About us

With handcrafted and mouthwatering burgers, signature appetizers such as Potato Twisters that aren’t missing from almost any table as well as amazing cocktails, TGI Fridays have created a loyal relationship with their guests that has evolved throughout the years.

Facts

Seven astronauts, along with Alan Shepard, attended the grand opening of the new TGI Fridays store that opened in the Houston Galleria on July 24, 1973. That's why you'll find an astronaut in every store.

The story of Myrna, the rowing teacher who took over a weak team and managed to crown it a winner, has been inspiring us for years. After leading the team to first place, she disappeared, leaving her racing shoes by the rowing boat as a memento. The two objects decorate all our stores, symbolizing teamwork and loyalty.

Tom Cruise trained with a TGI Fridays™ bartender for his role in the movie Cocktail.

There's a canoe in every TGI Fridays™ . It is related to attractiveness and teamwork. You can't win if you don't row as a team.

March 28, 2010, TGI Fridays in the UK set an new Guiness World record of simultaneous bar flair. In this amazing feat, over 100 world-class professional bartenders from Fridays restaurants across the UK took part. They set the record with a skillful routine of 101 people flairing in sync, without dropping a bottle, for over two minutes.

A large propeller nailed above each bar, symbolizes the movement of the shop machine that is the bar.

Jack Daniel’s Grill made its national debut in 1997.

Fridays History

Since 1965

1965

THE FIRST RESTAURANT

The first Fridays restaurant opened up on March 15th 1965, in First Avenue and 63rd Street in New York. Alan Stillman, a perfume saler, opened the first TGI Fridays™ restaurant, so that he gets to know single “stewardesses” that lived in his neighbor-hood. According to the myth, Alan Stillman thought up the name TGI Fridays™ while he was skiing with his friend, when feeling furious because his friend had defeated him, he screamed out “Thank Goodness it’s Friday!” Till then the restaurant had no name and he decided to name it like this.

1997

TGI FRIDAYS™ CAME TO GREECE!

Finally TGI Fridays™ came to Greece! The first TGI Fridays™ restaurant to open in Greece was at Kefalari Square in Kifisia. More store openings followed in Athens and Thessaloniki.

2000

INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

The success of TGI Fridays™ in Greece was so great that in 2000 they were honored with the title “Best International Operator” for the TGI Fridays™ chain world-wide amongst 60 countries, one distinction they got for second consecutive year in 2001.

2005

THE 1ST TGI FRIDAYS™ IN THESSALONIKI

In November of 2005 the 1st TGI Fridays™ opened in Thessaloniki, at the shop-ping Mall Mediterranean Cosmos, in Pylaia Thessaloniki. Furthermore, TGI Fridays™ were awarded as “Retailer of the year” in the restaurant category, at the 2005 Retail Awards.

NOW

SUCCESS KEEPS GOING ON!

The recipe of success, patently obvious! Craving dishes, original tastes, exclusive recipes, unique cocktails and charismatic bartenders. And all these, in the most cheerful atmosphere! So, TGI Fridays™ managed to accomplish what others strive to achieve: to become a favorite habit, training Greeks in the philosophy of trendy, happy & casual, the key-words that made them the hottest restaurants in town.

AWARDS 🏆

ESTIA BUSINESS AWARDS 2025

🥇 Gold: Best Casual Dining Business
🥈 Silver: Contemporary American Dining Culture & Service in Casual Dining

🍔ESTIA AWARDS 2024 – GOLD – TGI FRIDAYS – Η φιλοσοφία εξυπηρέτησης που βασίζεται στην εμπειρία, την έκπληξη και το αίσθημα φιλοξενείας Casual Dining

🍹ESTIA AWARDS 2024 – BRONZE – TGI FRIDAYS – Tiki Popsicle Mojitos – Trends & Innovations

🎖️CONTENT MARKETING AWARDS 2023 – SILVER – TGI FRIDAYS SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT

😋ESTIA AWARDS 2023 – GOLD – TGI FRIDAYS – Special Menus/Theme Nights

🍽️ESTIA AWARDS 2023 – GOLD – TGI FRIDAYS – CASUAL DINING

🍗ESTIA AWARDS 2023 – GRAND AWARD – CASUAL DINNING – TGI FRIDAYS

👦INFLUENCER MARKETING AWARDS 2022 – BRONZE – TGI FRIDAYS x NIKOLAS RAPTIS – Most Effective Collaboration

👪INFLUENCER MARKETING AWARDS 2022 – BRONZE – TGI FRIDAYS – Οι φυλές των TGI Fridays – Best Use of Instagram for Inluencer Marketing

🏅ESTIA AWARDS 2020 – GOLD – TGI FRIDAYS – Experience

🤸ESTIA AWARDS 2019 – SILVER- TGI FRIDAYS – Trendsetters & Lifestyle Venues