WILBRAHAM — Friendly’s, citing expiring leases and a need to reduce its network in a competitive environment, closed more restaurant locations over the weekend, including one at the Stop & Shop plaza in Framingham, Holden and 20 more, including one in New Hampshire, and others in western and central New York state. A Waltham location closed last week and was including in the most recent news release from the company bringing the total to 23. Last week, Dennis Pfaff, chief operating officer of Friendly’s, said he expected more restaurants to close as leases expire. The chain, he said, is shrinking its networked to fit market conditions and shedding stores that that are no longer in high-traffic shopping locations. The closed locations include 14 restaurants in upstate New York, three in Massachusetts, three in Connecticut, two in New Hampshire and one in Maine. Following these actions, Friendly’s will have 77 corporate-owned restaurants and 97 franchisee-owned restaurants. Brothers S. Prestley and Curtis Blake founded Friendly’s in 1935 with a single storefront in Springfield’s Pine Point neighborhood. Friendly’s headed into this most recent round of shutdowns with 200 locations, including 100 corporately owned and 100 franchised. That’s down from 224 just more than a year ago and 254 when the company emerged from bankruptcy in 2012. In 1988, when Hershey Foods sold the chain, it had 850 full-service restaurants in 15 states. “While there’s much work ahead, we are encouraged by the momentum we’re generating. The energy and enthusiasm for the plans we unveiled at our February meeting was both gratifying and inspiring, as we seek to re-energize our marketing efforts with the addition of a new agency roster, refresh our menu, focus on delivery and catering options, and improve the overall restaurant experience for our customers,” CEO CEO George Michel wrote in a letter Monday to franchisees. Friendly’s owner Sun Capital sold the ice cream manufacturing operation in Wilbraham and supermarket sales business to Dean Foods Co. for $155 million in 2016. Dean Foods, the country’s largest processor and seller of fluid milk, makes Friendly’s ice cream for the restaurants on a 10-year contract. Friendly's is trying. It's got a revamped menu coming out next month and has started offering delivery with Uber Eats and DoorDash. Friendly's also does catering now, offering meals with ice cream to groups. Pfaff said that when Friendly’s closes a location, neighboring ones see increased business and profitability. The 23 closed stores are:<doc-sep>Friendly's officials announced Monday that its location in Augusta is one of 23 restaurants across the Northeast to close effective immediately.Officials with the company said employees were notified ahead of the closure and will be offered severance or other assistance.The other locations to close include 14 restaurants in upstate New York, three in Massachusetts, three and Connecticut and two in New Hampshire. All are corporate-owned restaurants.CEO George Michel said in a letter to franchise owners that the company has been evaluating its restaurants for several months. "While this was a tough decision, we are confident it will best position the brand for a bright future," Michel said in the letter.After the closures, Friendly's will have 77 corporate-owned restaurants and 97 franchisee-owned restaurants. Friendly's officials announced Monday that its location in Augusta is one of 23 restaurants across the Northeast to close effective immediately. Officials with the company said employees were notified ahead of the closure and will be offered severance or other assistance. Advertisement The other locations to close include 14 restaurants in upstate New York, three in Massachusetts, three and Connecticut and two in New Hampshire. All are corporate-owned restaurants. CEO George Michel said in a letter to franchise owners that the company has been evaluating its restaurants for several months. "While this was a tough decision, we are confident it will best position the brand for a bright future," Michel said in the letter. After the closures, Friendly's will have 77 corporate-owned restaurants and 97 franchisee-owned restaurants.<doc-sep>Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.<doc-sep>
More than 20 additional Friendy’s restaurants have closed, including three in Massachusetts, MassLive reports. The shops in Waltham, Framingham and Holden join dozens of other restaurants for the Massachusetts-based ice cream company that have closed in recent years.In addition to the Massachusetts locations, 14 restaurants in upstate New York, three in Connecticut, two in New Hampshire and one in Maine are also being shuttered in the latest round of closures, MassLive reported. Friendly’s now has 77 corporate-owned restaurants and 97 franchisee-owned restaurants. When the chain emerged from bankruptcy protection in 2012, it had 254 restaurants. At its peak in the 1980s, there were more than 700 Friendly’s locations. The Wilbraham-based chain was founded in 1935 by Springfield brothers S. Prestley and Curtis Blake. More than 20 additional Friendy’s restaurants have closed, including three in Massachusetts, MassLive reports. The shops in Waltham, Framingham and Holden join dozens of other restaurants for the Massachusetts-based ice cream company that have closed in recent years. Advertisement Related Content Last Friendly's in Rhode Island closes In addition to the Massachusetts locations, 14 restaurants in upstate New York, three in Connecticut, two in New Hampshire and one in Maine are also being shuttered in the latest round of closures, MassLive reported. Friendly’s now has 77 corporate-owned restaurants and 97 franchisee-owned restaurants. When the chain emerged from bankruptcy protection in 2012, it had 254 restaurants. At its peak in the 1980s, there were more than 700 Friendly’s locations. The Wilbraham-based chain was founded in 1935 by Springfield brothers S. Prestley and Curtis Blake.