Growing up, everyone knew the menus by heart.
Friendly's Ice Cream exhibit at the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History features the original sign and wooden counter.With the recent closing of nine Friendly’s restaurants in the areas, I can’t help but reflect on the role that Friendly’s played in the lives of local residents. When we were kids, the Liberty Street Friendly’s was the closest and the most comfortable. There was also a smaller one at the Springfield Plaza.
We all had favorites from the menu. A creamy Awful Awful which later became the Fribble was a big hit. I would love to find a burger that tastes as good as their cheeseburger on grilled bread did topped off with a side order of their cooked just right fries.
Their sundaes were legendary!
A Friendly’s hot fudge sundae or banana split was to die for though my favorite was butterscotch and later, that wonderful Swiss Chocolate Almond number. I don’t know if you can even find a real butterscotch sundae anymore. The Fishamajig sandwich was a popular alternative to a big beef burger, not to mention a Friendly frank!
To this day, Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners wouldn’t be complete without a Friendly’s Jubilee Roll. When we were in high school, the most popular Friendly’s was on State Street which was mobbed after Friday night basketball games at the Springfield College Field House. Everyone from the four high schools seemed to be there. Such a fun time!
When my children were small, our favorite Friendly’s was on East Street in Chicopee Falls. They had a takeout window from the parking lot which was great for ice cream cones on hot summer nights. The good thing about restaurants like Friendly’s was you usually knew the menu by heart so it didn’t matter what town it was located in – you were home!
Until quite recently, if you were meeting someone for coffee, the closest Friendly’s was always the first choice. Many on-line dating meetups happened at Friendly’s. The Wilbraham-based corporation has changed hands several times and while their menus have expanded, some of the old standby items have been changed or eliminated.
The coffee is definitely not the same. There are still stores in the surrounding towns and there is one left in Springfield on lower Sumner Avenue and another at the Wilbraham line on Boston Road. For other locations go to www.friendlys.com
If today’s kids have any memories of Friendly’s, they will, more than likely, consist of half gallons of ice cream or ice cream cakes at the area supermarket. Somehow, that doesn’t seem as special as being a kid and going to a neighborhood Friendly’s with family or friends.
Many thanks to Curtis and Presley Blake for opening that first store in Pine Point which led to so many other stores in so many other neighborhoods and added much to the memories of so many people in this area.
Joan Morris Reilly is the author of “A Hungry Hill Trinity.”