briad Group]]. They found that the bars were replacing premium brand [[alcoholic beverages]] with lower-cost brands yet charging patrons for the more expensive liquor.<ref>{{cite news |last=Morley |first=Hugh |title=N.J. raids restaurants in Bergen, Passaic counties in liquor scam probe |url=http://www.northjersey.com/news/208510021_NJ_raids_Bergen__Passaic_restaurants_in_liquor_scam.html |access-date=May 23, 2013 |newspaper=NorthJersey.com |date=May 22, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130803110728/http://www.northjersey.com/news/208510021_NJ_raids_Bergen__Passaic_restaurants_in_liquor_scam.html |archive-date=August 3, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Gingras |first=Brynn |title=13 TGI Fridays in New Jersey Accused of Faking Premium Liquor |url=http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/TGI-Fridays-Premium-Liquor-Well-Brand-New-Jersey-Operation-Swill-208516231.html |access-date=May 23, 2013 |newspaper=NBC 4 New York |date=May 23, 2013}}</ref>
*In 2018, a tipping policy change prompted strikes across TGI Fridays restaurants in the United Kingdom as waiting staff took issue with a decision to redistribute 20% of customer tips paid by card to kitchen staff in lieu of a raise.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Butler |first=Sarah |date=2018-05-18 |title=TGI Fridays staff go on strike in UK's first dispute over tipping |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/may/18/tgi-fridays-staff-go-on-strike-in-uk-in-dispute-over-tipping |access-date=2023-04-21 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Turak |first=Natasha |title=TGI Fridays staff stage walkout in the UK over tips dispute, threaten 'summer of disruption' |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/18/tgi-fridays-staff-stage-walk-out-in-the-uk-over-tips-dispute.html |access-date=2023-04-21 |website=CNBC |date=May 18, 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=TGI Fridays: Taking Food From the Mouths of Workers |url=https://tribunemag.co.uk/2023/04/tgi-fridays-taking-food-from-the-mouths-of-workers |access-date=2023-04-21 |website=tribunemag.co.uk |language=en-GB |first1=Taj |last1=Ali}}</ref>
*In 2022, during the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russian invasion of Ukraine]], TGI Fridays was criticized by [[Jeffrey Sonnenfeld]] of [[Yale]] for "Digging In" (Defying Demands for Exit or Reduction of Activities).<ref>{{cite web|author=<!--not stated--> |title= Over 750 Companies Have Curtailed Operations in Russia—But Some Remain |website= [[Yale School of Management]] |url=https://som.yale.edu/story/2022/over-750-companies-have-curtailed-operations-russia-some-remain|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616082544/https://som.yale.edu/story/2022/over-1000-companies-have-curtailed-operations-russia-some-remain|archive-date=16 June 2022|orig-date=Originally published 28 February 2022, continuously updated|date=9 November 2024 }}</ref> TGI Fridays issued a statement saying that it stood with the people of Ukraine, that the decision whether to close was for local franchisees to make, and that any proceeds received would be donated to Mercy Chefs, an organisation supporting humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tgifridays.com/downloads/news/TGI%20Fridays%20Statement%20on%20Operations%20in%20Russia.pdf|website=TGI Fridays|title=Statement on Restaurants in Russia|date=11 March 2022}}</ref>
* In 2022, the US restaurants faced a class-action lawsuit over the content of the TGI Fridays-branded mozzarella stick appetizer manufactured by Inventure Foods, sold in grocery stores. Litigants claimed the sticks contained no [[mozzarella cheese]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/food/2022/12/01/tgi-fridays-mozzarella-sticks-snack-cheddar-cheese-lawsuit/10813587002/ |title=Maker of TGI Fridays 'Mozzarella Sticks' sued for containing no mozzarella, just cheddar |first1=Orlando |last1=Mayorquin |work=[[USA Today]] |date=2022-12-01}}</ref> Inventure Foods settled the claims for $900,000, agreeing to pay up to $6 per household, in February 2024.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/closed-settlements/inventure-foods-tgi-fridays-false-advertising-900k-class-action-settlement/ |title=Inventure Foods, TGI Friday's false advertising $900K class action settlement |publisher=Top Class Actions|date=February 2024}}</ref>

