TGI Fridays has signed its first U.S. development agreement in more than 10 years, committing franchisee Bliss Bites LLC to open five restaurants across New York State over the next three years.

The deal also transfers an existing TGI Fridays in Central Islip, New York, to Bliss Bites, giving the franchisee a six-unit portfolio in the state once the buildouts are complete. The announcement did not identify markets or specific sites for the five planned restaurants.

For a chain that now operates just 69 U.S. locations — all of them franchised, according to its website — the agreement marks the first tangible domestic commitment under the "1-2-3 Strategic Vision," which targets more than 1,000 restaurants and $2 billion in annual revenue by 2030. TGI Fridays shuttered a net 212 restaurants from 2023 to 2025, leaving the brand with nearly 400 locations globally. Reaching the 2030 goal will require sustained franchise recruitment at a pace the chain has not demonstrated in decades.

"Growth only matters when it's built with the right partners, and this five-restaurant development agreement is exactly what we envisioned for our '1-2-3 Strategic Vision,'" COO Ashley Kirkley said in a statement.

New York carries symbolic weight for the brand. TGI Fridays opened its first restaurant on Manhattan's Upper East Side in 1965, and the state now anchors the chain's domestic comeback narrative.

Bliss Bites is led by owner and managing director Vinod Chand, who brings more than 35 years of hospitality experience. TGI Fridays said Chand was drawn to the brand's hospitality culture, menu, guest experience, and franchisee support infrastructure — the operating capabilities a franchisor must showcase to attract multi-unit commitments.

"Between our restaurant in Central Islip and the new locations we're planning across New York, we're building on a brand I already believe in, backed by the kind of corporate support that makes long-term growth possible," Chand said in a statement. "This is just the beginning."

The strategic plan covers brand activation, flexible expansion across markets, a stronger franchise system, and investment in employees and leadership. The expansion model is not limited to traditional full-service boxes: TGI Fridays plans to grow through airport locations and smaller hotel concepts alongside conventional restaurants.

On the operations side, the chain intends to support growth through menu and beverage innovation, everyday value offerings, digital improvements, and restaurant atmosphere upgrades — a playbook aimed squarely at the value-conscious casual-dining customer.

"Guests are increasingly looking for casual dining that delivers real value without sacrificing experience, and Fridays is well positioned to meet that demand as we grow," Kirkley said. "New York is an important part of our domestic growth story, and we're excited to welcome our newest franchisee."

Five restaurants over three years barely dents the arithmetic between 69 U.S. units and a four-digit global system. But the agreement gives TGI Fridays a proven domestic franchise partner with capital committed, and a template it can pitch to other operators as it works to reverse a two-year contraction.