Friendly’s Restaurants sold: Will last ones in Central New York remain open?
Updated Jan 27, 2021;
Posted Jan 27, 2021
The Friendly s Restaurant on Route 31 in Clay is the only one remaining in Onondaga County. (Rick Moriarty | rmoriarty@syracuse.com)Rick Moriarty
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Syracuse, N.Y. Amici Partners Group has completed its acquisition of Friendly’s, the iconic ice cream-focused restaurant chain that has been struggling for survival for years.
Amici bought Friendly’s for just under $2 million from FIC Restaurants Inc. in a bankruptcy asset sale. Friendly’s filed for protection from creditors under Chapter 11 of U.S. Bankruptcy Code in November.
Friendly’s has a new owner
Updated Jan 26, 2021;
Posted Jan 26, 2021
Friendly s is located at 1000 Reese Ave. at the intersection with University Drive. Chocolate Avenue in Hershey, October 28, 2019.
Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
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The restaurant chain that was once owned by the Hershey Foods Corporation has a new owner.
Amici Partners Group announced last week that it had completed the acquisition of Friendly’s Restaurants. The restaurant chain had voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November in order to facilitate the sale with Amici. The deal was completed on the last day of 2020.
There are 130 corporate-owned and franchised restaurant locations. The group said it plans to continue to keep all of the locations open.
New Friendly’s CEO promises ‘recipe for success’ at restaurant chain that has steadily shrunk for decades
Updated Jan 25, 2021;
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Superman.
Not the man of steel. The ice cream flavor called Superman, which promises vanilla plus yellow, red and blue fruit flavors.
Due out March 15, Superman ice cream is the first of what new CEO Craig Erlich promises will be periodic refreshes of the Friendly’s restaurant menu, with new ice cream flavors paired with returning favorite food items. From March to June, Asian chicken salad and Buffalo chicken salad will return, along with the Heinz 57 burger and the Vermonter burger.
Sun Capital Partners-owned FIC Restaurants announced the bankruptcy asset sale of Friendly’s in November
Amici Partners Group, LLC an investment group affiliated with BRIX Holdings franchising company, which owns Red Mango Yogurt Café Smoothie and Juice Bar and Souper Salad, among other franchises has finalized the acquisition of Friendly’s Restaurants for an undisclosed amount. Former Friendly’s Restaurants owners, Sun Capital Partners, announced the bankruptcy asset sale in November after the company declared bankruptcy.
According to the announcement, the Amici Group plans to keep all 130 corporate-owned and franchised Friendly’s locations open. The investors of Amici Partners Group, LLC have been involved with the Friendly s Restaurant brand in many capacities over the years, not only as owners/operators and leaders in the system, but also as longtime loyal customers of this iconic brand, Craig Erlich, president and CEO of Amici Partners and its affiliated