TGI Fridays has re-opened its doors in Brooklyn, New York. The restaurant was forced to close in November 2012 due to flood damage caused by Hurricane Sandy, affecting more than 120 of its team members. Fridays helped its displaced employees, finding opportunities for them to work at other TGI Fridays locations so they could keep their jobs while the restaurant was rebuilt.
The new, re-imaged Fridays is retaining many of its original team members, which make up the approximately 130 jobs Fridays provides to the local community.
"We take our commitment to the community and our employees seriously," says General Manager Faryn Weinstein. "Helping our team members during the difficult time was important to us. We've been proud to be a part of the community since 1994 and are thrilled to once again open our doors here in Brooklyn."
After extensive renovation, the new Fridays features a contemporary design and is tailored to the Brooklyn community. In addition to an acrylic panel of the city skyline on the interior, the restaurant boasts great views of the harbor and is attached to the neighborhood's iconic lighthouse. The new modern look creates a fun, energetic vibe with a redesigned bar as the focal point, and is part of a larger re-imaging campaign that is rolling out at Fridays across the country.
"We couldn't be happier to be back behind the bar and in front of our favorite guests here in Brooklyn," says Crystal Valentin, TGI Fridays bartender and member of the original Brooklyn team. "Everyone in this area has been through so much in the past year and a half, so it's exciting to be able to welcome them back with a completely updated look and feel."
Community leaders, guests, and Fridays team members joined May 5 to celebrate the re-opening, check out the new look, and experience an evening of fun, handcrafted cocktails, and Fridays food.
"We have a great connection with our guests here in Brooklyn, and have for the last 20 years," Weinstein says. "Complemented by enhancements to the menu, the new design allows us to take the Fridays experience to the next level."
