Here's What Will Open At The Woodbridge TGIFriday's Location

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — Big news: A new Indian restaurant will open at the space that used to house TGIFriday's in the Plaza at Woodbridge shopping center.

This was just announced Thursday by Urban Edge Properties, which owns the Plaza at Woodbridge.

They did not give a date when it will open, but only said "later this year." The new Indian restaurant will have a bar and use the liquor license that was held by TGIFriday's. It will be a full-service restaurant serving both traditional and modern Indian cuisine.

The TGIFriday's abruptly closed in 2024, as the company closed dozens of locations across the U.S. and shrunk its footprint.

The owner of the new restaurant (its name was not revealed) is Mango People Collective (formerly known as Fine Indian Dining Group), an Indian restaurant group run by two brothers, Ankush and Avineet Punhani. They own and operate three other Indian restaurants in New Jersey: The Social Hub and Jashan in Parsippany and Dhaba, with locations in New York City and Parsippany.

"When our dad immigrated to the U.S., he chose New Jersey to build a life for our family," said the brothers. "Woodbridge is where he was given his first real opportunity, which would go on to shape everything that followed. That early support meant everything to our family, and this expansion and return to Woodbridge is a full-circle, 'pinch-me' moment for us."

The Plaza at Woodbridge is located on Rt. 1 across from the Woodbridge Center Mall. Anchor tenants there are Best Buy, Raymour & Flanigan and the newly opened Trader Joe’s.