Friendly’s Free Ice Cream Days Plus 10 Other Surprising Facts About the Restaurant

Friendly’s has been an East Coast favorite for decades, providing a relaxing place to enjoy food, ice cream, and the company of family or friends. While they’re a well-known institution, there are plenty of fun facts about Friendly’s that you may not know yet. 

Many have nostalgic memories of sitting in the iconic chain, and their legendary affordable prices really let you stretch your dining-out budget, but there’s more to it than you think.

Here are 11 things you might find interesting about Friendly’s.

Brothers S. Prestley and Curtis Blake opened Friendly’s during the Great Depression in 1935. When the boys were only 18 and 20, they opened up shop after borrowing $547 from their parents.

The brothers ran the original location for decades and continued running the business even after selling it. Many of their other family members were involved in leadership and operations.

Friendly’s began as a small ice cream store in Springfield, Massachusetts, but grew into a restaurant franchise. In the beginning, you could only find Friendly’s in western Massachusetts, but they expanded and spread throughout the northeastern United States. They sell sweet treats and delicious, diner-style meals.

Friendly’s is the place to go if you want to try something new. They update their menu frequently, so you’ll never feel like you have to choose the same thing each time. If you haven’t been there in a while, you have plenty to choose from.

The original Friendly’s restaurant didn’t offer food. They only sold ice cream until later deciding to expand their menu to offer burgers, sandwiches, and more to keep business coming in during the cold New England winters. 

In those early days, people went to Friendly’s for sundaes, milkshakes, and banana splits.

Friendly’s didn’t only sell ice cream — they also manufactured it. They became so successful and popular that supermarkets across the United States sold their ice cream.

One thing that sets Friendly’s apart from competitors is its unique variations of the ice cream sundae. They offer a family-friendly twist that people love, and it quickly popularized the treat. They also introduced the first ice cream cake.

When you order a “Fribble” at Friendly’s, you receive a thick milkshake with the perfect ice cream and milk blend. This treat has been on the menu since the 1930s, with the updated version coming in 1965, but it didn’t have its current name until the 1970s.

The final name was suggested by an employee who won the contest for naming the signature treat. When the name changed to “Fribble,” Friendly’s also started using soft serve ice cream instead of ice milk to make it. A later change occurred when they began using hard-serve ice cream, which they still use today.

Friendly’s sometimes gives away free Fribbles, like on National Ice Cream Day. They also offer them as a thank you to their customers or to celebrate milestones. Watch for them to advertise this offer so you don’t miss out on free ice cream!

Friendly’s has remained open since 1935, except when they had to close for a couple of years during World War II. They closed in 1943, shuttering their business and putting up a sign indicating they’d be back after the war. In 1945, they reopened as promised.

Friendly’s has switched ownership several times throughout its history. In 1979, after 44 years in business, Hershey’s purchased the restaurant from the original owners.

Less than a decade later, in 1988, Hershey’s sold it to Tennessee Restaurant Company, owned by Donald Smith. In 2021, Amici Partners Group LLC purchased Friendly's and still owns it today.

Friendly’s didn’t get its current name until 1989 when the owner, Donald Smith, added the apostrophe s. Before that, it was just Friendly, based on the original owners' vision of a caring environment.

Friendly’s broke a couple of world records over the years, starting with building the largest sundae in 1980. They broke a second record in 2013 after throwing the largest dessert party, which they held on the lawn of the company headquarters.

Friendly’s has been a long-time family favorite, serving delicious meals and ice cream and holding a special place in the hearts of many. These little-known facts are not only fun, but they also show the unique history of the company.

Before heading out to get your Fribble and hamburger, avoid wasting money by signing up for Friendly’s Fan Club, where you can get special offers and learn about deals and promotions.