T.G.I. Friday's expands to Consol Energy Center
Share with others:
The T.G.I. Friday's restaurant chain has been looking for a location in Downtown Pittsburgh for some 15 years.
It finally found one -- in a sports arena.
The restaurant that T.G.I. Friday's plans to open at the Consol Energy Center in June not only will be its first Downtown, but it will also be its first of its 1,000 or so restaurants in a stadium or arena anywhere in the country.
Amie Dancu, director of marketing for The Bistro Group, the T.G.I. Friday's franchisee, said the company was drawn by not only the allure of the new arena and its partnership with the Penguins, but also by the chance to be Downtown.
"With all the growth happening and the potential for growth, we feel it's a very good fit for the brand," she said. "We believe there's a need for a full-service establishment in Downtown Pittsburgh."
While T.G.I. Friday's hopes to cash in on crowds generated by sports events, concerts and other shows at the arena, the restaurant also is looking to attract Downtown residents and workers, students at the nearby schools and universities, and those who work at UPMC Mercy.
The 7,000-square-foot restaurant will be only one of two in the region -- the other is at Pittsburgh International Airport -- to serve breakfast daily. It will open at 7 a.m. and won't close until at least midnight to cater to the late-night crowd.
The restaurant chain has had a long-standing partnership with the Penguins. With the team, it sponsors the T.G.I. Friday's Penguins Kids Club, offering prizes, discounts, contests and other opportunities for children ages 5 to 12.
When the Penguins decided to include retail space on Fifth Avenue as part of the arena development, "We were very interested in having an establishment there," Ms. Dancu said.
First Published April 21, 2011 12:00 am
