Posted on 12/15/2004 11:21:51 PM PST by My Favorite Headache
I had to share this with my fellow Freepers. I just got in the door from an evening out with my lady...and our evening ended up with a late meal at the local TGI Friday's in Melbourne,Florida.
Who cares,right?
Well about 45 mins into my meal I took a look around the establishment and noticed something really out of place. I thought to myself "every store I have been in tonight has had some sort of holiday decorations or tree...what gives?".
What gives indeed.
When I excused myself to go to the restroom I saw a flyer that was stapled to the inside of the bathroom door that showed the hours of operation for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and New Years Eve and New Years Day. Open til 2AM on Christmas Day and 10 PM on Christmas Eve....how nice.
But it was what I didn't see that really made the impression. Not one single holiday decoration. Not one light,Christmas Tree,garland,reindeer,santa,tinsel, you name it...it was not there. Bare as can be like it was the middle of August.
So I waited for the waitress to come back to the table to inquire about what exactly was the reason for this? I have forever gone into Friday's for decades and have always seen decorations and Christmas music playing up near the bar. I have always seen waiters and waitresses wearing Santa hats or in the Holiday spirit.
None was to be seen or found. I then was told why.
TGI Friday's has gone out of its way to not promote the holiday except when you walk in the door which there was a mobile hanging from the ceiling that said "instead of cologne..buy gift certificates instead."
This was it?
The waitress continued to explain that since they have adopted a new change in wardrobe (i.e. the new black shirt and black pants instead of red and white striped shirts and pins and buttons)the upper management wants nothing to do with Christmas and feel's it might make the patrons feel uncomfortable if they push the season in their faces. They believe it is an eating establishment...not a place to celebrate one religion's celebration.
My jaw about hit the floor. There it was...in 100% color...Friday's has buckled and sucked it up to the PC police and now are Scrooge with their employee's who are told "business is business and work is work...this is social hour for the customer...not the employee."
Now anyone who has gone to one of these places knows it is the personality of Friday's which has always been a draw not to mention its late hours. It has a social alive feeling and it is a big attraction for ages 19-35. So why would Friday's adopt this ridiculous policy out of the clear blue sky?
I would venture to guess that this "upper management" has their collective head's up their asses.
As for Friday's....thanks but no thanks. Next time...Chili's.
lol nope..flair is history
Yes! Please post.
I have all day "Friday" to get on this.
Ok here is the info on the credit card slips:
Thank You for visiting us...your comments are important...please call Rob Ryan at 321-723-8443 for any comments.
TGI Fridays 2000 Evans RD Melbourne,Florida 32904
I just found the 99 restaurants. They're really good. They celebrate Christmas too.
What is 99 Restaurants?
Never even heard of the place.
No great loss, I've always thought their food sucks. Especially those Jack Daniels/molasses covered meals, ugh!
Just curious, but should businesses not have the right to refrain from putting up decorations? Seems to me it's their business, and their choice. And their patrons can choose whether or not to eat there.
Oh, I wanted to ask you. Did the people you spoke to say that this was a corporate-wide policy, or is this a local thing?
Will you be joining me later at Fridays for a drink or 2? ;)
Fridays has never had a problem putting up decorations or anything any other year...hence why it stood out so much this year.
99 is a chain in New England and New York, and soon to come to Pennsylvania. Nice food, good prices...they have lots of TVs to show sports. The name comes from the original location which was at 99 State St. in Boston.
Thanks for the info...when I head up north I will be sure to check it out.
Did you call them and see if it is a national thing?
Uh... what kind of food do they serve?
Dan
Have fun here: http://www.xourque.net/oswav.html
Sunday bump
I think your are a Friday's mole who planted a positive slant on a situation that you know your company is in the wrong on. This was your only post you made on FR and the only reason I went and picked out this thread was because it refreshed my memory while reading the Target and Wal-Mart boycott stories.
TGIF Guy....a corporate whore who comes onto FR looking to do a lil damage control AFTER the holidays. Well I for one have not forgotten.
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