Million’s Crab Boiled Seafood has closed its Springfield location in the former TGI Fridays space at 2100 W. White Oaks Dr. as of Dec. 6. The Cajun seafood chain, based in Ohio, has been expanding aggressively throughout the Midwest with 10 locations in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Wisconsin and Minnesota. According to the company’s website, three additional locations are in the works for Chicago and Minneapolis. The founders of Million’s Crab also created the Juicy Seafood and Naked Crab franchises.

The Springfield location opened on April 1, although it had originally been scheduled to be operational in the fall of 2020. Marketing director Commi Tong told SBJ at the time that various inspections from the city and health department had been delayed. Another Cajun seafood restaurant, Ocean Crab House & Bar, opened on South McArthur Avenue later the same month.

A message posted on the company’s Facebook page blamed the closing on COVID and the poor economy and thanked “all of our loyal customers for supporting us.”

A representative from Million’s Crab did not respond to an inquiry regarding plans for the property.