Massachusetts
TGI Fridays at Solomon Pond Mall in Marlborough among six in Mass. that have closed
MARLBOROUGH — The TGI Fridays location at the Solomon Pond Mall is among five other Massachusetts locations — and 36 nationwide — that have abruptly closed due to underperformance, the company confirmed on Wednesday.
In a press release, TGI Fridays announced the closure of the six underperforming restaurants in Massachusetts, as well as a seventh in Providence, Rhode Island. A spokesperson confirmed that the Massachusetts locations include those in Dedham, Danvers, Mansfield, Seekonk, North Attleboro and Marlborough.
“As we continue along our path of transformation to revitalize the Fridays brand and implement a long-term growth strategy, we see a bright future for TGI Fridays,” TGI Friday’s CEO Weldon Spangler said in the press release. “We are at the helm of a pivotal moment that will allow us to explore boundless advancement, expansion and innovation to keep delivering ‘That Fridays Feeling’ that our fans know and love.”
A Daily News reporter’s call to the Marlborough location went unanswered.
As part of the store closures, TGI Fridays is offering more than 1,000 transfer opportunities, which represents more than 80% of total impacted employees.
Store closures also included the sale of eight previously corporate-owned restaurants in the Northeast to former CEO Ray Blanchette.
In Massachusetts, TGI Fridays continues to operate restaurants in Boston, Braintree, Everett, Methuen, Millbury, North Dartmouth and Stoughton.
TGI Friday’s exits MetroWest and Greater Milford
The Marlborough location was the last TGI Friday’s restaurant in MetroWest and Greater Milford.
A Framingham restaurant on Route 9 closed in 2021 and was razed. The property now contains a new shopping plaza that houses Kura Revolving Sushi Bar, a sushi restaurant with Japanese-style sushi belts.
In Milford, a TGI Friday’s site on Fortune Boulevard was acquired by Imperial Cars owner Kevin Meehan as part of a deal that also included former Best Buy and Bed, Bath & Beyond stores. The site was sold for $10.3 million and Meehan told the Daily News he planned to “reposition” the marketplace.
Essential water safety tips
Learn essential water safety tips to ensure a fun and safe summer for the whole family.
Massachusetts residents love their beach towns.
And Condé Nast Magazine loves two particular beach towns in the Bay State, but surprisingly didn’t pick a beach on Cape Cod.
That’s why the towns were included on the magazine’s 2025 list of the 17 best beach towns on the East Coast.
“Whether you’re looking to lay out on the sand in summer or prefer walking along the water spotting wildlife and collecting rocks, the shores of the East Coast have a little something for everyone,” Condé Nast stated on its website.
Here’s more about the magazine’s favorite beach towns in Massachusetts.
Oak Bluffs ranked No. 5 on the list
Coming in at number 5 is one of the most popular spots on Martha’s Vineyard – Oak Bluffs.
What they said: “The colorful gingerbread houses for which Oak Bluffs is known are straight out of a storybook. Visitors walk straight off their boats into Ocean Park, a circular green overlooking the sea, encircled by said houses, with a frothy, delicate gazebo sitting in the center. Oak Bluffs has a long history of welcoming Black visitors, and today it is home to the annual African-American Film Festival.”
Rockport ranked No. 4 on the list
Rockport is a town on the North Shore of the Bay State.
What they said: “The coastal region is known for its excellent seafood, beautiful beaches, and historic landmarks. Many a good film has been filmed here as well, such as Martin Scorsese’s ‘Shutter Island’ and Kenneth Lonergan’s ‘Manchester-by-the-Sea.’
“Forty miles north of Boston, (Rockport) has a can’t-miss natural gem in Halibut Point State Park, from which visitors can spot Maine in the distance 80 miles away. Rockport is also beloved by art history buffs: it is home to Motif Number 1, a fishing shack with the superlative ‘the most-often painted building in America.’ It was built in 1840, and was a popular subject because it represented New England’s nautical character.”
What other regions of New England are on the list?
According to Condé Nast, they include:
- Bar Harbor, Maine
- Kennebunkport, Maine
- Newport, Rhode Island
- Hampton Beach, New Hampshire
- Madison, Connecticut
Up the road from Gillette Stadium, a town neighboring Foxboro is pressing for funding to meet public safety demands arising from the World Cup, with the first match just over a month away.
