TGI Fridays Abruptly Closes In Wayne, Other NJ Communities

WAYNE, NJ — TGI Fridays in Wayne Township was among the dozens of locations that the bar and grill chain abruptly closed, Patch has learned.

TGI Fridays confirmed on Wednesday that it was closing 36 "underperforming" locations in select markets across the U.S., as "part of the brand's ongoing growth strategy."

The closures include seven in the Garden State, according to a report from KUSA-TV in Denver which listed all the locations closing. The Wayne location, at 71 NJ-23, was taken off the company website and listed as "closed" on Google as of Thursday afternoon.

The other New Jersey locations among the casualties are in Cherry Hill, Iselin, Hackensack, Eatontown, Springfield, and Princeton.

TGI Fridays now operates 16 restaurants in the Garden State, as of Thursday at 5 p.m.

The chain didn't disclose how many workers lost their jobs as part of the closures. But TGI Fridays offered more than 1,000 transfer opportunities, which represents "over 80 percent" of all impacted employees, according to a company news release.

"By strengthening our franchise model and closing underperforming stores, we are creating an unprecedented opportunity for Fridays to drive forward its vision for the future," Chief Operating Officer Ray Risley said in a statement.

TGI Fridays also announced the sale of eight restaurants in the Northeast to former CEO Ray Blanchette.