End of an Era: TGI Fridays Restaurants Closing Their Doors

At TGI Fridays, their slogan is, “In here, it’s always Friday.”

As a devoted cinephile, I’m finding that Fridays are slipping away, for the number of cinemas in the chain is dwindling faster than ever before, with an alarming rate of closures.

As reported by Nation’s Restaurant News, TGI Fridays has closed additional outlets, reducing their number of restaurants to a remaining 125. The most recent closures can be found in New York, Nevada, and Pennsylvania.

In simpler terms, by last October, TGI Fridays had closed many of its restaurants, leaving just 164 operational. This means they’ve been quite active in the process of closing locations.

The once vibrant restaurant chain, famous for its zest and style, is currently facing hardships. Having filed for bankruptcy in November 2024, they’ve managed to resurface, yet continue to grapple with difficulties.

It appears that certain issues might be originating from the corporate level, given that the company experienced a rapid succession of no less than three CEOs within a short period in 2023.

If TGI Fridays continues to close its restaurants at their current pace, there’s a strong possibility that the entire franchise might cease to exist.

Popular Restaurants That Have Faded Away

All-Star Cafe

The international triumph of Hard Rock Cafe inspired a trend of imitation themed eateries. However, restaurants centered around trinkets proved to be less enduring than those focused on quality cuisine, leading most Hard Rock rivals to fade away within a few years.

One notable instance is the Official All-Star Cafe, a spinoff from the Planet Hollywood chain, boasting athletes like Shaquille O’Neal, Ken Griffey Jr., and Wayne Gretzky as investors instead of movie stars. The inaugural location was in New York City in 1995, but the chain struggled to gain traction. It could be that people associate sports events with overpriced and unappealing food which might have contributed to its downfall. The chain closed its doors in 2007.

Beefsteak Charlie’s

Over time, a restaurant based in New York City expanded significantly, eventually establishing itself as a well-known institution across the Tri-State area with numerous branches. Their advertisements promoting their steaks and endless salad bar were frequently aired on TV, becoming common fixtures. The chain and its catchphrase “You’re gonna get spoiled!” were humorously criticized in an early Saturday Night Live sketch that parodied a similarly named restaurant, “Pre-Chewed Charlie’s.” Despite having strong brand recognition, the chain gradually lost popularity and ultimately closed down completely towards the end of the 2000s.

Burger Chef

In the initial release of “Star Wars” movies, it wasn’t McDonald’s but rather Burger Chef, a popular burger chain with over 1000 restaurants in the ’70s, that partnered for the movie tie-ins. Despite experiencing a downfall throughout the ’80s, Burger Chef remains significant in fast food history as they introduced their “Funmeal” (which was like McDonald’s Happy Meal) well over five years before it became popular at McDonald’s.

Chi-Chi’s

During the 1970s and 1980s, Chi-Chi’s restaurants flourished, having been named after one of its founders’ wives. By the 1990s, the company boasted over 200 locations, with Hormel utilizing their brand for a popular range of tortilla chips and salsas. Today, these products can still be found on grocery store shelves, but unfortunately, the restaurants ceased operations by the mid-2000s, following a period where they were linked to a significant hepatitis outbreak. It seems that people generally avoid dining at restaurants associated with such health concerns.

Dive!

Steven Spielberg: Renowned movie director and at one point, sandwich creator? Indeed. In the 1990s, Spielberg ventured into the culinary world with his own Los Angeles sandwich shop, titled Dive! due to its underwater motif, featuring a massive yellow submarine as decor. The sandwiches offered at Dive! included a soft shell crab sandwich and a “Nuclear Sicilian Sub Rosa,” which was a mystery at the time. Despite opening another Dive! in Las Vegas, both establishments closed by the early 2000s.

Don Pablo’s

If you’ve never dined at Chi-Chi’s, it’s likely that you frequented Don Pablo’s instead. In the late 1990s, Don Pablo’s was the second largest Mexican and Tex-Mex chain in the country. However, their success didn’t endure; despite offering a variety of tacos and fajitas, the company filing for bankruptcy in the 2000s signaled its downfall. The last operating location closed in 2019.

Fashion Cafe

As I watched the glamorous world of fashion unfold on the big screen around the time of the All-Star Cafe, a captivating ensemble of supermodels graced the stage as the faces of a Fashion Cafe chain. Despite the star power of Elle Macpherson and Naomi Campbell, and a menu boasting an impressive seven pages, this venture failed to make a lasting impression. The flagship location in the heart of New York City opened its doors only to close them again within three years.

