The Ethermac ExchangeAmerican chain TGI Fridays has permanently shuttered doors to dozens of restaurants in 12 states, the company announced this week.

Self-dubbed "the world's first casual bar and grill,' the nearly 60-year-old chain said in a release it closed 36 underperforming locations.

The closures affect 12 states with most taking place in New Jersey (7), Massachusetts (6) and New York (5). They also include four in Texas and two in Florida.

The move, according to the release, comes as part of the chain's "ongoing growth strategy."

As part of the closures, TGI Fridays said it is offering more than 1,000 transfer opportunities, which the business said represents more than 80% of its impacted employees.

Changes at TGI Fridays

Prior to the announcement, the business had more than 270 locations worldwide.

In addition to store closures, the business also announced it appointed several new top executives and planned to sell some of its restaurants back to its former CEO.

"Our top priority has always been delivering a superior experience for each and every TGI Fridays guest, and we've identified opportunities to optimize and streamline our operations,"  Ray Risley, U.S. President and Chief Operating Officer at TGI Fridays released in a statement. "By strengthening our franchise model and closing underperforming stores, we are creating an unprecedented opportunity for Fridays to drive forward its vision for the future." 

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TGI Fridays locations closing

Here are the 36 locations that shuttered their doors.

California

• Fresno: 1077 E. Herndon Ave.

Colorado

• Longmont: 125 Ken Pratt Blvd.
• Denver: 8104 Northfield Blvd.

Connecticut

• Newington: 3025 Berlin Turnpike

Florida

• Ormond Beach: 24 Ocean Shore Blvd.
• Royal Palm: 580 N. State Road 7

Massachusetts

• Berlin/Marlborough: 601 Donald Lynch Blvd.
• Danvers: 49 Newbury St.
• Dedham: 750 Providence Hwy
• Seekonk: 1105 Fall River Ave.
• Mansfield: 280 School St. Suite A100
• North Attleboro: 1385 S. Washington St.

Maryland

• Columbia: 8330 Benson Dr.
• Bowie: 15207 Major Lansdale Blvd.

New Hampshire

• Amherst: 124 NH-101A Ste. 28

New Jersey

• Eatontown: 180 NJ-35 Ste. 6000
• Hackensack: 411 Hackensack Ave.
• Iselin/Woodbridge: 401 Gill Ln.
• Wayne Town Center,: 71 Route 23 South
• Marlton: 970 Rte. 73 N.
• Princeton: 3535 US-1 #275
• Springfield: 40 US-22

New York

• Albany: 1475 Western Ave.
• Bay Shore: 1725 Sunrise Hwy.
• Hauppauge: 3045 Expy Drive N.
• Massapequa: 5204 Sunrise Hwy.
• Woodbury Township: 5 Centre Dr.

Pennsylvania

• Willow Grove: 2500 W. Moreland Rd.

Texas

• Corpus Christi: 5217 S. Padre Island Dr.
• Houston/Almeda: 12895 Gulf Fwy.
• North Arlington: 1524 N. Collins St.
• The Woodlands: 1105 Lake Woodlands Dr.

Virginia

• Springfield: 6751-B Frontier Dr.
• Woodbridge/Potomac Mills: 13237 Worth Ave.
• Fredericksburg: 1160 Carl D Silver Pkwy
• Manassas: 7401 Sudley Rd.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.