History & Heritage
“It all began modestly enough. An unmarried New York City perfume salesman named Alan Stillman decided that the coolest way to meet the stewardesses in his neighbourhood would be to buy a broken down beer joint, jazz it up with
Tiffany lamps and mod young waiters and christen it – with an eye toward attracting the career crowd –TGI Fridays. Within one week the police had to ring
Fridays (as it quickly became known) with barricades to handle the nightly hordes of young singles. Hundreds of blatantly imitative emporiums soon opened their doors in scores of major cities – and an industry was born.”
Newsweek, July 16, 1973
Fridays story began in 1965 when a fun-loving New
Yorker named Alan Stillman purchased a bar on First Avenue and 63rd Street in NYC and named it TGI Fridays. He didn’t know that he was creating what is now known as the “Casual Dining” segment in the restaurant industry, he just wanted to create the ultimate singles bar. TGI Fridays became an overnight sensation - a destination synonymous with FUN for singles, couples, co-workers and friends. That first restaurant and bar gave people the opportunity to meet and connect with others in an invigorating environment — and for every Guest, no matter when they came, every visit felt like Friday. It became THE place to see and be seen. Stillman’s vision founded the legacy that exists in all of our restaurants to this day. Everything from the décor and music to the lights and Team Members continue to provide a lively and engaging atmosphere, just like they did back then. Did you know that some of the most popular
dishes around can be traced back to our kitchen? We’re trendsetters, and our Guests love how we
“WOW” them with our innovative and craveable
food, and unsurpassed bar service. Some of our legendary menu items from the past and present are: Signature Burgers, Loaded Potato Skins, Chicken Fingers, Jack Daniel’s® Signature Grill and Buffalo Wings. Fridays has become the envy of bars across the planet by setting the standard for the casual bar scene. Our bar is an exciting place to hang out and our bartenders are our secret weapon. Fun, creative, and all about the Guest experience,
our bartenders are more than just entertaining. It is their history-making bar flair that made Fridays a legend. Since the mid-1970’s, we have been credited with modernising and popularizing flair bartending in the United States ad across the globe. Bartenders flipping and tossing bottles is exciting enough, but throw in the great-tasting drinks they’re making and you’ve got the full Fridays bar experience. At Fridays locations across the globe, bartenders work hard to ensure that their bar is the Best Corner Bar in Town (the local bar where everyone wants to meet and socialize). The world has changed a lot since 1965, but the need for the "Friday Feeling" has not. It is just as relevant today. At Fridays, we promise to deliver that sense of excitement and release that people get when Friday comes around — at any time. It means that our energy always exists through
our food, our drinks and, most importantly, our distinctive service. Whether it be lunch, dinner or late night, we always provide an environment that frees our Guests to let go of the restraints of the day so they leave our restaurants feeling far better than they did when they first walked through our doors.
