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The doors were locked and business halted at two local T.G.I. Friday’s restaurants this week, leaving people wondering what will happen to the longtime neighborhood favorites.
T.G.I Friday’s in San Mateo, San Bruno and Cupertino were closed Tuesday and employees were reportedly let go. However, an unidentified woman answering the phone yesterday at the San Mateo location said they were "closed for a remodel” and that no one was sure when the doors would re-open.
The three restaurants are part of a franchise owned by a Florida company. The entire Friday’s chain is owned by a Minnesota corporation. The short explanation of a remodel yesterday comes one day after employees at all three locations were fired, possibility violating federal employment law.
Employers must offer employees a 60-day notice in a case of a mass layoff — a reduction of at least 33 percent of the workforce of 150 employees or more, according to federal law.
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The property at 3101 El Camino Real in San Mateo, where Friday’s has stood for more than 20 years, is owned by Hillsdale Shopping Center. The news of the restaurant’s closure came as a surprise to the property management company, however, and no further information was provided about the lease agreement with T.G.I. Fridays.
A former San Mateo T.G.I. Friday’s manager, who wished to remain anonymous, said the local restaurants were under a franchise agreement to remodel by the end of the year. The remodel could likely cost between $3 million and $4 million to complete. The price tag could be too much to bear amid the slow economy, the former manager said.
The San Mateo location was also facing an end to its lease agreement with Hillsdale, the former manager said.
Calls to the management company’s spokeswoman were not returned.
Dana Yates can be reached by e-mail: dana@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106.
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