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Friendly's, a popular restaurant famous for its classic American meals and ice cream, has unexpectedly closed one of its locations. This restaurant was in Ronkonkoma, Long Island, and was one of the 100 Friendly's places across the US.
Friendly's: A Sweet Start to a Rocky Road
Founded in 1935 by brothers Curtis and S. Prestly Blake in Springfield, Massachusetts, Friendly's began its journey as a humble ice cream shop. It then offered double-dipped cones for just five cents, quickly becoming a local favorite.
Over the years, Friendly's expanded beyond Massachusetts, reaching other states along the East Coast. Despite this growth, the restaurant chain has faced significant challenges recently, particularly in Long Island, New York.
Newsday said, "Friendly's restaurants, once a staple on Long Island, have been slowly disappearing." Last year, the closure of a location in Miller Place added to the list of several other Friendly's that have shut down, ranging from Levittown to Middle Island.
After the recent shutdown in Ronkonkoma, the number of Friendly's restaurants in Nassau and Suffolk counties has dropped to only 10. These remaining locations are:
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Massapequa Park
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East Meadow
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Coram
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Commack
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East Islip
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Sayville
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Shirley
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Stony Brook
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Medford
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Riverhead
This decrease highlights the ongoing challenges the beloved restaurant chain faces in maintaining its footprint in the area.
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Community Mourns Friendly's Closure
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The closure announcement sent shockwaves through the community, prompting many to share their feelings on social media.
One person reminisced on Facebook, "Nooooooo...one of my favorite hangouts in high school."
Another shared, "So sad.... I remember many memorable family trips to Friendly's in Port Jefferson. They were good days. I'm sorry to see them close."
A third person expressed their sorrow, "It made me super sad seeing all the closed down Friendly's locations across Long Island. I had so many good memories and meals there with family that's not alive anymore."
These reactions highlight residents' deep connection with Friendly's, underscoring the impact of its closing on the community.
In November 2020, Friendly's shared some difficult news: the beloved restaurant chain had to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy because of the troubles brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.
But there was a glimmer of hope by January 2021, when Friendly's found a new owner.
Amici Partners Group, LLC, a team of seasoned investors and experts in running restaurants, stepped in to buy the chain.
Amici Partners took over 130 Friendly's restaurants, both owned by the company and franchised, with a promise to keep all these locations running. However, recent closures of Friendly's locations have raised questions about the future of this promise.
The Boston Globe reported that in 2011, Friendly's operated 423 restaurants and employed over 6,000 staff at the store level. Despite its size, the chain was deep in debt, owing $297 million.
Friendly noted several factors that caused its financial troubles, as noted by Mass Live. The 2008 economic downturn, rising costs for cream and other essential ingredients, expensive rent, and various unrelated financial burdens were all contributing factors.
Additionally, customer feedback highlighted issues around that time, such as inconsistent food quality across different locations and slow service, as mentioned in a 2009 Times Union article. Friendly's acknowledged these concerns and promised to make improvements.
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