News & Trending Shopping & Deals News

This Fan-Favorite ‘90s Restaurant Chain Is Opening More Than 600 New Locations

You'll want to check out their new menu items, too.

By Cassandra Yorgey , Edited by Calista Headrick

Updated March 27, 2026

Add Us On Google

The casual bar and restaurant found in nearly every '90s era mall is betting big on itself to make a comeback after a 2024 bankruptcy.

TGI Fridays is now planning an expansion that would more than double their global footprint. There are plans to build approximately 600 locations within the next four years, and though that's a tough sell to Americans who are already struggling to stretch a restaurant budget, not all of the locations will be in the U.S.

Learn everything we know so far about TGI Friday's future expansion plans.

Earn $200 cash rewards bonus with this incredible card

The Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card (Rates and fees) has no annual fee and you can earn $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.

Cardholders can also earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.

The best part? There's no annual fee.

Click here to apply now.

The history of TGI Fridays

The first TGI Fridays opened in Manhattan in 1965, and it swiftly became a hot spot for "singles to mingle." The restaurant and bar went on to further embrace this image by creating the first happy hour for singles, as well as one of the first ladies' nights.

Founder Alan Stillman jumped on the opportunity to create a public place for young people to go out and socialize, as often, private cocktail parties and male-dominated bars were the only options.

Make Money: 8 things to do if you're barely scraping by financially

TGI Fridays peak

The restaurant chain hit its peak in 2008 with over 600 U.S. locations and a $2 billion business. You could always count on finding a TGI Fridays in shopping malls, both indoor and outdoor, which generated additional foot traffic from hungry shoppers. Unfortunately, the shopping mall staple was about to face some hurdles in a world becoming increasingly dominated by online shopping.

When TGI Fridays went bankrupt

The once-popular casual-dining chain hit rock bottom in 2024, filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. There were only 215 TGI Fridays remaining in the U.S. at that point, and 36 locations were closed immediately upon the bankruptcy filings. But rather than quit, the chain became determined to make a comeback.

Earn as much as $1K doing simple online tasks

A company called Freecash has compiled all sorts of quick cash tasks from about a dozen advertisers and market research companies thirsty for more data. Freecash has paid out over $13 million to users since 2019, and has over 50,000 five-star reviews on Trustpilot.

What changed at TGI Fridays

In order to overcome the bankruptcy, TGI Fridays cut about 85% of dishes from their menu and began trying a wide variety of new offerings. These included a new TGI Sauce and a mozzarella stick lineup of different flavors, including Frank's RedHot Buffalo and garlic parmesan, as well as a new "Big Queso Energy Burger" meant to imitate the flavors of Southwestern cuisine. The drinks menu also got revamped to capitalize on their classic signature cocktails, but with a twist.

Where the chain is at now

Currently, there are only about 130 locations in the U.S., with a total of 400 globally. But CEO Ray Blanchette has pointed out that the restaurant's shift towards airport locations has been successful, and they plan to focus on expansion to hotels next.

Now, they're expanding

TGI Fridays plans to bump up their location count by adding about 600 new restaurants, bringing their total number of locations to 1,000 by the year 2030. This will include a new focus on hotels, and more countries can expect new Fridays locations to pop up, including the U.K., Mexico, India, and the Maldives.

They also plan to shift focus to creating large-scale events, such as sporting events, holiday offerings, and other in-person gatherings that create a lively atmosphere reminiscent of their humble beginnings as a place to socialize.

Don't miss: 8 clever ways to save money so you can still afford to eat out

You can also find TGI Fridays in grocery stores

Don't have a chain near you? No need to sweat it. The restaurant chain began offering branded frozen foods in grocery stores in 2001 and now has 25 products under the TGI Fridays name.

These are produced and distributed by a licensing agreement with Kraft Heinz, and they include fan favorites that can be easily made at home, such as mozzarella sticks, potato skins, and sliders.

TGI Fridays comeback plan

So, how exactly is the chain plan on executing? They're calling it the "1-2-3 Strategic Vision," and the initiative features four strategic pillars to help them achieve 1,000 locations by 2030.

Activating the brand focuses on creating memorable experiences for customers, such as holiday and sports theme events.
Flexible growth across markets targets meeting customers where they are, such as airports and hotels.
Strengthening the franchise system will prioritize franchisee profitability.
Fueling performance through people will invest in leadership development, training, and performance-based initiatives.

Bottom line

TGI Fridays is still experimenting with menu additions to see what sparks joy in customers. Their newest attempt to lure customers into the dining experience is called "Fondue-It" and allows diners to upgrade and add a warm cheese pour to five select menu items for $3.

The "Fondue-It" is served in a hot cast iron skillet with loaded potato skins, a crispy chicken sandwich, a bacon cheeseburger, or a Big Queso Energy burger with poblano queso fondue and a truffle mushroom burger with Alfredo fondue.

TGI Fridays is hoping these more interactive menu items, presented with flair, will mean customers show up at their new location and help them overcome the increased financial burdens of tackling high grocery costs.

More from FinanceBuzz: