Friendly Ice Cream

Friendly Ice Cream, better known as Friendly’s, is an American restaurant and ice cream brand with a history that stretches back to 1935. The company was founded in Springfield, Massachusetts, by brothers S. Prestley and Curtis Blake, who started with a small ice cream shop serving affordable cones during the Great Depression. Over the decades, Friendly’s became a familiar presence across the Northeast, evolving from a single shop into a regional chain known for its classic American menu and signature ice cream desserts. By the late twentieth century, Friendly’s had grown to hundreds of locations and was a fixture for families seeking casual dining and ice cream treats.

The company’s reach extended beyond its restaurants in 1987, when Friendly’s began selling packaged ice cream in supermarkets, a move that significantly broadened its brand presence. Despite its popularity, Friendly’s faced financial and operational challenges, including multiple bankruptcies and several changes in ownership. In 2021, the restaurant business was acquired by Amici Partners Group, while Dairy Farmers of America took over the ice cream brand and manufacturing.

As of November 2025, Friendly’s operates just four restaurant locations, primarily in New Jersey and New York, following a period of substantial closures and a strategic shift away from expansion. Although there were previously announced intentions to open new restaurants in Texas and Florida, these plans have not come to fruition, and the company is not actively seeking new sites. The Friendly’s name, however, remains prominent in the ice cream aisle, with its packaged products still widely distributed and recognized across the United States.

In the past five years, Friendly’s has focused on maintaining its brand relevance through its supermarket ice cream business, even as its restaurant footprint has contracted. The company’s journey reflects the broader challenges and adaptations of legacy restaurant brands in today’s market, balancing a reduced physical presence with strong consumer recognition and a resilient packaged goods business. For landlords, brokers, and developers, Friendly’s stands as an example of a well-known brand that has shifted toward a leaner restaurant model while continuing to leverage its reputation through national retail distribution.