A handful of TGI Fridays restaurants in California have closed or are set to close as the casual dining chain prepares to go public later this year, according to California employment records and company officials.
Three Southern California restaurants in Woodland Hills, Compton and Costa Mesa closed in November and December, impacting more than 180 employees, according to California employment notices documenting mass layoffs. Two other mall-based locations are also set to close, a company representative told Nation's Restaurant News.
The Dallas-based chain did not provide a reason for the closures, only stating that three Orange County locations are owned by franchisees. The Costa Mesa location near South Coast Plaza closed Dec. 31.
The chain, which earlier in the year closed locations in Staten Island and Tallahassee, Fl., did not provide a closing date for locations in Westminster and Orange, Calif. As of Thursday, Jan. 2, the restaurants were still operating.
TGI Fridays provided the following addresses for the closing franchise locations: 601 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa, Calif.; 2050-B Westminster Mall, Westminster, Calif.; and 3339 City Parkway East, Orange, Calif.
The latest round of closures come as privately-held TGIF Holdings LLC agreed in November to merge with Allegro Merger Corp. The deal, valued at $380 million, would take the casual-dining chain public when the merger is expected to close in March.
Other casual dining brands are also downsizing as the full service segment continues to be plagued by high labor costs, delivery expenses and low guest counts.
This week, Houlihan’s Restaurants Inc. closed restaurants ahead of its bankruptcy court-approved sale to Landry’s Inc. In November, Huntington Beach, Calif.-based BJ’s Restaurants Inc. closed one of its oldest restaurants in Newport Beach, Calif. near the iconic Balboa Pier.
In early August, 29 Perkins Restaurant & Bakery and Marie Callender’s restaurants closed after its parent filed for bankruptcy protection. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers closed 10 restaurants mid-year.
TGI Fridays has about 840 restaurants. About 83% of its restaurants are franchised.
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