Friday's restaurants closing for renovations

Tuesday, 17 October 2006

By BRANDI BARHITE
brandibarhite@sanduskyregister.com

SANDUSKY - Thank goodness it's only until mid-December.

Cedar Point is closings its popular T.G.I. Friday's restaurant at Castaway Bay, 2003 Cleveland Road, Oct. 30- Dec. 15 for $1.5 million in renovations, which all Friday's restaurants worldwide have undergone or will in the next few years.

The Friday's in Hotel Breakers at Cedar Point is included in the $1.5 million renovation, although it closes the restaurant with the park every year and won't affect guests.

"I don't really know if there is a best time to close, but it's right after the Cedar Point season and right before the holidays," said Cedar Point spokesman Bryan Edwards.

Friday's is a popular place for local people to gather to drink and eat, especially on Friday and Saturday nights, he said. Castaway Bay guests also frequent the chain restaurant.

"I think our guests will enjoy the new look. The renovations will really brighten it up," Edwards said.

Renovations will include new furniture, updated kitchen technology and a more modern look -- all of which Cedar Point is financing, said Gina Seamans, a Denver-based public relations coordinator for corporate Friday's.

Seamans said all franchisee-owned restaurants and company-owned restaurants are being renovated or built to the new look. Cedar Point's two Fridays are franchisee-owned restaurants.

Gone will be the '40s, '50s and '60s memorabilia, and in its place will be '70s, '80s and '90s decor, including Harleys, disco balls and snowboard decorations, she said.

"The red and white is coming back even more," Seamans said. "The red and white stripes were already with the restaurant, but it's coming back even stronger. The table clothes will be red and white cloth and whatever is on the outside of the building will be red and white."

Franchisee-owned companies have a little leeway with the renovation schedule, but all company-owned stores by the end of 2006 and early 2007 will have new looks, she said.

Many of the menu changes have already been incorporated at the restaurants, which include Atkins meals, Jack Daniel's menu items, additional non-alcohol drinks and new appetizers.

As of August, Friday's had 957 restaurants in 56 countries, which includes company-owned stores and franchisee-owned stores.

Cedar Point took over Friday's in 1996 when it bought the former Radisson Harbour Inn, now the year-round Castaway Bay indoor waterpark. The restaurant has 62 employees, which may go up after the renovations, Edwards said. He did not know if employees were looking for other jobs while the renovations were under way. Cedar Point opened its Friday's restaurant at the Hotel Breakers in 1999.

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