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T.G.I. Friday's

National restaurant chain.

Headquarters:
4201 Marsh Lane
Carrolton, TX 75007
Employees: 30,000+
CEO: Nick Shepherd
Privately held

T.G.I. Friday's is one of the largest restaurant chains in the nation. It is operated by Carlson Restaurants, a division of the privately-held Carlson Company.

As of February 2009, there were a total of 923 T.G.I. Friday's branded restaurants worldwide which includes T.G.I. Friday's, Friday's Front Row Sports Grill and Friday's American Bar. There are 609 restaurants in the U.S. and 314 internationally. Friday's has locations in 47 states and 60 countries.

T.G.I. Friday's is known for serving drinks, platters and dinners featuring Jack Daniel's grilled items in a fun environment.

The company has been busy remodeling its restaurants, doing away with Tiffany-style lamps and red-and-white tablecloths in favor of a more contemporary interior and modern signage.

Dramatic changes have been made to the restaurant exteriors and interiors. A deeper shade of red was used on taller and more graphic exterior awnings, and a tower entry was added along with more modern signage, which includes a sculptural black and red metal tumbler. Revamped interiors are less cluttered and more contemporary chic with dark woods, stainless steel, backless bar stools and new lighting. Even the music has been updated to reflect the tastes and preferences of today's Friday's restaurant guest. Most striking about the interior is the revamping of the fabled T.G.I. Friday's memorabilia. 'Retired' memorabilia reflects icons of the 40's, 50's and 60's. Modern classic icons such as disco balls and MTV's Moon man are a few of the items featured in the new décor.

History

The first T.G.I. Friday's restaurant was founded by Alan Stillman and opened in 1965. The restaurant was located at First Avenue and 63rd Street in New York City. It featured red and white stripes, a blue exterior and its name -- T.G.I. Friday's. Inside were wooden floors, Tiffany-style lamps, bentwood chairs and striped tablecloths. The bar area, with its brass rails and stained glass, contributed to the classic ambiance. To obtain the signature T.G.I. Friday's interior décor, a full-time antique "picker" traveled extensively to auctions and flea markets. Memorabilia had to be authentic and, if possible, unique to the area where the new restaurant was located. In a Nashville warehouse, this "clutter" was restored before being loaded on a truck bound for the next T.G.I. Friday's restaurant opening.

The New York T.G.I. Friday's location enjoyed immediate and spectacular success. First year revenues totaled $1 million. The Upper East Side Manhattan restaurant had become THE meeting place for single adults. In fact, according to Newsweek and The Saturday Evening Post, the opening of T.G.I. Friday's restaurant heralded the dawn of the singles age.

Friday's restaurants have a long history of innovation, including being credited with:
- Naming 'happy hour'.
- Inventing the Long Island Iced Tea and Loaded Potato Skins.
- Popularizing frozen and ice cream drinks.
- Pioneering non-alcoholic Smoothies and Flings in honor of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

Over the past 40 years, Friday's restaurants have served over 185 million guests.

Carlson Restaurants Worldwide, parent company of TGI Friday's Inc., is a privately held company owned by Minneapolis-based Carlson, a world leader in the hospitality, travel and marketing industries.

Benefits

Benefits offered to restaurant employees depending on full-time (FT) or part-time (PT) status:

Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) - A Company paid benefit of $4,000, if enrolled in the Medical Plan.
Credit Union - Savings or loans through easy payroll deductions.
Dental Plan - FT - Two plan offerings, for you and your eligible dependents, including orthodontic care.
Dependent Care Spending Account - All - You can elect to set aside up to $5,000, through pre-tax payroll deductions, to pay for eligible dependent care expenses.
Disability, Short and/or Long Term (Voluntary) - FT - Plan coverage for a medical disability.
Education Funding Program - All - Assistance in education planning and support as well as information regarding various private education financing programs.
401(k) Plan - All - After one year of service, elect to participate in this pre-tax savings plan that offers a company matching contribution and flexible investment options.
Health Care Spending Account - All - A pre-tax contribution plan (annual max $3,000) that covers health care expenses not otherwise reimbursable under the medical plans.
Leaves of Absence - FT - Because the Company cares, various leaves such as medical, family, personal, etc. are available to you.
Legal Solution Plan - FT - Through payroll deduction, this program provides legal assistance with simple wills, debt or traffic matters, personal injury, etc.
Life Insurance - FT - A Company paid benefit of $4,000, if enrolled in the Medical Plan.
Life Universal (Voluntary) - FT - A portable insurance policy that you own.
Meals, Discounted - All - A 25% dining discount upon hire and 50% after 3 years of service at any  Company or participating franchise restaurant.
Medical Plan - FT - Two health care plan options to choose from, to meet you and your family's health care needs; includes pharmacy benefits.
Parking/Transit Spending Accounts - All - Pre-tax payroll deductions to pay for your work transportation expenses such as public parking, passes, tokens, farecards, etc.
Passport Program - FT After 6 months of service and certain other eligibility requirements, employees can work in other restaurants while travelling the country.
Payroll Deposit, Automatic - All - Your paychecks can be deposited automatically to your bank account at no extra cost to you.
Tuition Reimbursement - FT - After 90 days of service, the company will reimburse up to $1,000 per year (based on grades) for college courses.
Vacation - FT - One, two, three or four weeks of vacation depending on anniversary date.
Vision Care Plan - FT - Discounted coverage for a wide range of services such as eye exams, eyeglasses, contact lenses, etc.

Updated February 18, 2009