The Ground Round

Initially spun off from the renowned Howard Johnson’s chain of hotels and eateries, The Ground Round was celebrated for its extensive menu offering classic American dishes, complemented by a complimentary basket of popcorn when you took your seat. At its peak, the chain operated over 200 locations, but faced tough competition in the expanding casual dining sector. Consequently, the corporation filed for bankruptcy in 2004. Although The Ground Round is largely defunct, a few independently-run establishments continue to operate, primarily in North Dakota. If you find yourself in the vicinity and craving some Cajun tortellini or Caribbean sizzling sirloin tips, conduct a Google search. I only wish they still serve popcorn!

Howard Johnson’s

Over the years, the original owners of Ground Round, Howard Johnson’s, have faced their fair share of adversity. Although the company continues to manage numerous hotels, it once held the top spot as the nation’s largest restaurant chain. Regrettably, its restaurant business is no more and the last remaining location closed in 2022.

For a curious dive into the internet’s depths, search for Howard Johnson’s Children’s Menu. You’ll find some unusual dishes they offered to children like the “Humpty Dumpty,” which was essentially a small tuna fish salad with an egg and tomato on crisp lettuce, accompanied by potato chips, roll, butter, ice cream or sherbet or gelatin, and a drink – all for just 95 cents. Delicious!

Kenny Rogers Roasters

In the famous Seinfeld episode featuring Kramer and Jerry, they became hooked on Kenny Rogers Roasters’ chicken. In the ’90s, country music legend Kenny Rogers was transformed into a fast-food mogul by this chain. Although its U.S. locations have shut down, there are over 100 international outlets still running. It might be time for Kramer and Jerry to reserve tickets for Malaysia!

Lone Star Steakhouse

Among the unique characteristics of this popular steakhouse chain is that each table receives a bucket of roasted peanuts, and guests are even encouraged to toss the empty shells on the floor. Children find this amusing as they’re allowed to create a mess, though it might not be as enjoyable for their parents to dine in a restaurant where the floor is often dirty. It’s said that only one Lone Star location still operates in Guam, while the others have closed and vanished over time.

Marvel Mania

Check this out. Take a look at where Marvel stood three years prior to the release of X-Men. This was Marvel’s first ever themed restaurant, situated at Universal Studios Hollywood. To clarify, that’s what the Hulk costumed character appeared like during the grand opening. The food at Marvel Mania – which I desperately wanted my parents to take me to – was nothing special, but the decor, featuring a life-size Iron Man suit, was practically heaven for a fan at the time. Sadly, the ordinary food proved more appealing than the cool Marvel collectibles, and the restaurant closed before a second location could be established.

Morrison’s

Back in the day, Morrison’s Cafeterias were abundant across the American South, boasting a wide variety of dishes. I stumbled upon an old commercial on YouTube that highlighted their fried shrimp, seafood au gratin, baked fillet, fried fish, fried scallops, blackened fillets, and two accompanying vegetables, all served with bread and butter. Talk about a feast! However, in 1998, they were acquired by one of their rivals, Piccadilly, who closed most of the outlets – except for one that’s still running in Mobile, Alabama. Does anyone have a craving for seafood au gratin now?

NASCAR Cafe

Nothing beats the aroma of motor oil and diesel fuel, but apparently quite a bit, as the NASCAR Cafe didn’t last long, even with its prime location at the Sahara Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, complete with a roller coaster called Speed: The Ride. Despite the ongoing fascination with NASCAR, this cafe couldn’t seem to hold its ground. Interestingly, while the decor was truly spectacular, boasting full-sized stock cars racing along the walls, none of the online menus show any dishes related to racing.

Old Country Buffet

Many people delight in restaurants that offer an all-you-can-eat experience. In the 1980s and ’90s, buffets with extensive menus and affordable prices became increasingly popular, with Old Country Buffet being one of the most successful examples. Regrettably, buffets were not designed to cope with pandemics; they struggled to accommodate a world driven by food delivery, and their large food troughs began to resemble biohazards rather than attractive selling points. The corporate owners were forced to close Old Country Buffet, along with several other buffet chains they managed, such as HomeTown Buffet, during the early 2020s.

Showbiz Pizza Place

Back in the vibrant ’80s, two colossal figures ruled the pizza/arcade realm: Chuck E. Cheese, still going strong albeit transitioning away from their beloved animatronics, and Showbiz Pizza Place, which boasted an eccentric animatronic animal ensemble known as The Rock-afire Explosion – a cult favorite that garnered such devotion it even spawned a documentary in 2008. In the mid-’80s, these two titans merged, with Showbiz eventually fading into oblivion as time passed. Nowadays, the era of this captivating show has long since ended.

2025-02-06 23:54