OT: TGI Fridays closings in CNJ
- Thread starter Ronnie_B
- Start date
Now you guys have motivated me to relive the late night diner experience. I am going to try the Park Ave. Diner and will report back. Not tonight though - ton of stuff going on at work tomorrow.
Well all the local ones in my area are no longer 24 hours. I would imagine some of the mainstream ones on the highways (like Tick Tock on Rte. 3) are still open 24 hours.
I have many, many fond memories of hitting the Somerset Diner late night even after I was out of school. I remember we tried several times to buy the painting of the fish wearing a knitted sweater: they'd never sell it to us.
Dumb statement. TGIF quality has gone down significantly and people are spending their money at other restaurants.
IHOP is open 24 hrs in Piscataway. It's my go to during off hours. Pretty normal to find RU students from Busch there late night.
That’s some breathtaking comic irony right there. Tell us more about your superior understanding of things. 🤣
How does a place close after 1 week?
I remember a fun night at AppleBees circa 2002 as they had on the Nets-Hornets playoff game and J kidd got a busted nose
Jake's was awesome, great spot
Used to go there the night before Thanksgiving - that, and Union Hotel, were the spots that night
Is Union Hotel still there, or did they knock it down w/the Cust/Kalafer redevelopment plan?
Would have loved having a Hooters there when I lived in Readington!
Met a long time GF at Friday's in Flemington, and started my infamous 21st bday celebration there in Somervile
Growing up, a bunch of the girls had sweet 16 parties in New Hope at Zadar's, and then they built the Edge below, which was a club we went to late high school / early college
Lamberville was more run down then, as we used to play in the Vic Walker tournament there in little league, and we'd drive through it going to New Hope. Awesome how they've rebuilt it as it's now a really cool scene
Another hidden gem was the old Wok's, then Alfonso's, and now I think it's named something else, on 202 South
Pondersoa in Flemington was classic. Being Italian, my parents would never take us there in a million years. But my buddys parents did a few times and we went to town on the all you can eat pasta. Kid in a candy shop situation
Places are definitely closing earlier these days. We had a work dinner at Spain 92 in Branchburg last week, and after a few of the guys down south wanted to go out.
Immediately I thought of Thirsty's...closed. Called about 5-6 places in that area (all the Flemington spots, Royal Diner in Branchburg, the old Cryan's in Branchburg, and a few others) to no avail
Finally, the one spot across from the Court House in Somerville was open. They had an air hockey table and it was pretty good
Places are definitely closing earlier these days. We had a work dinner at Spain 92 in Branchburg last week, and after a few of the guys down south wanted to go out.
Immediately I thought of Thirsty's...closed. Called about 5-6 places in that area (all the Flemington spots, Royal Diner in Branchburg, the old Cryan's in Branchburg, and a few others) to no avail
Finally, the one spot across from the Court House in Somerville was open. They had an air hockey table and it was pretty good
Union nhas been closed and under some development plan for many years..what a shame.
it became a Mediterranean place and add that to the closed list (forgot that one). Alfonso's moved to a Mall they built behind that old Fridays.
Union Hotel facade remains and rest of building is turning into a hotel for the redevelopment. Going to be a Marriott.
I understand. But hasn't it been closed and just sitting there for like 10+ years? That whole area needs a 1000% revitalization. Hear Liberty Village has started demolition?
Yeah it sat empty but construction has been full go now. Should start seeing things open next year.
Liberty Village did some clear out. They had to re-work that project a bit but haven't haven't heard any updates. I'll take a walk over there later or tomorrow to see what's going on.
That's halfway between 287 and the PA border - I pass it every trip heading down to VA.
Right after I posted, I had a similar thought and meant to go back and add something about interns to my post. But I got distracted, not by interns, unfortunately, and forgot.
People are spending more on eating out than at any time in history. There's been a cultural shift to quick service, take out, door dash, etc. Even Starbucks is now just a parade of app orders/drive thru.
It's funny you say this, here in Maryland we went full rec a little over a year ago. Near me there's a strip mall with a dispensary and a bakery next door, was talking to the bakery owner not long ago (kids play soccer together) and she told me her walk in/front of house business has tripled in the last year
Very true, Carryout/delivery options have now become essential for new spots trying to make it. I'm 15 min from DC and the pandemic shifted how everyone operated. Pre-pandemic you couldn't get a seat at Ben's Chili Bowl, now everyone orders to go and there's always a table
