California diners now have just four TGI Fridays left standing after the casual dining chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in late 2024.

Nationally, the picture isn’t much brighter: TGI Fridays operates 79 restaurants, down from 270 at the start of 2024, according to USA TODAY.

Why the closures?

The company cited pandemic-era financial strain and restructuring needs.

“The primary driver of our financial challenges resulted from COVID-19 and our capital structure,” said Rohit Manocha, Executive Chairman of TGI Fridays Inc. “This restructuring will allow our go-forward restaurants to proceed with an optimized corporate infrastructure.”

What It means for California dining trends

California’s casual dining scene has been shifting fast. Chains like TGI Fridays, once a staple for h

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