Stoughton Friendly’s Closes its Doors

For a restaurant chain that was known for their “Happy Ending” Sundaes, Wednesday was anything but for the Stoughton Friendly’s.

The Stoughton Friendly’s, located at 630 Washington St., adjacent to Shaw’s Plaza, was a longtime popular gathering spot in town. But on Wednesday morning, there were red signs that were posted on the restaurant’s doors that read: “Thank you for your patronage. This restaurant has permanently closed.”

Several media outlets reported on Wednesday that the Wilbraham, MA-based Friendly Ice Cream Corporation, better known as Friendly’s, has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.

Friendly’s will keep 424 locations open during the financial restructuring, the company said in a press release, but has closed 63 “underperforming restaurants,” including the Stoughton location.

Of the 63 restaurants that have closed, 30 are in Massachusetts. In addition to the Stoughton location, nearby locations in Brockton, Bridgewater, Dedham and Foxboro have also been shut down.

According to a press release from the company, “the decision to financially restructure through a Chapter 11 filing was driven largely by the challenges of the current economic downturn, significantly increased costs, particularly in commodities such as cream, rents that exceed current market rates and [uncertainty] of the Company's current unrelated liabilities.” 

“The filing will provide Friendly's with the tools and time to strengthen its balance sheet, close underperforming restaurants, revisit certain agreements and reposition the Company for long-term success.”

Part of the financial restructuring included closing restaurants in Connecticut, Florida, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia and Vermont, in addition to Massachusetts.

“After a thorough analysis of the profitability and contribution of all Friendly's locations, including the lease costs involved, the Company made the difficult but necessary decision to close underperforming restaurants,” the company said in a release.

“These closures will help the Company realize important cost savings and operational efficiencies that will improve its financial foundation so it can better serve all constituencies. Friendly's has encouraged employees from closed locations to apply at nearby operating restaurants, where available.”

On the Stoughton Patch Facebook page and website, readers expressed their disappointment over the restaurant chain closing its Stoughton location.

“Sorry to see Stoughton Friendly's close. I can long remember visiting there back into the 1970s after school,” David Allen Lambert wrote.

“That's so disappointing to hear,” Carla Walecka wrote on the Stoughton Patch Facebook page.

“I took my daughter there for breakfast one morning and a few elderly couples walked in. It was obvious they were regulars and were so enjoying their morning routine. So sad that it will affect them and so many others.”

But not all readers were surprised to see the chain close. Some said the service wasn’t what it used to be.

“The service has gone downhill for so long that we had not been there in quite a while. If you don't take care of the customer, someone else will,” Bob Ross wrote.

To see a full list of Friendly’s closures, click here.