==Franchises==
TGI Fridays is a [[franchising]] operation, with franchisees owning most of the outlets.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}} In 2011, the largest franchisee was [[The Briad Group]] in [[New Jersey]], which ran 72 restaurants in six states.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Briad Group |url=http://www.hoovers.com/company/The_Briad_Group/rrfkryi-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607163221/http://www.hoovers.com/company/The_Briad_Group/rrfkryi-1.html |archive-date=June 7, 2011 |access-date=February 14, 2021 }}</ref><ref name="Briad">{{cite web |url=https://www.briad.com/history/ |title=History |website=briad.com |accessdate=2024-11-02}}</ref> Briad sold its franchises in 2020.<ref name="Briad"/>

Whitbread PLC, with 45 locations in the United Kingdom, was a major international franchisee until 2007.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}} On January 17, 2007, Whitbread sold operating rights of all 45 restaurants back to TGI Fridays UK Limited (a consortium consisting of Carlson Restaurants Worldwide Inc. and [[ABN AMRO|ABN Amro Capital]]) thus exiting a partnership formed in 1986.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.whitbread.co.uk/media.cfm?id=press_releases_archive&view=215|title=WHITBREAD PLC SELLS TGI FRIDAY'S BUSINESS|access-date=December 15, 2007|archive-date=October 30, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030214326/http://www.whitbread.co.uk/media.cfm?id=press_releases_archive&view=215|url-status=dead |date=2007-01-17}}</ref> 

TGI Fridays has also been used as a restaurant for hotels run by [[Country Inns & Suites by Carlson]] brand.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}} In 2014 the [[investment trust]] [[Electra Private Equity]] bought Fridays' British subsidiary with 66 sites across the UK.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}} In 2021 Electra [[Corporate spin-off|spun off]] its hospitality business, including Fridays in the UK, as Hostmore PLC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hostmoregroup.com/our-story|title=Our Story|website=Hostmore}}</ref> On 18 September 2024 Hostmore PLC entered administration; all UK restaurant locations were offered for sale.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/tgi-fridays-acquisition-falls-through-as-bondholders-seize-assets/726486/ |title=TGI Fridays acquisition falls through, bondholders seize assets |first1=Aneurin |last1=Canham-Clyne |date=2024-09-09 |work=[[Restaurant Dive]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nrn.com/news/tgi-fridays-uk-owner-hostmore-files-administration-after-reverse-takeover-fails |title=TGI Fridays' U.K. owner Hostmore files for administration after reverse takeover fails |first1=Joanna |last1=Fantozzi |date=2024-09-23 |work=National Restaurant News}}</ref> 51 sites were sold the following month, while a further 35 closed.<ref name="Croft"/>

{{Disputed-section|date=April 2025}}
===List of countries with TGI Fridays===
====Africa====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Country
! Number of locations
! Notes and references
|-
| Egypt
| 4
|<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://tgifridaysme.com/ar/store-locator/|title=فروعنا|date=January 24, 2017 |language=ar}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://tgifridaysme.com/store-locator/|title=Store Locator|date=November 18, 2016 |access-date=March 11, 2023}}</ref>
|}

