Friendly's scooped from Wantagh

Some will miss the food, others the ice cream, and others the celebrations spent there after baseball games or school events. All in all, the Friendly’s in Wantagh’s Willow Wood Shopping Center will be remembered for all the great times people have had there.

“I’m 33 and my daughter is 7,” said Lisa Famiglietti, of Seaford, as she commented on not being able to go on family visits to the beloved restaurant again. “I’ve loved Friendly’s since I was a kid.”

The Friendly’s in Wantagh was 3,000 square feet and was opened approximately 30 years ago. According to Robert Delevale, the director of leasing at Breslin Realty, which runs Willow Wood, Friendly’s always drew a great crowd into the shopping center. The real estate company is currently marketing the space to businesses looking to replace it.

The location in Willow Wood Shopping Center is not the only Friendly’s that closed recently. Several locations throughout Long Island have also shut down after the Friendly’s Cooperation filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in 2011. Chapter 11 Bankruptcy allows for a reorganization of a debtor’s business affairs or assets. In other words, its allows a business to recognize that it is not doing well and take the time to reconstruct and rearrange in order to gain the money back.

The company that owns local Friendly’s franchises, J & B Restaurant Partners, also filed for Chapter 11, however its declaration was made this year on Jan. 5. This action included shutting down several Friendly’s across Long Island.

“I don’t mind traveling to other Friendly’s on Long Island,” said Lauren Volpe, 19, of Seaford. “I just don’t know why they had to shut down the Friendly’s in Wantagh. I used to always go there with my friends and get the 12-scoop ice cream.”

According to a statement released by J & B Restaurant Partners, it made the business decision to close down the weaker Friendly’s locations in order to help its other restaurants and get out of bankruptcy.

“We are sad to see an icon like Friendly’s shut its doors,” said Delavale. “However, we will seek a suitable replacement for them, which will be in line with the recent update made to the center’s tenant mix and façade renovation.”