I'm kind of saddened to hear that the last Friendly's local to us is going to be bulldozed soon to make way for yet another Chipotle...or Shitpotle as I call them.

I know they've been dying for a long time but our children adore the place for the ice cream of course and the food isn't all that bad for what they charge.

I've got good memories of the place as growing up in a pretty conservative Christian home, we were not permitted to go out Trick or Treating for Halloween but instead my parents took all 7 of us to Friendly's to pick out any ice cream treat we wanted, I always got the Jim Dandy.

Fun fact: until 1989 did you know their official name and signage was FRIENDLY, but everyone always called them FRIENDLY'S so they changed their name and signage to reflect that.

I'm not sure how much longer they will stay in business as a whole, this type of restaurant seems to be in big trouble anymore.

There are 2 local to me. Doesn't look like they are going anywhere. I thought one of them went out of business but then it was open again a few weeks later, this was about 2 years ago.

I believe there is still one up on 100 outside of Pottstown also.

There were 5-6 of them locally. In the last few years all but one have closed.
I agree, they are a decent place, much better than a lot of chains.

We have two near by, one I seldom go by (and assume is still there) and another I drive by often, but honestly don't know if it's even open. May not be, I'm thinking it was on it's last legs before the lockdowns and that was the nail in the coffin.

Been decades since I was in them, but that's more me than them.

quote:

Originally posted by kx90:


I believe there is still one up on 100 outside of Pottstown also.

That is the one to be bulldozed for a Shitpotle

No, the Madeira, OH closed decades ago.

Walking home from Summer School (1977) I would stop and buy a Jim Dandy every day. Made the walk worthwhile.

There were several throughout the Cincinnati area. Always clean, good employees and good food.

Around here, they all had the same architectural style. It is easy to spot what use to be a Friendly's.

In the late 90's, I met Press Blake, one of the Founders at Sailfish Point in FL. Hell of a nice guy, with a big sailboat.

quote:

FRIENDLY'S

Two here in Florida, I-Drive down by Disney, one in Indian Harbor Beach ie Melbourne/Palm Bay area, both within riding distance...

Locator Linky

We used to have one in Manchester, NH that was never really busy, but I did eat there a couple of times. COVID made sure it was put it out of business for good though...

The one about a mile down the road from me went out of business before the 'vid, IIRC.

I came home late one day and my wife said she tried to go there for dinner in my absence and she said there as a crackhead roaming the parking lot. (That's very strange for our area....)

It now sits abandoned.

My family used to go to Friendly's all the time when I was little and we lived in Binghamton, NY.

There aren't many outside of New England, so I hadn't gone to one since I was like 6, but when I spent a period working in Maine ~20 years later, stopping in at a Friendly's brought back some good memories.

None local to me. But growing up in Reading PA (1970s), I used to go all the time after church. The Jim Dandy was my favorite as well, with extra sprinkles!

My mother-in-law was a retired book keeper, but kept the books for a local (Maryland) Friendly's franchise. She would bring stuff home with her and it was always good.

We have one a few miles away that we went to from time to time when the kids were younger.

Not sure what their future plans are but if they are closing we may have to go there for our final meal at that location “old times sake”.

Apparently there is one in south Dallas (way south of downtown). I'd never heard of it and almost never go down there. (I looked it up on the web.) My go-to burger places are a local Whataburger and one of the Griff's near me. My burger needs are very simple--well done meat, lettuce, and yellow mustard--and just about any place can do that.

flashguy

I used to go there a lot when I was a small kid. As a teen, my girlfriend loved to go there after my games. Lots of great memories. I went to one about 10-15 years ago and the food had really declined in quality. The ice cream was still good but burgers were horrible. Haven't had one since.

One of the few things I miss about NY is Friendly's ice cream. I had one just up the street from me for a time.

There are two or three around here without leaving the county, but I know there are still a bunch in Baltimore and the northern counties - probably south, too.

That said, many of them have closed. But I can still find them for now.

Head on down and I'll buy you a Jim Dandy.

-Rob

quote:

Originally posted by flashguy:
Apparently there is one in south Dallas (way south of downtown). I'd never heard of it and almost never go down there.

Different Friendly's. What you found in Dallas is a mom-and-pop burger joint that just happens to be called Friendly's Burgers, but it has no affiliation with the Massachusetts-based chain of diner/ice cream restaurants that are being discussed here.

There are no Friendly's restaurants like that anywhere in Texas. They have a couple in South Carolina and Florida, but are otherwise concentrated just in New England.

I think I may have seen a sign, once or twice, while travelling, but I don't recall ever seeing one in my stomping grounds.

Our local one closed about 5 years ago, it now sits empty