Friendly’s In Mt. Laurel Has Closed
In October, we reported that there were rumors that the Friendly's on Route 38 in Mt. Laurel would be closing. Now, according to the Courier-Post, that restaurant has permanently shut its doors. That leaves just 2 Friendly's locations in Burlington County - in one Marlton and the other in Cinnaminson.
Friendly's is based in Massachusetts and the Boston Globe reports that since filing for bankruptcy in 2011, the chain has shuttered many of their locations. After announcing almost two dozen more closings this week, there are just 174 remaining. (Nation's Restaurant News says that "eleven years ago, Friendly’s operated 505 locations.")
The first Friendly restaurant opened in Springfield, MA in 1935. By 1951, there were 10 locations in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Just over 20 years later, the number of locations grew to over 500.
The chain is best-known for its ice cream treats, including their Jubilee Rolls, Fribbles, Sundae cups, and Friend-Z's.
According to Nation's Restaurant News, in a letter to Friendly's franchisees, CEO, George Michel explained the closures by saying, "“While this was a tough decision, we are confident it will best position the brand for a bright future,” In addition, the company said it was "working to support them with opportunities at other locations or severance payments and other assistance.”