Friendly's Closings: 'Tough Decision' For 'Wonderful Employees'

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Friendly's is closing 23 locations across the Northeast — including three of its Massachusetts locations. The three doomed Bay State restaurants are in Framingham, Waltham and Holden, said Friendly's CEO George Mitchell in a letter to franchise owners.

"While this was a tough decision, we are confident it will best position the brand for a bright future," Mitchell wrote in the letter. "Especially difficult is the impact these closures will have on the locations’ wonderful employees, who we are working to support with opportunities in other locations or severance payments and other assistance."

After the closures are done Friendly’s will have 77 corporate-owned restaurants and 97 franchisee-owned restaurants, according to Mitchell's statement.

Friendly's Store Closings

The Framingham Friendly's, located on Temple Street, was closed on Sunday with a sign on the door that read, "We apologize for disappointing you on this visit, but this location is now closed for business."

The sign directed customers to the Marlborough location, the only Friendly's location now left in the MetroWest region. Factoring in the closures, Friendly's now has 39 Bay State restaurants left, according to its website.

It also said the company was in the process of "placing as many team members as possible in other locations" and providing short term financial help. A spokesperson for the company said that employees were informed of the closures personally.

The national chain, which was started in Springfield during the Great Depression, previously filed for bankruptcy in 2011 and shuttered dozens of restaurants in Massachusetts.