====Americas====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Country
! Number of locations
! Notes and references
|-
| Argentina
| 2
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tgifridaysargentina.com.ar/locales.html|title=Locales|language=es}}</ref>
|-
| Brazil
| 11
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tgifridaysbrasil.com.br/|title=Encontre a gente|language=pt}}</ref>
|-
| Canada
| 2
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tgifniagara.com/index.php|title=Niagara Falls Restaurant &#124; TGI Fridays Niagara Falls|website=www.tgifniagara.com}}</ref>
|-
| Chile
| 2
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fridayschile.cl/local|title=Locales|language=es}}</ref>
|-
| Costa Rica
| 2
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fridays.cr/tiendas/|title=Tiendas|language=es}}</ref>
|-
| Dominican Republic
| 2
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fridaysdr.com.do/locations/|title=Sucursales|work=TGI Fridays |language=es}}</ref>
|-
| Ecuador
| 3
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tgifridays.ec/encuentra_tu_fridays/|title=Fridays|website=www.tgifridays.ec}}</ref>
|-
| Guatemala
| 3
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fridays.com.gt/|title=Fridays|language=es}}</ref>
|-
| Honduras
| 4
|
|-
| Jamaica
|1
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home {{!}} TGI Fridays |url=https://tgif-jm.com/ |access-date=2024-02-15 |website=TGI Fridays™ Jamaica |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| Nicaragua
|1
|
|-
| Mexico
| 2
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fridays.mx/elige.php|title=Elige tu Fridays|language=es}}</ref>
|-
| Panama
| 8
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fridayspanama.com/locations/|title=Sucursales|language=es}}</ref>

|-
| Paraguay
| 4
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fridays.com.py/locations/|title=Sucursales|language=es}}</ref>

|-
| Peru
| 17
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fridaysperu.com/locales|title=Locales|language=es}}</ref>
|-
| Trinidad and Tobago
| 4
| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tgif-tt.com/about-us/|title=About Us}}</ref>
|-
| United States
| 85
| <ref name="Locations"/>
|}

====Asia====
[[File:T.G.I. Friday's in Kuwait City, 2022.jpg|thumb|TGI Friday's located nearby [[Kuwait Towers]] in Kuwait City, 2022]]
[[File:TGI Friday's at Robinsons Galleria Cebu (2023-07-17).jpg|thumb|TGI Friday's at [[Robinsons Galleria Cebu]] in [[Cebu City]], 2023]]
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Country
! Number of locations
! Notes and references
|-
| Azerbaijan
| 1
|
|-
| Bahrain
| 2
|<ref name="auto1"/><ref name="auto"/>
|-
| China
| <!-- 25 --> 2
|
|-
| India
| 3
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marketing-interactive.com/tgi-fridays-plans-to-expand-across-sea|title=TGI Fridays plans to expand across SEA|author=Tan, Chloe|publisher=Marketing Interactive|date=27 September 2022}}</ref>
|-
| Indonesia
| 1
|
|-
| Japan
| 13
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tgifridays.co.jp/find-us/|title=Shops店舗情報 |language=ja |trans-title=Store Information |accessdate=2024-11-05}}</ref>
|-
| Kuwait
| 10
|<ref name="auto1"/><ref name="auto"/>
|-
| Malaysia
| 10
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fridays.com.my/find-us/kuala-lumpur/|title=TGI Fridays Malaysia &#124; Kuala Lumpur|access-date=March 11, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| Philippines
| 27
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://fridays.com.ph/location|title=TGIF PH Branches|website=TGIF}}</ref>
|-
| Qatar
| 3
|<ref name="auto1"/><ref name="auto"/>
|-
| Russia
| 1{{efn|name=Russia|There are 14 TGI Fridays franchises in Russia, 13 of which are in [[European Russia]] (all of which are in Moscow) while the remaining one is in [[Asian Russia]] (this restaurant is located in [[Yekaterinburg]]).}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ekb.tgifridays.ru/restaurants/|title=Рестораны Фрайдейс в Екатеринбурге|language=ru}}</ref>
|-
| Saudi Arabia
| 18
|<ref name="auto1"/><ref name="auto"/>
|-
| Sri Lanka
| 2
|
|-
| South Korea
| 0
| Exited the franchise on March 31, 2025<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ji-hee |first1=Byun |title=TGI Fridays closes all locations in South Korea to focus on Mad for Garlic |url=https://biz.chosun.com/en/en-retail/2025/02/04/IAFTAFF5LVGNTCXAXTMFTEJ5UI/ |website=CHOSUNBIZ |access-date=8 February 2025 |language=en |date=4 February 2025}}</ref>
|-
| Taiwan
| 16
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tgifridays.com.tw/zh-TW/locations|title=餐廳店址|language=zh}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tgifridays.com.tw/en-US/locations|title=Locations|language=en}}</ref>
|-
| United Arab Emirates
| 11
|<ref name="auto1"/><ref name="auto"/>
|}

