TGI Fridays just filed for bankruptcy after years of mismanagement and declining sales.
The struggling restaurant chain closed more than 100 locations this year alone.
And TGI Fridays made one desperate move that exposed how bad things really are.
Bankrupt chain chases viral trend while competitor protects brand
TGI Fridays launched its "6-7 Kids Club" promotion running through December 31 at participating locations nationwide.¹
From 6 to 7 p.m., kids get a free dessert with every Kid's Meal purchase.
Children can choose between a Kid's Sundae or the festive Holiday Hot Cocoa & Cookies.
The promotion jumps on the viral "six seven" meme that's taken over social media and school hallways across America.
Dictionary.com named "67" its 2025 Word of the Year.²
The phrase originated from rapper Skrilla's drill rap song "Doot Doot," where "6-7" appears as a recurring lyric.
It exploded on TikTok when users paired the song with NBA star LaMelo Ball, who stands 6-foot-7.
Here's what TGI Fridays isn't telling families about this promotion.
The Dallas-based chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November 2024.³
Sales dropped 15% year-over-year to just $728 million in 2023.
The company closed from 269 U.S. locations down to just 39 corporate-owned restaurants.
Executive Chairman Rohit Manocha blamed "COVID-19 and our capital structure" for the financial collapse.
But industry analysts tell a different story about why TGI Fridays is dying.
Successful businesses don't need gimmicks to survive
In-N-Out Burger took the opposite approach to the "6-7" trend.
The West Coast burger chain quietly removed order number 67 from its ticket system about a month ago.⁴
Videos showed crowds of teenagers erupting in celebration whenever "67" got called at In-N-Out locations.
An employee told one customer the restaurant "took 67 out of our system, so whenever we're taking orders it goes 66 to 68."
The decision reveals the difference between a brand so strong it doesn't need viral trends versus a bankrupt chain grasping at anything to drive traffic.
In-N-Out has cult-like customer loyalty and is expanding into new markets including Tennessee.
TGI Fridays is closing locations and fighting for survival in bankruptcy court.
Wendy's, Pizza Hut, and Domino's also jumped on the "6-7" trend with promotional pricing.⁵
They're healthy chains using smart marketing to capitalize on cultural moments.
TGI Fridays is a failing business trying promotional gimmicks to mask fundamental problems.
Financial expert Hitha Herzog told ABC News the real issue is customers simply stopped wanting to eat at TGI Fridays.
"Most significantly, people are not interested in eating at TGI Fridays," Herzog explained. "The menu hasn't changed much for almost two decades."⁶
She continued: "This change in restaurant culture had a massive impact on TGI Friday's bottom line."
The "6-7 Kids Club" is desperation masquerading as family-friendly fun.
Restaurant winners separate from the losers
The contrast between In-N-Out and TGI Fridays tells you everything about what makes businesses succeed in America.
In-N-Out focuses on quality food, efficient service, and brand integrity.
They don't chase every viral trend that comes along.
The result? Customers line up around the block at every location.
TGI Fridays spent decades coasting on 1980s nostalgia while competitors innovated.
They let their menu stagnate for 20 years.
Management made terrible financial decisions that loaded the company with unsustainable debt.
Now they're jumping on TikTok memes hoping families won't notice the bankruptcy filing.
John Bringardner, who tracks restaurant bankruptcies as head of Debtwire, said TGI Fridays faces "an uphill battle as consumers shift towards newer, fast-casual options offering fresher experiences and often better value."⁷
TGI Fridays joins Red Lobster, Buca di Beppo, and dozens of other casual dining chains that filed bankruptcy in 2024.
These weren't victims of economic conditions.
They were poorly managed businesses that failed to adapt while competitors thrived.
Denny's announced it's closing 150 underperforming locations.
Chili's posted strong growth by offering real value and updating their menu.
The difference isn't luck or market conditions.
It's competent management versus corporate incompetence.
TGI Fridays' bankruptcy filing listed between $100 million and $500 million in both assets and liabilities.
The company owes money to DoorDash and countless other creditors.
Franchisees are stuck honoring nearly $50 million in unredeemed gift cards with no hope of reimbursement from the bankrupt corporate parent.
That's what happens when private equity firms like TriArtisan Capital Advisors run restaurants into the ground through financial engineering instead of operational excellence.
The "6-7 Kids Club" promotion won't save TGI Fridays.
Free desserts between 6 and 7 p.m. can't fix years of mismanagement.
Families deserve better than being used as props in a bankrupt chain's last-ditch survival scheme.
Smart consumers will stick with restaurants that earned their loyalty through quality and consistency, not desperate gimmicks chasing viral trends.
¹ Erin Clements, "TGI Fridays Is Getting in on the 6-7 Trend with Free Kids' Desserts from 6 to 7 P.M.," People, December 17, 2025.
² "6-7 (meme)," Wikipedia, accessed December 17, 2025.
³ Matt O'Brien, "TGI Fridays files for bankruptcy protection," Associated Press, November 4, 2024.
⁴ Lindsay Kornick, "In-N-Out Burger removes number '67' from system in response to viral '6-7' trend," Fox News, December 10, 2025.
⁵ Ibid.
⁶ "Financial experts break down TGI Fridays voluntary bankruptcy filing as restaurant chain slumps," ABC News, November 5, 2024.
⁷ Ibid.