Despite Bankruptcy Claim, L.I. Friendly's Reportedly Staying Open for Business

Friendly's fans can rejoice as the company announced it will not close any Long Island stores despite making the decision to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Wednesday, according to Newsday. 

Newsday quoted Rich Tauberman, a corporate spokesmen for J&B Restaurant Partners, as saying nothing would change for the chain's Long Island customers. Tauberman said J&B Partners will continue with its plans to expand and open more Friendly's restaurants on Long Island.

Joseph Vitrano, of Ronkonkoma-based J&B Restaurant Partners, owns 33 Friendly's on Long Island. Local restaurants include 220 Mount Pleasant Road in Smithtown on the corner of Route 347, 2145 Jericho Turnpike in Commack, 949 Country Road 58 in Riverhead, and in Hampton Bays, 149 W Montauk Hwy. 

This is good news for Friendly's fans, as 287 of 459, or 62 percent of Patch readers if the casual restaurant and ice cream parlor suddenly closed in a poll. 

"We meet friends there every week for dinner. The service is friendly and efficient, and the food is delicious. Friendly's ice cream is my favorite. Hope they don't close," commented Margaret Zangrillo.

Other readers shared their memories of dining out at Friendly's with one another from an old "3-3-3 deal" to gathering for ice cream after high school concerts.

"[I] took my three sons to Friendly's as they were growing up. Now my grand kids always ask us to take them there. Great kids menu with ice-cream [sic] included and colorful balloons in the way out," wrote Herb Rosenblatt.

The chain isn't without its critics and room for growth, as a few commenters remarked about receiving slow service.