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WILKES-BARRE — TGI Fridays recently celebrated its 25th anniversary here, an iconic culinary staple which perfected casual dining in a contemporary setting.

Maureen Metz, an owner, said the Kidder Street eatery is truly a family effort, with her father John having started the restaurant, and she and her brother Jeff coming aboard shortly after that.

Metz said she was once a server at the restaurant and was required to wear stripes and suspenders.

Those stripes, she said, went beyond simply a trendy look that added to the fun atmosphere, they symbolized the philosophy of the restaurant.

“We want people of all stripes to feel welcome here,” she said. “and that goes for our customers and our servers.”

She also pointed out that the restaurant, open for the lunch and dinner crowd and then until 2 a.m., is the perfect gathering spot to take a family for a meal or for a late night after work hangout with friends.

The owners, she said, are committed to more than 100 employees, with several of them having been on board since the beginning.

“We value our staff,” she said. “and many of them have been with us long-term.”

The restaurant also values its customers, not only providing them with excellent food and service, but getting to know them.

“Our managers will walk around the restaurant and know half of the people,” she said. “That’s who we are.”

When the restaurant celebrated last week, employee appreciation was at the forefront, with a huge cake and special honors for long-term employees.

The family, who owns a TGIF franchise, has 11 restaurants throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, with its headquarters here in Dallas and with its Wilkes-Barre location having a special place in their hearts.

“We’re lifelong residents of Dallas,” said Metz. “And my dad thought this was the perfect place to open the restaurant.”

Metz looks to the future of the restaurant, with continued commitment to quick respond to customer input, with a strong online presence and a diverse menu.

Metz
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_Metz-2c-Maureen-1.jpg.optimal.jpgMetz

TGI Fridays on Kidder Street is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_TTL050219TGIFridays1-1.jpg.optimal.jpgTGI Fridays on Kidder Street is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Aimee Dilger | Times Leader

By Geri Gibbons

For Times Leader