Friendly's Celebrates 40 Years of Family Fun on Long Island

Friendly’s throughout Long Island to offer $4 menu items; 20 unsuspecting Friendly’s customers to be surprised with $400 cash giveaways

Long Island-based J&B Restaurant Partners commemorates 10 years as Friendly’s franchisee

Friendly’s will celebrate 40 years of serving Long Island residents with a series of upgrades, giveaways and a special $4 menu designed to commemorate four decades of family fun on Long Island

In honor of the 40^th anniversary, Friendly’s franchisee J&B Restaurant Partners announced today a multi-week initiative to reward loyal consumers, in addition to a number of significant upgrades and improvements to its 33 locations across Nassau and Suffolk counties. In total, the Long Island-based restaurant management company has invested approximately $2 million into the market and employs approximately 1,500 Long Island residents.

Celebrating his own 10-year milestone as the exclusive Friendly’s franchisee on Long Island, Vitrano was heralded for his commitment to Long Island by Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano.

All of the 33 Friendly’s restaurants on Long Island have recently undergone facility touch-ups and common sense remodels, including new paint, rugs, lighting, and landscaping enhancements.

In addition to the facility upgrades, Friendly’s announced a number of giveaways and special promotions exclusive to the Long Island market for the next several weeks to engage guests in celebration of its 40^th anniversary.

For four days each week - Monday through Thursday - until May 19, all Long Island Friendly’s will offer specially priced $4 menu items which include some of Friendly’s classic favorites: the Jim Dandy Sundae; Original 3-Scoop Sundae; All-American Burger; Mini Mozzarella Cheese Sticks; Fishamajig sandwich; Fribble; Chicken Quesadillas; Asian Chicken Salad; Turkey Club SuperMelt; and the Friend-Z ice cream treat.

Throughout the celebration, Vitrano and his general managers will bestow “Random Acts of Friendlyness” on Long Island when they surprise 20 randomly selected Friendly’s guests each with $400 in cash. The cash giveaways will be awarded at Friendly’s restaurants throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties. All totaled, Friendly’s executives will award $8,000 to guests through May 19. 

Children will also receive free goody bags and balloons during the celebration, while supplies last.

Raised in Bay Shore, Vitrano grew up with the brand and franchised all Friendly’s restaurants on Long Island in 2001.

J&B Restaurant Partners currently owns and operates all 33 Friendly’s locations on Long Island. The company plans to open one additional restaurant each year over the next 10 years. It opened its most recent Friendly’s in Shirley, NY, in August 2010.

In addition to Friendly’s, J&B Restaurant Partners also operates all the state concessions at Jones Beach and Robert Moses State Parks, as well as the Top Flight Food Court at Nassau Community College.

Friendly’s 33 locations on Long Island include: Baldwin, Bay Shore, Bellmore, Commack, Copiague, Coram, East Islip, East Meadow, East Northport, Farmingdale, Franklin Square, Hampton Bays, Hicksville, Lake Ronkonkoma, Levittown, Massapequa, Massapequa Park, Medford, Middle Island, Miller Place, Mineola, North Babylon, North Wantagh, Patchogue, Riverhead, Sayville, Selden, Shirley, Stony Brook, Smithtown, Syosset, Westbury, West Babylon. There is also a seasonal restaurant in Wantagh.

About Friendly Ice Cream Corporation - Friendly Ice Cream Corporation is a vertically integrated restaurant company serving signature sandwiches, entrees and ice cream desserts in a friendly, family environment with system-wide sales of $700 million and distribution through more than 4,000 retail locations. With a 75-year operating history, Friendly's enjoys strong brand recognition and is currently revitalizing its restaurants and introducing new products to grow its customer base. For additional information please visit www.friendlys.com