Airport News

TGI Fridays opens innovative new location with patio at DFW Airport

TGI Friday at Dallas Fort Worth Airport.

TGIF

There's a new TGI Fridays at Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) Airport with a number of innovative extras including an outdoor patio. The newly renovated restaurant is expected to earn the highest volume of sales of any in-airport restaurant nationwide.

Located in Terminal B at Gate 10, it will be TGI Fridays' first patio dining at an airport, as well as one of the largest bars. It'll also feature a state-of-the-art to-go area called "Fridays on the Fly" with food and drinks as well as self-checkout kiosks.

The remodel is part of a big renovation from TGI Fridays, who intend to spend $16 million to renovate their portfolio of five restaurants currently inside DFW.

DFW Airport's executive VP Ken Buchanan says in a release that DFW Airport is excited for the elevated new experience TGI Fridays will provide.

"DFW is proud to offer our customers diverse and unique dining options that meet every flavor palate," Buchanan says. "TGI Fridays compliments this by bringing in a national brand everyone knows, blended with local flavor that truly represents North Texas."

TGI Fridays began its partnership with DFW in 1995, and has five locations at the airport. They're the leading restaurant at the airport, having recently won the DFW Airport Sales Award for highest volume restaurant in 2022. Their five airport locations performed in the top six sales positions out of more than 200 retail locations across the airport.

TGI Fridays president Brandon Coleman III says the brand is proud of the grand opening remodel in Terminal B as it continues its efforts to add new, convenient, and innovative ideas to each store remodel. They also have locations at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the busiest airport in the world, and Miami International Airport, where remodels are expected within the next 12 months.

"The grand opening of our newly renovated restaurant in Terminal B is a shining example of the strength of the TGI Fridays brand and what we can bring to airports nationwide," Coleman says. "We are committed to continued evolution and innovation in airports across the globe, ensuring that every guest enjoys that Fridays feeling."

TGI Fridays operates nearly 700 restaurants in 51 countries including five throughout Dallas-Fort Worth. They'll be opening 75 new restaurants throughout South and Southeast Asia over the next 10 years.

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Shawarma News

Kebab concept Doner Shack comes to Texas with location in Prosper

Doner Shack

A new doner kebab chain is coming to town: Called Doner Shack, it's a quick-service restaurant concept based in the U.K. which is opening its first location in Texas in Prosper. The restaurant has yet to be built, so the opening date is still TBA. But according to a release, it will open in a shopping center at the intersection of Teel Parkway and University Drive, on the northwest corner, kitty corner from the PGA Golf Resort.

Doner Shack says it was built with one goal: to become the world’s leading kebab brand. No mention of the food, but what they're really pushing is franchising. Founders are chef Sanjeev Sanghera and Laura Bruce, who own three stores in the U.K., and who were inspired after an "epic 48-hour trip to Berlin" where the culture and kebabs blew their minds "in the best way possible." Hopefully that means the food is good.

Doner kebab is the dish of Turkish origin made of meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie. It's popular in Germany because there's a large Turkish population there. Competitors — many of whom have expanded to DFW — include Halal Guys, Nick the Greek, The Great Greek, Spitz Mediterranean Grill, Soulard Gyro, and German Doner Kebab.

Doner Shack's menu features the original doner kebab with beef on Turkish bread and salad, and then varieties such as chicken, or beef with chili sauce, or a vegetarian with fried halloumi cheese.

In addition to doner kebabs, there are also chicken tenders served with crinkle cut fries; slider-size sandwiches with fried chicken or with shaved beef; and loaded fries, topped with the same assortment of meats.

Bringing it to Texas is franchisee group Gyro N Philly LLC, led by Hassan Zaman who says in a statement that they're delighted to bring Doner Shack to Prosper.

"With the new PGA headquarters across the street, a high school with over 30,000 students, and the upcoming Universal Kids Theme Park just minutes away, we believe this is a home run location," he says. For good food, one hopes.

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