Crime & Safety

TGI Fridays Raided for Alleged Liquor Scam

State authorities seized various alcoholic beverage inventory and records on Wednesday morning from 29 bars and restaurants across New Jersey.

State authorities raided 29 bars and restaurants Wednesday morning, including Springfield's TGI Fridays, on claims they have been ripping off customers by serving cheaper alcohol as top-shelf.

The year-long investigation, named 'Operation Swill,' revealed the 29 establishments allegedly filled premium brand bottles with non-premium alcohol to increase their profits, according to a release from Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

The ABC launched its investigation after receiving citizen complaints, confidential informants and new technology used to test samples taken covertly from the licensed establishments by state detectives.

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Various alcoholic beverage inventory and records were seized on Wednesday from bars and restaurants. 

The establishments target in the investigation were:

Find out what's happening in Springfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • Railroad Café, East Rutherford
  • The Brick House, Wycoff
  • Sunset Tavern, Burlington
  • Graziano’s Ristorante, Chesilhurst
  • Villari’s Lakeside, Gloucester Township
  • Yesterdays, Marmora
  • TGI Fridays, West Orange
  • Italian Affair, Glassboro
  • Bells Tavern Lambertville
  • TGI Fridays, East Windsor
  • Brunswick Grove, East Brunswick
  • TGI Fridays, Old Bridge
  • TGI Fridays, North Brunswick
  • TGI Fridays, Piscataway
  • TGI Fridays, Freehold
  • TGI Fridays, Marlboro
  • TGI Fridays, Hazlet
  • Murray’s, Dover
  • TGI Fridays, East Hanover
  • Sona Thirteen, Morristown
  • Blackthorn Restaurant, Parsippany
  • Ruby Tuesday, Bridgewater
  • TGI Fridays, Linden
  • Café 34, Matawan
  • Applebee’s, Kearny
  • Cucina Calandara, Fairfield
  • TGI Fridays, Woodridge
  • TGI Fridays, Springfield
  • TGI Fridays, Clifton

More information will be released Thursday by state authorities at a press conference in at 11 a.m. in Trenton.


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