In a surprising turn of events, TGI Friday's has abruptly closed nearly half of its restaurants across Massachusetts. Customers were met with locked doors and signs indicating the closures, as the chain announced the shuttering of 36 underperforming locations nationwide.

The impacted Massachusetts locations include Dedham, Danvers, Mansfield, Seekonk, North Attleboro, and Marlborough. Additionally, the Amherst, New Hampshire location was also closed. These restaurants have been removed from the chain's website and online ordering tools, with Google classifying them as "permanently closed."

Signs posted on the doors of these establishments shared the news with customers. "We regret to inform you that as of Jan. 2, 2024, this Friday's location has closed," read a sign on the door of the Dedham location. Similar messages were spotted at the Seekonk and North Attleboro locations.

While the closure of these restaurants has undoubtedly affected both customers and staff, TGI Friday's has emphasized that they are offering over 1,000 transfer opportunities to employees affected by the closures across the country. Notably, one longtime employee, who wished to remain anonymous, shared that he was not offered another position despite working at one of the restaurants since 2001. He revealed that he received the news on New Year's Day.

According to the chain's official website, there are still seven TGI Friday's locations open in Massachusetts. These remaining restaurants are situated in Boston, Braintree, Dartmouth, Everett, Methuen, Millbury, and Stoughton. These locations will continue to serve patrons who are passionate about the TGI Friday's experience.

In an interesting development, former CEO Ray Blanchette has purchased eight additional TGI Friday's locations in the northeast. However, the specific restaurants included in this sale were not disclosed by the company.

With these sudden closures and strategic changes, TGI Friday's aims to refine its operations and strengthen its brand presence. As the chain navigates these shifts, customers and employees alike will continue to observe how this impacts the dining landscape in Massachusetts and beyond.