Wallingford, Middletown Friendly's Restaurants Close

The Friendly's Restaurant chain shut down nine additional stores on Sunday, including two locations near Meriden – one on North Colony Road in Wallingford, and another on Washington Street in Middletown.

The move follows the closure a few months ago of the Meriden Friendly's, along with six other Connecticut locations.

According to the Friendly's website, the closest shops to Meriden that are remaining open are 7 miles away on Queen St. in Southington, followed by one 8 miles away in Cromwell, and 11 miles out in Plainville.

Lynn Bolton, public relations coordinator for Friendly Ice Cream Corporation, based in Wilbraham, Mass., issued the following statement:

"Since entering Chapter 11 in October 2011, the Company has sought to work with our landlords to restructure lease arrangements at locations where we believed rents did not reflect current market conditions and were significantly impacting the viability of underperforming restaurants. 

"While we were able to successfully restructure lease agreements for a number of locations, unfortunately, we were unable to reach an acceptable agreement on others, including the Middletown, CT. Therefore, we have made the difficult decision to close these Friendly’s effective at the close of business on Sunday Jan. 8."

A sign on the Middletown store refers customers to the Cromwell store and thanks them for patronage, adding, "this restaurant has permanently closed." A Friendly's tractor-trailer truck was seen backing up to the rear of the building.

Staff at the Middletown store were unable to comment Monday. The Cromwell restaurant at 48 Berlin Road is open and staff said they have no intention of closing.

"Any time a business closes we feel bad about it," Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce President Larry McHugh said Monday. "You hate to see a business like that, a longtime staple of Middletown, run into these financial difficulties."

McHugh recalls Friendly's was originally located across the street, where Citizens Bank is now. "I hope we will be able to fill the spot with another restaurant but that still does not take away the feeling. I feel bad for the employees," McHugh said.

Friendly's was formerly a member of the Chamber, McHugh said, but hasn't been for the past three or four years.