Friendly's to File for Bankruptcy

Made famous for their elaborate ice cream concoctions and casual dining atmosphere, Friendly’s has apparently reached the end of its road.

The popular restaurant with more than 500 locations nationwide, including one in Hanover, is on the verge of bankruptcy, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal.

Efforts to reshape the business amid the recession like adding “Friendly’s Express,” a quick-serve chain of the franchise, apparently wasn’t enough to combat consistent poor scores pertaining to food quality and service.

According to the Huffington Post, Friendly’s finished dead last among medium-sized restaurant chains by Consumer Reports with a score of 68. Buffalo Wild Wings received an equally poor score but, unlike the popular wing joint, Friendly’s lacks the lure of watching sports to go along with its food, possibly a key factor to its demise.

The Huffington Post also revealed that the announcement came in the wake of several other businesses filing for Chapter 11 including Sbarro and Fuddruckers.

The Friendly’s in Hanover, located just off of Route 175 in the same parking lot as Planet Fitness, will likely remain open during the bankruptcy process along with the other 500 locations across the country, thanks to a $75 million financing deal with Wells Fargo.

If you love the royal banana split or Butterfinger sundae, the next few months may be the last time local residents can enjoy the confections of Friendly’s.