Wow. I actually used to WORK at that restaurant years ago when I lived in Pittsburgh. And for it to be closed suddenly like that? In the time I was there, I was told that our store was the best store IN the city and surrounding area. Wow. That's just... mindblowing. Hoping some of my old friends who were still working there have been able to get back on their feet.
I was a manager at that TGIF location in the early 90's. The entire chain has declined due to menu items. The original menu was the best. No more WOW opportunities here.
This reminds me of the Joe’s Crab Shack too!!!! The Joe’s Crab Shack I used to visit when I lived in Memphis closed. It was so sad!!!! I loved going there!!!! I think it closed due to crime because it was not in the best area. They had really good prices on drinks too. I am sad it closed. Thank you so very much for filming these abandoned restaurants and businesses Wally!!!! We really appreciate it!!!!
I recall reading online the parent company closed down Joe's Crab Shack and Brick House(Hooters/Tilted Kilt/Twin Peaks/etc ripoff) locations, with little warning this past summer due to a bankruptcy filing. Didn't close all their locations, but they closed a good bit of them, including nearly all locations(except 1 Brick House) in Illinois. That was sad to read about, and it makes me sad how many people had to have lost their jobs and weren't able to transfer to another location.
They closed two of our TGIF locations in Cincinnati. Same thing with our family, we were there celebrating an occasion on November 7th and they were closed by November 9th. No warning, no signs and the Kenwood location stayed pumping all day and night. Absolutely shocked at their departure.
There was a Ruby Tuesday's in my town that closed back in 2012. It couldn't deal with competition from the nearby O'Charley's, Longhorn's and Applebee's. It later became a Mexican restaurant.
A lot of these national chains like this, Applebee's, and Chili's are closing up everywhere, simply due to a - like you said more expensive and not that great (I only ate at the Fridays once, was just not impressed, I personally like Red Robin better) and b - the demand is swinging more towards your local or regional chains that are more budget friendly and better tasting. (The whole shop local movement) With regards to taste, we are getting to be a more diverse cultural people, there are more ethnic eateries popping up in these buildings to take thier place. I can see this particular one becoming a Mexican cantina. Great video! 😀
It is very sad that more and more places to eat are closing up. Great memories, especially in the 90's having your much anticipated birthday dinner, hangout, ect. and then a movie. It was those times you actually salivated for all day. I wonder if all restaurants will close their doors soon.😭😔 That was our excitement, going out. What is the competition to eateries to make them lose money?
No idea why lights are left on, at these shuttered restaurants. I do remember at one suburban Chicago Bennigan's, that the lights at that location were left on for a surprisingly good while after the restaurant closed. Just goes to show whatever franchisee owner(or if it was TGIF corporate, not sure) closed down this restaurant was in a rush to shut it down, and didn't care if they still left power on I guess.
Great video! That Friday's looks extremely similar inside to the one around me that randomly closed up as well. Stopped going there when there prices didn't match up to the food we were getting. Shame people given lil to no notice on these places that they're losing there jobs.
Hi Wallie, This looks like an upscale property and neighborhood. I think maybe a restaurant that caters to better prices and choices on the menu. Thanks for this find!
Great video. Missed it before I discovered your awesome work and the talent and the great filming and story telling was already there. Curious to known if it's been repurposed yet. Like the stores I'm thinking the casual restaurant industry is hurting, partly as you said because of higher prices for average food (I do like TGI Fridays Ribs) and people don't have the $$$ to go out. They closed the TGI Fridays at Chicago O Hare. DOn't know if they shut at Newark Airport, that was my go to place for beers and wings while waiting for my buds to land.
I think you're right about chain restaurants hurting, in general in recent years. With fewer people opting to eat at such restaurants, in more recent years. And I had no idea about the TGIF closing near O'Hare, that's sad to hear.
I worked there a few years ago and I know that at all meals we were super busy. I was shocked at how quickly it closed though. One day I rode by and it was open then a few days later closed. But if new management took over then gave the employees an ultimatum it seems that was the plan. Take it over and close it. And also with the competition right down the road might have dwindled business. Let's face it, the restaurants at mcandless crossing are so much better and about the same price. Btw the road that gets you to the building is corporate Dr. Lol
I remember eating at a TGI Friday's in Sandusky, Ohio, back in 2002. It was connected to a hotel near Cedar Point. I was NOT impressed with the food at all. Never ate at a Friday's again - give me Outback Steakhouse any day.
