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Friendly's Restaurants

Family restaurant

In Springfield, Massachusetts at the height of the Great Depression in 1935, 20 year-old Prestley Blake and his 18 year-old brother Curtis opened an ice cream shop called 'Friendly' that served double-dip cones for 5 cents. The brothers opened a second shop five years later in West Springfield, Massachusetts and added food to the menu. Within a decade, locations opened throughout western Massachusetts and Connecticut. In 1988 Donald N. Smith, the company's current CEO, purchased the company and a year later added an 's' to the name, making it 'Friendly's.'

In May 2000, Friendly's introduced a new food and dessert menu featuring colossal burgers, sandwich wraps, splits, sundaes and Cyclones. Friendly's produces 10 million snack cups and 230,000 gallons of fudge every year. In addition to its restaurants and cafes, Friendly's manufactures a complete line of frozen desserts.

Please Note: The operators of Friendly's Restaurants, may not have verified the accuracy of the Franchise information contained within this website. For accurate up-to-date information, customers are strongly recommended to visit the official Friendly's Restaurants website.

Start-up Costs & Franchises Fees

How much does it cost to open a Friendly's Restaurants Franchises?

Total Investment: $498,500-$1,950,000
Initial Franchise Fee: $30,000-$35,000
Royalty Fee: 4%
Advertising Fee:
Term of Agreement: 20 years
Renewal Fee: $5K

How to contact Friendly's Restaurants

Friendly's Restaurants News

Friendly's To Test Fast Casual Concept
Friendly's Ice Cream Corp. is throwing its hat into the increasingly competitive fast-casual ring. The chain will test up to four Friendly's Express restaurants in Boston, Springfield, Mass., and Providence, R.I. next year, and hopes to begin opening as many as 50 of the fast-casual forma... more

Friendly's Won't Let Tough Economic Times Get Families Down
As economic troubles cause families to pinch pennies, the restaurant industry is giving people a reason to eat out again with creative promotions and diverse options. And with hectic lifestyles and the back-to-school season in full force, the new trend comes right in time. Friendly... more

Franchise Owners Say They Support Friendly's
A group of franchise owners, in a letter yesterday to Friendly Ice Cream Corp. shareholders, have voiced their support for the company's restaurant operating system and for new CEO George Condos. The Boston-based group, which represents 95 percent of Friendly's Ice Cream Restaurant fra... more

Friendly's Puts 2 & 2 Together With Create Your Own Entrées Menu
Sirloin tips or fried shrimp? BBQ chicken or grilled flounder? For guests who just can't make up their minds, Friendly's offers the perfect solution: create your own perfect meal by choosing two entrees, adding two side dishesÑand then topping it off with a free Happy Ending Sundae¨. "... more

Friendly's Restaurants Announces Major Expansion In North Carolina
Friendly's Restaurants Franchise, Inc., one of America's most successful restaurant franchises, today announced that it will significantly expand its presence in North Carolina through a development agreement with established restaurateur Cliford E. Bullard, Jr. Under the development agre... more

View all Friendly's Restaurants Press Releases

Franchise History

When did the first Friendly's Restaurants open? 1935
When did Friendly's Restaurants start Franchising? 1996

Year	U.S.A.	Canada	International	Corporate
2005	188	0	0	348
2004	178	0	0	361
2003	156	0	0	382
2002	158	0	0	392
2001	161	0	0	393

Expansion Plans

United States: Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia,

Financing Options

Expense	In-House	Third Party
Franchise Fee	No	No
Startup Costs	No	No
Equipment	No	No
Inventory	No	No
Accounts Receivable	No	No
Payroll	No	No

Training & Support

Support
Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations

Marketing
Ad slicks, National media

Business Operations

Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 62% of all franchisees own more than one unit

Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

Qualifications & Business Experience

Business Experience:

Industry experience

Related Franchise Categories

• Full Service Restaurant Franchise Opportunities
• Franchises $250K to $500K

Listing Tags

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