The Friday Feeling: Inside TGI Fridays’ Comeback

On this episode of Hospitality Hangout, Ray joins the show live from The Prosper Forum in Orlando, Florida to talk about capturing the Friday Feeling and rebuilding one of casual dining’s most iconic brands from the inside out.

Ray shares how he moved from the kitchen to the boardroom, left Fridays as president, led other major restaurant companies, and returned to a brand he never stopped caring about. He talks about the work behind the comeback, including leadership, franchisee alignment, technology upgrades, off-premise, social media, hospitality, and an 85% menu refresh built around food the team can be proud to serve.

The conversation also gets into the bigger Fridays story: potato skins, Jack Daniel’s ribs, bar flair, striped uniforms, big appetizers, mocktails, GLP-1 dining behavior, delivery, Olo, global growth, and the brand’s goal of reaching 1,000-plus restaurants and $2 billion in annual revenue by 2030.

From the original singles bar to a global casual dining brand, this episode is about restoring the energy, hospitality, and social connection that made TGI Fridays famous, while building a version of the brand for the next generation.

Episode Credits:

• Produced by: Branded Hospitality Media
• Hosted by: Michael Schatzberg, Jimmy Frischling
• Producer: Julie Zucker
• Creative Director: Adam Levine
• Show Runner: Drewe Raimi
• Post Production: Three Cheers Media

www.thehospitalityhangout.com

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