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Never mind that some may have work on the weekend, Friday is a day to relax, relieve stress and just enjoy. It is become a day to look forward to, not just as the start of the weekend, but as a day to gather in groups, as family or friends, and get up to utter mayhem.
What if mayhem is a possibility all week long?
With the American restaurant chain TGI Fridays opening up a sleek casual dining experience right opposite the World Trade Centre, Fridays have now become all the more exciting.
Marking Sri Lanka as the 60th country of operation, TGI Fridays officially opened its doors last Thursday, a fitting prelude to the long weekend.
Invited and persuaded by Sri Lanka’s consumer goods company with the largest retail network under its belt, Cargills Ceylon, the chain brings in international experience, signalling other popular chains around the world that the Miracle of Asia, is ready for an intercontinental palette.
Escaping the daily humdrum
Along with good food and its famed beverages, what the new dining hotspot offers is escapism, TGI Fridays International Managing Director Asia Pacific Donald MacQueen said: “TGI Fridays is pretty unique wherever we go,” he asserted.
“It was the first casual dining restaurant in the States (started in 1965), and we sell food and have a thriving bar business; but more than anything what we sell or give is an experience.
“We are about escaping from the everyday hustle. In here it’s always a Friday. And that is our promise.”
Contacted by Cargills Ceylon CEO Ranjit Page in 2012 expressing interest to invite the chain to Sri Lanka, MacQueen is today happy that he took up Page on his offer to visit the country, a year past May.
While Sri Lanka was on his radar for expanding the operation network in the region, his initial expectation was to set up shop somewhere in 2015. “When I came over, it was fairly obvious that we were compatible organisations and that the market in Sri Lanka was very right for our kind of restaurant. So we partnered.”
Setting up shop
Having located a rundown building with beautiful and intricate wooden panels above doors and brass carvings on a rickety staircase adjoining Colombo City Hotel, right next to the Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct, Cargills invested Rs. 300 million to restore it back to its former glory and set the ball rolling.
“TGI Fridays is unique in Sri Lanka. And this is seen in our venue itself,” MacQueen said. “I am really proud of this building. There is a difference between a historic building and an old building and this was an old building. To renovate and to marry it with modern decor that you see today while retaining interesting features of the building, such as the spy hole where they used to look at the ships coming in, has made it all the more special.”
Recalling his initial visit to the location and having had to be mindful not to let his feet go through the floorboards, he said: “Any old building needs to stay relevant and I think we have made it so. This is a magnificent place to be in.”
Sri Lanka also enters the restaurant chain’s books as one of the 20 restaurants from around the world to be furnished with the new contemporary design that is expected to colour the walls of all restaurants in the coming years.
Creating a fun and energetic vibe with a dramatically redesigned bar as the focal point of the restaurant complimented by an open kitchen, the restaurant is full of interesting memorabilia that has come down all the way from the States.
The restaurant can seat up to 190 persons.
What’s on the menu
Also coming down from the original place of birth is the vast and interesting menu with some of their own speciality dishes and drinks.
Their famous Jack Daniel’s sauce will certainly make an appearance on the menu that consists of over 55 different items from appetisers to main courses to desserts. The menu has been picked by the franchisee; MacQueen said and would consist of some of their signature dishes such as sizzling chicken and cheese, their burgers and Jack Daniel’s ribs among others.
“Each market is its own entity. We will never dictate menu choice or marketing promotions; it simply cannot work. The menu is different. 75-80% of the menu items are the same world over and then there are local variations. After almost 50 years we have developed a lot of dishes and it’s up to its own franchisee to determine the dishes that are right for their country.” Save a few dishes where the spice levels have been turned up a notch, what you get here, is what you can expect in any TGI Fridays around the world.
The chain is also popularly known for the variations of beverages it offers. Interestingly, we are told that the long island iced tea now served in almost all restaurants has its origins at TGI Fridays. “We are the original LIIT,” he quipped. “We are also the brains behind soft potato skins and the Collins glass in which drinks are served.” They are also the ones who introduced happy hour too.
The vast majority of the ingredients will be locally sourced, he said with certain meat items and special sauces being imported.
Staff training
To ensure that service levels are on par with international standards, the local staffers have been trained by 10 trainers brought down from USA, Malaysia, India and Indonesia. They are overlooked by a Hungarian Operations Manager.
“We have a multinational force. The trainers have looked in to all areas of service from front-house operations, bar and kitchen. The senior management team has been trained at the Philippines for nine to ten weeks. The staff strength here is 58,” MacQueen said.
To be expected: More TGI Fridays
Cargills Ceylon Group Manager Restaurants Maljini Jayasekera noted that TGI Fridays is unlikely to be restricted to the Colombo city alone. Plans are underway to ensure that more branches will open up in the future.
“This is not going to be the only restaurant. We are looking at more investment in the chain itself with the anticipated economic growth of the country. Within the next five years, our target is to open at least four more restaurants in Colombo and the suburbs,” Jayasekera said.
Speaking about Cargills’ interest in TGI Fridays, she expressed that the group has the intention to build and expand a strong foothold in the restaurant business in the future.
“TGI Fridays was picked by CEO Ranjit Page when he saw how the chain was marking its territory in India. We had to convince MacQueen to come as their intention was to come here in 2015.We showed him the potential with the growth of the economy, infrastructure development and the expected boom in Sri Lanka that it was the right time to bring in a brand of such stature to the country.”
Speaking on customer expectation, Jayasekera said: “It is a different customer we are targeting; it is cool, it is happening in here. With the WTC located right in front we have over 20,000 clients so we would definitely attract customers in and around the area. It is a place for families and friends.”
Why Sri Lanka?
MacQueen noted that considering the huge amount of investment in to the country it made sense to start progressing things as soon as possible when the opportunity arose.
“We see a great future in Sri Lanka. We are already well represented in the Asia Pacific region so it is a natural preparation that goes here as well.”
As at now, in the region, TGI Fridays is operating in India, Mala-ysia, Singapore, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, and Australia and in a few weeks in Pakistan as well.
“When you look around and see the construction that is going on, it is a clear sign that there have been many before us that have had faith in the economy and put in money for these buildings. Settling of the political situation over the last few years has also brought stability to the country.” This is therefore, a natural fit for intentional chains looking to expand in the region. “This is a place a Fridays should be.”
Pix by Upul Abayasekera