====Europe====
[[File:TGI Friday, Enfield - geograph.org.uk - 3397541.jpg|thumb|TGI Fridays in [[Enfield, London]], 2013]]
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Country
! Number of locations
! Notes and references
|-
| Belarus
|
|
|-
| Cyprus
| 9
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fridays.com.cy/locations-listing/|title=Locations Listing|website=fridays.com.cy}}</ref>
|-
| Greece
| 9
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fridays.gr/restaurants/|title=Επιλεξτε εστιατοριο|language=el}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fridays.gr/en/restaurants/|title=Choose restaurant|language=en|website=fridays.gr}}</ref>
|-
| Hungary
| 0
|Exited the franchise on May 18, 2024{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}
|-
| Iceland
|
|
|-
| Ireland
| 1
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fridays.ie/locations/|title=Locations – Fridays|access-date=March 11, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| Netherlands
| 0 (bankruptcy)
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fridays.nl/|title=Locaties|language=nl}}</ref>
|-
|Norway
|4
|
|-
| Russia
| 13{{efn|name=Russia}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tgifridays.ru/restaurants/|title=Рестораны Фрайдейс в Москве|language=ru}}</ref>
|-
| Spain
| 13
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tgifridays.es/encuentranos|title=Localizador|language=es}}</ref>
|-
| Sweden
| 3 (bankruptcy)
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fridays.se/|title=Fridays Sverige|website=www.fridays.se}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=12 March 2024 |title=TGI Fridays i konkurs – hyrestvisten i Kungsträdgården sänkte kedjan |url=https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/stockholm/tgi-fridays-i-konkurs-hyrestvisten-i-kungstradgarden-sankte-kedjan |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240330175234/https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/stockholm/tgi-fridays-i-konkurs-hyrestvisten-i-kungstradgarden-sankte-kedjan |archive-date=30 March 2024 |access-date=30 March 2024 |work=SVT Nyheter}}</ref>
|-
| United Kingdom
| 49
|<ref>{{cite web |title=Restaurant near me |url=https://www.tgifridays.co.uk/locations |website=TGI Fridays UK}}</ref>
|}

====Oceania====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Country
! Number of locations
! Notes and references
|-
| Australia
| 20
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tgifridays.com.au/locations/|title=American Restaurants Near You &#124; TGI Fridays Local Restaurant Finder|website=TGI Fridays}}</ref>
|-
| Guam
| 1
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tgifridaysguam.com/|title=HOME|website=TGIFridaysGuam}}</ref>
|}

====Planned markets====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Country
! Notes and references
|-
| New Zealand
|Announced in 2022<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/300720758/tgi-fridays-among-fast-food-franchises-with-nz-plans|publisher=Stuff.co.nz|title=TGI Fridays among fast food franchises with NZ plans|author=Shaw, Aimee|date=26 October 2022}}</ref>
|-
| Singapore
|Announced in 2022<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/tgi-fridays-to-open-four-new-outlets-create-at-least-150-jobs-in-singapore|title=TGI Fridays to open four new outlets, create at least 150 jobs in Singapore|author=Wan Chern, Kang|date=16 September 2022 |publisher=The Straits Time}}</ref>
|}

