TGI Friday's Bites the Dust

The red sign on the front of TGI Friday's that let customers know the hours of operation lay poetically atop the big pile of debris.

Demolition of the longstanding Rancho Santa Margarita eatery began Monday, about  7 a.m., and by the time lunch rolled around, Friday's was nothing but rubble. The "Hours" sign, a little worse for wear, was a sardonic reminder. TGIF's is closed for good.

The restaurant was made quick work of by Holbrook Construction, which took off the front face and the rof of the restaurant Monday morning. Still standing are the back wall and parts of the connecting sides, although those are likely to come down on Wednesday.

The company is trying to recycle whatever refuse it can. Most of the material is expected to be hauled away on Tuesday. "We think green," said Tereso Vargas, who watched Rosario Lopez knock out the wall and crush wood and other debris into the most manageable sizes possible.

Lopez's escalator caved in walls and roofing, and tracked over the pile of waste.

In one corner of the site, Rich Kohler and Mike Zaman of Kohler Mechanical were adding bigger pipes to ensure that temporary water had enough pressure to keep the dust down while just yards away customers went to the doctor's office and did their banking.

After the site is cleared, a BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse will be erected.