Original TGI Friday's to Close
Utah’s original T.G.I Friday’s restaurant near the now-demolished Cottonwood Mall, will close following dinner service Saturday (March 28).
Blame the demise of the 2o-year-old restaurant at 4805 S. Highland Drive, on stalled mall construction and a slumping economy.
“This is a business decision laced with a great deal of emotion and nostalgia,” Scott Slaymaker, president and CEO of The Slaymaker Group said Friday. The company which the T.G.I. Friday’s and Winger’s Restaurants throughout the Intermountain West.
“The Cottonwood Mall location was the first T.G.I. Friday’s our company opened, and to many Utahns it was their first exposure to the brand," he said. "But the business conditions surrounding the Cottonwood Mall location have simply made it impossible to continue operation.”
The Slaymaker Group is working to place employees in its other restaurants. They also may be rehired when the company opens a new T.G.I. Friday’s location near Valley Fair Mall in August. Two employees, Trent Okleberry and Barbara Bown, had worked at the Cottonwood Mall location since it opened.
Blame the demise of the 2o-year-old restaurant at 4805 S. Highland Drive, on stalled mall construction and a slumping economy.
“This is a business decision laced with a great deal of emotion and nostalgia,” Scott Slaymaker, president and CEO of The Slaymaker Group said Friday. The company which the T.G.I. Friday’s and Winger’s Restaurants throughout the Intermountain West.
“The Cottonwood Mall location was the first T.G.I. Friday’s our company opened, and to many Utahns it was their first exposure to the brand," he said. "But the business conditions surrounding the Cottonwood Mall location have simply made it impossible to continue operation.”
The Slaymaker Group is working to place employees in its other restaurants. They also may be rehired when the company opens a new T.G.I. Friday’s location near Valley Fair Mall in August. Two employees, Trent Okleberry and Barbara Bown, had worked at the Cottonwood Mall location since it opened.
Labels: closings, restaurants