Mister Hat I'm not a fan of Applebee's either - pretty expensive and not always good. You get what you pay for. We also have a Longhorn Steakhouse and a Tumbleweed - WAY too expensive for me! 💰💰
That was a construction/demolition roll-up container and yes All the Fridays signs and everything else not going up for auction is going to the landfill.Casual Dining end of the restaurant business is struggling and your assessment is spot on.Expensive & really not very good👎you'll see more of them closing and soon many Applebees will too.Expensive and not really all that good a death sentence for some restaurants especially since deflation in the grocery business has made it easier to make better & cheaper meals @ home since Wal Mart and Amazon made big entry into the grocery end now.
TGI Fridays by me just did a complete remodel. Gone is all the random pics and items that were attached to the walls. The red and white tables are gone also. The sign out front just says "Fridays" now. Service seemed to suffer a little too.
I never ate at TGI Friday’s but I heard of it. There’s an abandoned TGI Friday’s near the mall farther away from my town. It’s been closed for a very long time
The one in my city, got bought by a bbq joint (I forget the name right now) about a yr ago. I worked at this establishment for a couple of yrs. (2012-2014) I loved it. But new management (to me) ruined it. The closest TGIF is about 3-4 hrs away
Casual dining is on the decline and you will see a lot more of these. With the price of gas, fuel oil, electricity, taxes, mortgages and healthcare nobody can afford to eat out anymore. For a family of four to eat out could cost you $75-$100 and that's almost a weeks worth of groceries for the four.
Mark Barden Especially when min wages, etc have been kept stagnent. And when the min wage does go up, so does the price of everything else cause of corporate greed. Because of this, some can't even afford the dollar menu at McDonalds.
I went to TGIFridays, maybe two years ago, and the food & service was horrible. So it doesn’t surprise me that they are closing the restaurants. That is so dirty how they do that to their employees.
Never seen a TGIF with a patio before... wonder if there are any TGIF's out there (or even Ruby Tuesday's) that have the old decor with tiffany lights and antiques all over the place.
It's such a shame that companies feel the need to throw stuff away like that, I mean why not start up a auction website and put the stuff up for biding.
I remember back 15 or so years ago that the employees wore those tacky "Where's Waldo" shirts. I thought it was a joke, but that's what they wore. They updated their uniforms and it looked much better. It seems that service is suffering at restaurants as of late. The management doesn't care, why should the employees and that's how business gets lost. I am better off just cooking for myself at home and skip the headache of bad service. People are just so rude nowadays. WHY????
This is so sad to me!!!! We live 30 miles from a TGIFridays and they do have delicious ribs!!!! I think they still have 2 entrees or appetizers for $10 at lunch. They also have delicious draft beer!!!! I am so sad to see they are closed!!!!
i feel like you could tell this was a friday’s possibly because of the tall brown things on top of the entrance. it seems like it’s a staple of friday’s now
I remember 15-20 years ago when ths TGIFRIDAY'S opened. There was a Lonestar steakhouse next to it. I know that the Lonestar steakhouse closed about 8-10 years ago before I left the Burg. I have eaten at this TGIFRIDAY'S and at one in the state I am living in now. The food was good but not memorable
I'm in the comment section looking for the server named Josh who used to work here. Josh if you're reading this please reply. We miss you! You were the best of the best of the best!
Hey they did that to the ppl in quincy illionis they just closed the door night before and didnt tell the employees they just closed and put up a note saying we are closed and we'll leave a number to get ahold of the manager of this shop and that was it none of the employees didnt no till they went there the next morning two days before thanksgiving..
Better restaurant down the road on Babcock Blvd called. NORTH PARK LOUNGE. Unless that closed too. I also don't know if you reread your comments from 2 years ago I must of missed this one sorry You are awesome. Blss you & keep safe. Luv ya...
ate at the TGIF after steel - con in monroeville, pa in 2018 and the food was really good, and i hadnt ate at one in 10 yrs, it seemed like they stepped up their game, sad that the other locations closed, carry some contractor plastic bags and hazmat suit in the trunk___LOL, i woulda dug that sign out and i am usually squimish about dirt
I don't get why THIS one closed, though - it was always busy. On the other hand though, they had a bad habit of taking food people really liked off the menu....
The economy is and had been secretly crashing, Australia currently has a huge sub-prime mortgage crash becuase of the 40% interest only loans that are converting to principle+interest payments. We are heading for a huge crash and it has started and stock market is going to crash fast like in 1929 overnight!!!
