The Riverhead Friendly’s restaurant will likely be closing when the restaurant’s lease expires at the end of 2025, a spokesperson for the restaurant franchise said.
In a statement emailed to RiverheadLOCAL last week, a spokesperson at public relations agency representing Friendly’s franchises said it is not the company’s “desire to close the location” and the franchise is “actively seeking development opportunities for additional locations throughout Riverhead and the greater Long Island market.”
The owner of the Route 58 building that’s been occupied by Friendly’s for nearly 40 years is currently seeking approvals to renovate the building to create two separate restaurants.
MORE COVERAGE: Riverhead Friendly’s building slated for subdivision into two restaurant spaces
Bell Boulevard Realty, owner of the property, has filed a site plan application with the Riverhead Riverhead Planning Department detailing plans to renovate the existing 4,268 square-foot building and divide it into two separate restaurants. The east side of the building would be made into a QDOBA, a national Mexican restaurant chain, with 38 indoor seats, eight outdoor seats and a drive-through, according to the application. The west side of the building would be converted into an as-yet unnamed restaurant with 50 indoor seats.
The Riverhead Planning Board will hold a public hearing on the site plan application next Thursday (Sept. 5) at 6 p.m.
The Riverhead Friendly’s has been operated by J&B Restaurant Partners, the franchisee that runs Friendly’s restaurants across Long Island.
More than half a dozen Friendly’s restaurants have closed on Long Island in the last five years, including most recently in Ronkonkoma, according to Newsday. There are 10 Friendly’s remaining on Long Island, including the Riverhead location.
The first “Friendly” ice cream shop was founded by the Blake Brothers in 1935. There are 104 Friendly’s locations in the U.S., most of them in the northeast, according to the data company ScrapeHero.
“Friendly’s continues to enjoy serving the community of Riverhead and will remain a cherished place for families, children, and friends to make memories through the remainder of our lease,” the Friendly’s spokesperson said.
With Alek Lewis
The survival of local journalism depends on your support.
We are a small family-owned operation. You rely on us to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Just a few dollars can help us continue to bring this important service to our community.
Support RiverheadLOCAL today.
