Nostalgia Runs Deep For Friendly’s Restaurants In New England

Did you ever think that you would miss Friendly's? Or ever imagine that there would only be 7 of them left in all of Connecticut in 2025?

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Friendly's Restaurants is a true New England original, founded in 1935 just over the CT/Mass border in Springfield. By the 1950's, ten 'Friendly' locations were open in Connecticut and Massachusetts, and by the 1970's over 500+ had blanketed the East coast.

New owners through the 80's added the 'S, and by the 2000's, the chain became a poker chip in the world of 'Buy it, we got the money, what could go wrong?'. Friendly's is one of the only regional chain restaurants to make it through the dark days of 2020-2021, although we did lose a few that I thought were invincible.

I took a drive through Heritage Village in Southbury for the first time in a couple of years recently and I felt a wave of nostalgia when I drove by the former site of the Friendly's. I feel the same pangs when I drive down Watertown Avenue in Waterbury. Mary's Diner has been there for many years, but I think of it as 'the old Friendly's/Farm Shop'.

Where can you find a Fribble or Fishamajig in July 2025 in Connecticut?

I think what amazes me more is that the Naugatuck location has survived to this day. There are Friendly's in Avon, Bristol, Naugy, Newington, North Haven, Plainville, and Southington. Heritage Village was the biggest loss, at least the other locations were reborn as something similar.