Popular Restaurant Chain Just Closed 2 Locations in Minnesota

While they used to be found just about everywhere, this casual restaurant chain just quietly closed two more locations here in Minnesota.

Restaurants play a unique role in our economy and culture both here in Minnesota and across the country. While most of us head to our favorite restaurants for food, sometimes the restaurant's novel atmosphere is an experience all in itself. The National Restaurant Association estimates that there are currently over 11,100 restaurants in the North Star State, generating over $15 billion in sales.

However, difficult hours and high turnover rates mean the available workforce is a major factor in restaurant success. And, since the pandemic introduced even more challenges, it's been common to see restaurant closings become a more common occurrence in the news.

So perhaps it's not surprising to hear that TGI Fridays just quietly closed two of its seven locations here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes permanently. Although the news is a bit of a surprise, however, seeing that no Minnesota locations were listed in this USA Today story from earlier this year that said the chain was set to close 36 locations across the country.

A TGI Fridays location just off I-35 in Burnsville, MN (Google Maps)

BringMeTheNews notes that Minnesota TGI Fridays locations in St. Louis Park's West End and the TGI Fridays location on Normandale Boulevard in Edina were both closed permanently just before Labor Day, September 2nd, 2024, the site said.

ALSO INTERESTING: This Once-Popular Steakhouse Now Has No Locations Left in Minnesota

According to the TGI Fridays corporate website, there are still seven locations here in the North Star State:

Coon Rapids
Minneapolis
Maplewood
Maple Grove
St. Louis Park
Bloomington
Burnsville

Get our free mobile app

However, when you look closer, the restaurant hours for both St. Louis Park and Minneapolis are listed as 'closed' for Sunday through Saturday, leaving only five other locations apparently still open in the Twin Cities metro.

The chain bills itself as 'the original casual dining bar and grill, TGI Fridays offers authentic American food and legendary drinks, served with genuine personal service,' according to its website. It also notes that it 'proudly serves guests with over 850 restaurants in more than 55 countries,' the site says-- even though there are now two less here in Minnesota.

And while there are still TGI Fridays locations still around, that's not the case for some restaurants that were once popular. Keep scrolling to check out 50 beloved retail chains that weren't so successful and are now not around anymore.