T.G.I. Friday's(R) Brand Re-Opens the Original International Casual Dining Restaurant

T.G.I. Friday's(R) Brand Re-Opens the Original International Casual Dining
Restaurant
Top International Casual Dining Brand Re-launches in Birmingham England

CARROLLTON, Texas, July 10 /PRNewswire/ -- T.G.I. Friday's brand
(www.fridays.com), the top U.S. casual dining brand in the international
marketplace with more than 320 restaurants in 59 countries outside of the
U.S., announced the recent re-opening of its original international restaurant
in Birmingham, England, a year after the restaurant was gutted by a fire and
23 years after the Friday's(R) brand opened the industry's first international
casual dining restaurant on the same site.

"Bringing back that 'Thank God It's Friday' feeling to the place where we
first introduced casual dining abroad in 1986 is an emotional experience for
T.G.I. Friday's," said Ricky Richardson, executive vice president and chief
operating officer of T.G.I. Friday's International. "We've given the world a
reason to party every day for more than 44 years and this particular
restaurant has special relevance for our brand. This is the ultimate
destination for Birmingham's party makers and for visitors seeking that
unmistakable T.G.I. Friday's 'feel great' experience."

The newly refurbished restaurant opened with elevated T.G.I. Friday's fanfare
on July 4 and offers a modern twist on the original look and feel of the
Friday's unique dining experience. The restaurant features an open kitchen,
exterior patio, a cocktail lounge and a newly expanded menu. Birmingham is
the second new TGI Friday's opened in the UK in the last year following the
opening of the Trafford Center location in Manchester.

"We recreated the Birmingham T.G.I. Friday's restaurant to be the premiere
international casual dining restaurant, true to our roots with legendary
service, great food and 'Wow' cocktails yet with updated features, design and
layout to make the experience even more different and extra special," said
Karen Forrester, managing director of TGI Friday's UK. "Whatever the
occasion, from celebrating a special event to dining with family and friends,
our guests will find Friday's authenticity, Friday's flair and an engaging
team that will put a smile on your face every day because in here, it's always
Friday's."

Carlson Restaurants Worldwide Inc., the parent company of TGI Friday's Inc.,
is a privately held company owned by Minneapolis-based Carlson, a world leader
in the hospitality, travel and marketing industries. As of July 2009, Carlson
Restaurants Worldwide owns, operates, franchises or licenses approximately
1,000 restaurants in 60 countries. For more information, visit
http://www.fridays.com.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060907/DATH025LOGO)

SOURCE TGI Friday's Inc.

Derek Farley of DFPR, +1-704-926-6580, derek@dfpr.com, for TGI Friday's Inc.