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Friendly's restaurant chain shrinks to 87 locations in 11 states
Fox News • • business
Key Points:
- Friendly's, a casual-dining chain known for ice cream desserts and burgers, has shrunk from about 850 locations at its peak to fewer than 100 restaurants across 11 states as of 2024.
- Founded in 1935 by brothers Prestley and Curtis Blake in Massachusetts, Friendly's expanded rapidly, reaching 500 restaurants by 1974 and 850 in the mid-1990s before facing financial challenges.
- The chain filed for bankruptcy twice, in 2011 and 2020, with COVID-19 severely impacting its operations due to dine-in restrictions and reduced capacity.
- In 2021, Amici Partners Group acquired Friendly's, aiming to revitalize the brand, which still holds nostalgic value but struggles to keep up with modern dining trends and customer preferences.
- Experts suggest Friendly's could leverage its legacy and ice cream reputation while modernizing its menu with healthier and diverse options to regain appeal and attract new customers.
