T.G.I. Friday's® Under New Ownership in Northern California

SAN MATEO and CUPERTINO, Calif., Aug. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Stripes Restaurants Inc., a licensed franchisee of T.G.I. Friday's, -- has taken over ownership of San Mateo and Cupertino T.G.I. Friday's locations. Stripes Restaurants Inc. is a Northern California based company.  This is the first time in over a decade that these stores have been owned by a local company. The new ownership is looking forward to expanding the T.G.I. Friday's brand in the Northern California market. Both San Mateo and Cupertino locations open daily at 11 a.m. and close at 1 a.m. Sunday thru Thursday and at 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Happy Hour is every Monday thru Friday from 3-7 p.m. and every day from 10 p.m. to close.  Both Friday's locations offer half off appetizers, $2.00 domestic drafts, $3 domestic tall drafts, $3 select premium drafts, $4 select premium tall drafts, $2 off liquor and ultimate drinks, and $1 off wine.  

T.G.I. Friday's is currently featuring the "Better with Brew" menu. The menu combines innovative dishes with craft beer, proving that great food is "better with brew." Friday's guests can celebrate the relationship between great food and a cold draft, pairing new seafood or steak dishes with the bold, hoppy flavors of Fat Tire, Magic Hat and other craft beers being introduced to the beer roster.

About T.G.I. Friday's

T.G.I. Friday's restaurants offer authentic American food and exciting drinks in an atmosphere that provides an energizing Friday feeling – any day of the week. Friday's® guest recognition program, Give Me More Stripes®, rewards our loyal guests with great deals and fun events year-round, creating an engaging customer experience. As the original casual dining restaurant, T.G.I. Friday's differentiates itself with a unique point of view which promises to exhilarate its guests with the feeling of Friday. T.G.I. Friday's, which operates more than 900 restaurants in more than 60 countries, is also famous for its knowledgeable and charismatic bartenders, approximately 8,000 of whom compete annually for the title of the "Greatest T.G.I. Friday's Bartender in the World." For more information, visit www.fridays.com.

About Carlson

Carlson is a privately held, global hospitality and travel company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn. Carlson encompasses more than 1,070 hotels, including Radisson®, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson(SM), Park Inn® and Park Plaza®; more than 900 T.G.I. Friday's® restaurants; and a majority stake in Carlson Wagonlit Travel®, the global leader in business travel management. Carlson operates in more than 150 countries and its brands employ about 150,000 people. http://www.carlson.com

SOURCE T.G.I. Friday's