==Design==
The newer TGI Fridays franchises (as well as redesigned restaurants) are more contemporary, with wallpaper, granite exteriors, and red-and-white striped lamps instead of Tiffany. The exteriors have [[stucco]], the entrance doors have F-shaped handles, and a metal cup above the door has a stripe saying "In Here, It's always Friday". The logo design was evolved in 2013 by Jane MacDowall and her creative team in Scotland. Most TGI Fridays have a [[propeller]] and a rowing [[scull]] on display as part of their antiques, which are actually a part of a story told to all TGI Fridays employees; the scull always contains a pair of [[saddle shoes]] and a bottle of champagne to remind employees of the value of teamwork, leadership, and celebrating success. The propeller is always above or near the bar. The thought is that the bar "propels" the restaurant.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Selinger |first1=Hannah |title=TGI Fridays Was Once The Hottest Hookup Bar In NYC—What Happened? |url=https://www.delish.com/restaurants/a60166888/tgi-fridays-history/ |website=Delish |access-date=28 November 2024 |date=28 March 2024}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=December 2024}}<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wong |first1=Henry |title=TGI Fridays rebrands to be "famous again" |url=https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/7-july-13-july-2020/tgi-fridays-rebrand/ |website=[[Design Week]] |access-date=28 November 2024 |date=6 July 2020}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=December 2024}}<ref>{{cite web |last1=Archie |first1=Ayana |title=TGI Fridays closes dozens of its stores |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/01/05/1223033235/tgi-fridays-closings |website=[[NPR]] |access-date=28 November 2024 |date=5 January 2024}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=December 2024}}

<gallery widths="200px" heights="155px">
File:TGI Fridays in Easton, PA.jpg|A TGI Fridays in [[Easton, Pennsylvania]] that uses the new design, seen in February 2019.
File:TGI Fridays Goodlettsville TN USA.JPG|TGI Fridays in [[Goodlettsville, Tennessee]] in July 2009 (closed in 2019).
File:FridaysManahawkin.jpg|A TGI Fridays in [[Manahawkin, New Jersey]] that opened in 2003 with the new design, seen in November 2006.
</gallery>

==Menu==
Fridays has a large menu with an emphasis on [[alcoholic beverage]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://foodmenuguru.com/tgi-fridays-menu-prices/|title=TGI FRIDAYS MENU PRICES {{!}} TGIF Menu|language=en-US|access-date=July 26, 2016}}</ref>{{Failed verification|reason=This reference lists Fridays menu items, but does not include any alcoholic beverages at all.|date=November 2024}} These drinks come in liquid as well as frozen form and TGI often runs specials or creates unique drinks based on seasonality and location.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

TGI Fridays formerly served [[Atkins Nutritional Approach|Atkins]]-approved appetizers, entrées, and desserts.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/now-tgi-fridays-puts-atkins-on-the-menu-5rp9q7r9323 |title=Now TGI Friday's puts Atkins on the menu |first1=James |last1=Doran |date=2023-12-06 |work=[[The Times]] |accessdate=2024-11-09}}</ref> In 2006, the Atkins name was removed from the menu when Atkins filed for bankruptcy,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2005/08/01/4780891/atkins-nutritionals-files-for-bankruptcy |title=Atkins Nutritionals Files for Bankruptcy |publisher=[[NPR]] |date=2005-08-01 |first1=Jack |last1=Speer}}</ref> but the restaurant continues to offer both [[Low-carbohydrate diet|low-carbohydrate]] and low-fat menu items. The UK and US menus offer [[Gluten-free diet|gluten-free]] items.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://tgifridays.com/downloads/images/pdf/Q2_Nutritionals_0322_03212022.pdf |title=Nutritional Values |accessdate=2024-11-09 |website=TGI Fridays}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of casual dining restaurant chains]]
* [[List of restaurants in New York City]]
* [[Flair bartending]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|T.G.I. Friday's}}
* {{Official website|https://www.tgifridays.com/}}

{{Heinz}}
{{Food chains in Australia}}
{{Restaurant chains in Ireland}}
{{Food chains in Japan}}
{{Food chains in South Korea}}
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{{Food chains in the United Kingdom}}
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