Walpole’s state delegation has written a letter to the state Office of Travel and Tourism requesting approval of the town’s request for nearly $200,000 to support “essential public safety personnel,” as officials expect “significant spillover impacts” from the premier soccer tournament.
As the Walpole/Foxboro town line on Route 1 is a handful of miles north of Gillette Stadium, officials are expecting increased traffic congestion and pedestrian activity to amount to “heightened public safety demands.”
“As outlined in the Town’s proposal,” the state delegation wrote in the letter it sent to the state last week, “Walpole will play a critical role in ensuring safe and efficient operations for both residents and visitors.”
“This funding will help close a critical gap and ensure that Walpole can safely support this internationally significant event,” the delegation added.
The state Office of Travel and Tourism confirmed to the Herald that it received the letter from state Reps. John H. Rogers, Paul McMurtry, Ted Philips and Marcus Vaughn and Sen. Mike Rush. The office said it will announce decisions in the coming weeks about round two of the $2 million grant program that supports municipal public safety needs tied to the World Cup.
The first round of the program, a $10 million competitive initiative, awarded funding earlier this year to 17 communities to support tournament-related events, including fan festivals, watch parties and regional activations.
This comes after the Foxboro Select Board battled the Boston Soccer 2026 nonprofit host committee and Kraft Sports & Entertainment, which operates Gillette Stadium, for months to ensure it received full funding to cover all security personnel and equipment.
In mid-March, the David vs. Goliath fight concluded, with Boston Soccer 2026 and the Krafts agreeing to cover Foxboro’s $7.8 million request.
Gillette, which will be rebranded as “Boston Stadium,” is set to host seven matches – five in the group stage and two knockout games – between June 13 and July 9. The World Cup is considered a SEAR 1 event, the highest risk level for public gatherings in the country.
“These matches will bring an excitement that this town has never seen,” Foxboro Police Chief Michael Grace said before the Select Board voted to grant an entertainment license for the matches to go on.
Massachusetts
The best Massachusetts high schools for athletes? According to one study, here are top 25
No other city in the country boasts more championships than Boston, giving Massachusetts a sporting pedigree unlike any other.
What’s unique about many of the state is that several of the stars from those championship-winning teams were Massachusetts natives.
Before they were winning the Stanley Cup, the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, World Series or a gold medal, those athletes were high school standouts.
Which high schools in Massachusetts are considered the best for athletes today?
According to a study conducted by Niche, which accounts for survey feedback from students and parents—accounting for “reviews of athletics, number of state championships, student participation in athletics, and the number of sports offered at the school”—and data from the U.S. Department of Education, these are the top 25.
25. Hanover High School
Total number of sports: 29
24. Tewksbury Memorial High School
Total number of sports: 24
23. Medfield Senior High School
Total number of sports: 27
22. North Reading High School
Total number of sports: 26
21. Cushing Academy (Ashburnham)
Total number of sports: 20
20. Minnechaug Regional High School (Wilbraham)
Total number of sports: 30
19. Franklin High School
Total number of sports: 20
18. Shrewsbury Senior High School
Total number of sports: 34
17. Longmeadow High School
Total number of sports: 28
16. Bishop Feehan High School (Attleboro)
Total number of sports: 27
15. Wellesley Senior High School
Total number of sports: 36
14. Mansfield High School
Total number of sports: 22
13. Billerica Memorial High School
Total number of sports: 23
12. St. Sebastian’s School (Needham)
Total number of sports: 13
11. Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School
Total number of sports: 32
10. Deerfield Academy
Total number of sports: 37
9. Nashoba Regional High School (Bolton)
Total number of sports: 30
8. Belmont Hill School
Total number of sports: 16
7. Duxbury High School
Total number of sports: 30
6. Notre Dame Academy (Hingham)
Total number of sports: 19
5. Central Catholic High School (Lawrence)
Total number of sports: 30
4. Catholic Memorial (West Roxbury)
Total number of sports: 15
3. Xaverian Brothers High School (Westwood)
Total number of sports: 17
2. Boston College High School
Total number of sports: 17
1. St. John’s Prep (Danvers)
Total number of sports: 22
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