TGI Fridays says closing is because of O St. work
Work on widening O Street has yet to begin, and one business is already saying the project has forced it to close.
Casual dining chain TGI Fridays planned to close its Lincoln restaurant for good at the end of business Monday, putting 15 full-time and about 60 part-time employees out of work.
In a press release, the company that manages the property at 210 N. 48th St. blamed the upcoming widening project.
“The city’s plan to completely close the intersection of 48th and O will cause considerable disruption over an extended period of time,” said Kraig Pomrenke, director of hospitality services for the Hegg Companies of Sioux City, Iowa.
“It would just be impossible to sustain our business with access so limited and the city’s redevelopment uncertainties.”
The company didn’t plan to tell employees until late Monday, so they were unavailable for comment.
The city said in October it plans to close O Street completely between 46th and 52nd to get the $18 million to $20 million project done in one year instead of two. Preliminary work is set to start in a week or two, with closure of O Street beginning around April first, said Public Works Director Karl Fredrickson.
Traffic will be detoured onto R Street during the closure. The project also includes work on 48th Street, though it will be done in phases and at least one lane in each direction will remain open.
Work on redevelopment projects on the south and north sides of O between 48th and 52nd also is expected to be done during the widening project.
Fredrickson said he has a hard time seeing how a business can blame its demise on construction that hasn’t started.
Once the work begins, he said, people will have full access to businesses on 48th Street.
Fredrickson said it’s likely the restaurant has bigger issues.
“I don’t necessarily see the road construction being their reason for closing,” he said.
Pomrenke said the restaurant chain, which has been at the location for 13 years, may consider another Lincoln eatery in the future, but no definite plans are in the works, he said.
“We enjoyed our time in Lincoln and are grateful to the Lincoln community for their business over the years,” he said.
Though several businesses have criticized the total closure of O Street, saying it will be a hardship on them, TGI Fridays is the only one to announce a closing.
Randy Wilson, who owns Play It Again Sports, told the Journal Star in August he might consider closing the store during construction.
Monday, he said he wasn’t really serious and has no plans to close.
“But I’ll essentially be working for nothing for a year,” Wilson said.
Other businesses support the total closure, saying it is critical to get the work done as quickly as possible.
Reach Matt Olberding at 473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com.
Casual dining chain TGI Fridays planned to close its Lincoln restaurant for good at the end of business Monday, putting 15 full-time and about 60 part-time employees out of work.
In a press release, the company that manages the property at 210 N. 48th St. blamed the upcoming widening project.
“The city’s plan to completely close the intersection of 48th and O will cause considerable disruption over an extended period of time,” said Kraig Pomrenke, director of hospitality services for the Hegg Companies of Sioux City, Iowa.
“It would just be impossible to sustain our business with access so limited and the city’s redevelopment uncertainties.”
The company didn’t plan to tell employees until late Monday, so they were unavailable for comment.
The city said in October it plans to close O Street completely between 46th and 52nd to get the $18 million to $20 million project done in one year instead of two. Preliminary work is set to start in a week or two, with closure of O Street beginning around April first, said Public Works Director Karl Fredrickson.
Traffic will be detoured onto R Street during the closure. The project also includes work on 48th Street, though it will be done in phases and at least one lane in each direction will remain open.
Work on redevelopment projects on the south and north sides of O between 48th and 52nd also is expected to be done during the widening project.
Fredrickson said he has a hard time seeing how a business can blame its demise on construction that hasn’t started.
Once the work begins, he said, people will have full access to businesses on 48th Street.
Fredrickson said it’s likely the restaurant has bigger issues.
“I don’t necessarily see the road construction being their reason for closing,” he said.
Pomrenke said the restaurant chain, which has been at the location for 13 years, may consider another Lincoln eatery in the future, but no definite plans are in the works, he said.
“We enjoyed our time in Lincoln and are grateful to the Lincoln community for their business over the years,” he said.
Though several businesses have criticized the total closure of O Street, saying it will be a hardship on them, TGI Fridays is the only one to announce a closing.
Randy Wilson, who owns Play It Again Sports, told the Journal Star in August he might consider closing the store during construction.
Monday, he said he wasn’t really serious and has no plans to close.
“But I’ll essentially be working for nothing for a year,” Wilson said.
Other businesses support the total closure, saying it is critical to get the work done as quickly as possible.
Reach Matt Olberding at 473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com.
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