News Summary
The Friendly’s restaurant in Pembroke, Massachusetts, has permanently closed, marking another decline for the iconic chain. Attempts to contact the restaurant have failed, and it has disappeared from the official website. This closure adds to a troubling trend, with Friendly’s losing a significant number of its locations over the years. Despite new ownership aiming for a revival, the future of the brand remains uncertain as it faces continued contraction across the United States.
Pembroke, Massachusetts – The Friendly’s restaurant located at 146 Church Street in Pembroke has permanently closed, as indicated by its status on Google Maps. Additionally, attempts to contact the restaurant revealed that the phone number is no longer in service. The Pembroke location has also vanished from Friendly’s official website. Though the exact date of closure remains uncertain, a social media post suggests it may have occurred earlier this month.
This closure is yet another setback for the iconic Massachusetts-based restaurant chain, which has seen a dramatic contraction in its operations in recent years, losing approximately 90% of its original locations. The last year alone reported the closure of a Friendly’s on Riverdale Street in West Springfield. The company has struggled financially, having filed for bankruptcy twice in the past decade—first in 2011 and again in 2020.
The recent developments occurred shortly after Brix Holdings, the parent company of Friendly’s, was acquired by Legacy Brands International in July 2023. The new ownership, led by an investment group managed by Amol Kohli, has expressed intentions to revive the Friendly’s brand, although it remains to be seen how this will affect existing locations like the one in Pembroke.
Friendly’s restaurants were once synonymous with suburban American dining, having been established in 1935 by brothers S. Prestley and Curtis Blake in Springfield, Massachusetts. At their peak during the 1970s, Friendly’s operated nearly 800 restaurants along the East Coast. Yet, the recent closure in Pembroke coincides with a somber milestone: the company’s 90th anniversary.
Currently, there are around 100 Friendly’s locations operating throughout the United States, marking a significant drop from their historical numbers. In Massachusetts alone, the chain maintains only 22 surviving locations. Following the closure in Pembroke, just seven Friendly’s remain along Route 495, signaling an ongoing contraction in the brand’s presence in the region.
Moreover, Friendly’s ice cream production capabilities have shifted—once based in Wilbraham, the plant is now managed by Dairy Farmers of America, which continues to supply ice cream to both Friendly’s restaurants and supermarkets. The company’s headquarters have also relocated from Western Massachusetts to Long Island, New York, a move that reflects broader structural changes within the organization.
Compounding the situation, the last remaining Friendly’s location in Boston, specifically at Logan International Airport, has also recently shuttered. This loss underscores the continuing decline of a brand once considered a mainstay in American comfort food culture.
For those in Massachusetts, the remaining Friendly’s locations include facilities in Agawam, Attleboro, Auburn, Chicopee, East Longmeadow, Fall River, Florence, Gardner, Haverhill, Holyoke, Leominster, Marlborough, Middleborough, North Dartmouth, Norwood, Peabody, Pittsfield, Plymouth, South Weymouth, Springfield, Swansea, and Westfield. With the closure of the Pembroke restaurant, the brand reflects a reshaped landscape, characterized by nostalgia as the heritage of Friendly’s continues to diminish.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- Boston.com: Friendly’s in Pembroke Has Permanently Closed
- Wikipedia: Friendly’s
- MassLive: Another Mass Friendly’s Joins a String of Recent Closures
- Google Search: Friendly’s restaurant closures
- NBC Boston: One of the Last Remaining Friendly’s Restaurants in Greater Boston Has Closed
- Google Scholar: Friendly’s restaurant history
- Telegram: Friendly’s Parent Company Purchased Legacy International
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Friendly’s
- Patch: End of an Era, Friendly’s Closes Another MA Restaurant
- Google News: Friendly’s restaurant news
Author: STAFF HERE BOSTON WRITER
The BOSTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBoston.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Boston, Suffolk County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Boston Marathon, Head of the Charles Regatta, and Boston Harborfest. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Massachusetts, plus leading businesses in finance, biotech, and insurance that power the local economy such as Fidelity Investments, Biogen, and Liberty Mutual Insurance. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Massachusetts's dynamic landscape.
