Latest news with #Friendly's
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Brix Holdings acquired by Friendly's franchisee
This story was originally published on Restaurant Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Restaurant Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Legacy Brands International, an investment group led by Friendly's franchisee Amol Kohli, is acquiring Brix Holding Company, the parent company of Friendly's and several other brands, the companies announced Tuesday. Kohli will assume the position of board chair at Brix, while CEO Sherif Mityas will remain in place along with the current leadership team, according to the press release. Existing Brix ownership will continue involvement with the company and become investors in Legacy Brands. Brix will continue growing its brands, which also include Clean Juice, Orange Leaf, Red Mango, Smoothie Factory + Kitchen, Souper Salad, and Humble Donut, and will pursue further acquisitions. Dive Insight: Kohli owns more than 30 Friendly's locations on the East Coast, a significant portion both of Friendly's store system — which was about 100 units as of mid-2024 — and Brix's roughly 250-unit storebase across all its brands. According to the press release, Kohli's operational experience could help with the expansion of Brix. Backed by Legacy Brands, Brix is pursuing immediate growth for Friendly's in Georgia, the Carolinas and Texas — where Brix is headquartered. The press release states that Brix's brands have had a successful run over the last year. 'The company had positive same-store systemwide sales comps in 2024 and is showing continued momentum across its portfolio of brands heading into the second half of this year.' Last year, Mityas told Restaurant Dive that Friendly's sales success in recent quarters was driven by menu changes, significant brand loyalty and a restrained pricing approach. At the time, Mityas said Brix was offering franchising discounts to persuade existing franchisees to build new units and to draw new operators into the system. According to the press release, Brix has awarded eight new franchise agreements so far this year, though the company did not specify which brands had awarded those agreements. Brand acquisitions by franchisees have become a trend in restaurant mergers and acquisitions in recent years. Thrive Restaurant Group bought out Modern Market Eatery last year after signing a major franchising agreement with the brand. Sun Holdings, a Burger King franchisee, has built up a multi-brand platform in other restaurant segments and recently acquired Uncle Julio's. Earlier this year, two franchisees bought a significant chunk of Hooter's storebase during Chapter 11 proceedings and also assumed responsibility for much of the brand's franchisee support. Recommended Reading Friendly's plans a comeback after decades of decline Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Melden Sie sich an, um Ihr Portfolio aufzurufen. Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten
USA Today
20-07-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Celebrate National Ice Cream Day 2025 with 6 deals and free ice cream
Hey! Guess what? It's National Ice Cream Day 2025! We all scream for ice cream, right? WOOHOO! That's right, dairy-loving friends, it's time once again for the day to celebrate our favorite frozen treat, and this time it's on Sunday, July 20, 2025. Why is Sunday, July 20 National Ice Cream Day? I have no idea, but free or discounted ice cream is the important thing here, and we want you to get that as soon as humanly possible. So let's stop writing about the why and get to the important stuff here: A partial list of joints that we've found who will give something away or sell you something for less than the usual price: Baskin-Robbins If you're a rewards member, you can get $5 off orders of at least $20. Friendly's If you're not a rewards member, you can get a scoop of ice cream for 90 cents. If you are, you can get a free cone or dish of the cold stuff. Yogurtland Rewards members can get double points on orders. Dippin' Dots For two hours, they'll give away free cups of their ice cream on Sunday. Dairy Queen If you're in their rewards program, you can get a free Dilly Bar if you spend $1 or more. Dunkin' Rewards member? You can get triple the points on frozen drinks on Sunday.
Buzz Feed
18-05-2025
- General
- Buzz Feed
People Share Major Generational Shifts In Parenting Trends
Like all things, childraising trends differ from generation to generation. If you have children of your own, chances are your parenting techniques have been influenced (for better or for worse) by the way you were raised by your own parents. Here, they explain some of the major differences between modern day parents and the previous generation of parents. "A lot of boomers took note of their kids' weaknesses and put them in situations to correct them, whether that he clubs or sports or whatever. I feel as though today a kid's weakness is 'just who they are,' and what could be dealt with early and easily is turning into massive anxiety by their teenage years." —Woodit "My parents were young Boomers, both born in the very late 50s, and I was born in '83, and my biggest gripe with parents my age today is they seem to just be dragging the kids along for whatever adults-only event they want to go to. Children don't belong in breweries or wineries, and I'll die 1000x on that hill..." "...Activities were very kid-focused in the '80s and '90s. Parks were free, whole restaurant chains existed solely for family-friendly dining (Ground Round, Ponderosa, Friendly's, etc.), and I was rarely dragged to adult events."—ImperatorRomanum83 "I don't have any children of my own, but I was over at a friend's house recently who has two little ones, and he and his wife are actively involved playing, reading, and interacting with their kids, and do so every day. It made me look back at my childhood, and I don't recall either one of my parents really playing with my brother or me when we were little..." ".... Sure, we had toys, but as a little kid and as an adolescent, we were pretty much on our own to entertain ourselves or with friends in the neighborhood. I didn't learn how to read until the first grade, and don't recall my mom ever reading to us each night before bed either. I'm 40 years old now, and really, when I look back at my parents, it's almost like I don't have this giant emotional attachment to them. They were great providers. Mom worked part-time later on in my life, but was more like a maid, cook, laundry housewife, and dad worked full-time. He would at least play catch or shoot pool with my brother and me. Any emotional issues were pretty much non-existent. I still shake my dad's hand today as a hug, it's seen as 'not manly' in his eyes. Consequently, neither my brother nor I speaks much to our parents. Saying 'love you' at the end of phone calls is still very odd. I never saw my parents even so much as hold hands or show much affection towards each other ever."—quell3245 "I won't be a helicopter parent in the way my own parents were. As a child who was sheltered, my parents would always intervene, and I became way too reliant on them. It wasn't until my mid-20s that someone helped me realize what was happening, and I had to relearn how to live on my own. Sure, my parents did what they thought was best, but it backfired on me later in life. I'm still in the process of figuring out what it means to be independent and how to fight for myself." "I don't talk about my weight with my kids. My mom always called herself fat and made negative remarks about her body. She was definitely not fat, and still has an eating disorder. It definitely affected the way my sisters and I see ourselves. I do not have an eating disorder, but one of my sisters definitely does. When I brought it up to my parents, they saw nothing wrong with her behavior because that is how my mom always acted." —Thasira "My parents are silent generation. One thing I very intentionally have never done is answer 'why do I have to' with 'because I said so.' I hated this as a kid. I give my kids several reasons why, and if they can give a cogent argument otherwise, I listen and may come up with alternative solutions." —DelightfulWitches "The world of 'let kids be kids' is gone. If a child shows an interest in anything, then that is now that kid's be-all and end-all. Do you like hockey? You're on a travel team, year-round. When you're not on the soccer travel team. But, it's also possible that my (Gen X) generation's experiences that allowed us creativity and imagination were the inevitable result of neglect. 'Go outside and play! I don't want you back in this house until dinner' was NOT an uncommon thing for anyone my age to hear." —MrValdemar "I hit my kids once out of frustration. I saw her looking at me with frightened eyes, and told myself I would never use physical punishment ever again, and haven't. I don't know how my parents thought that beating was acceptable. Spanking or slapping was normal if a ruler or belt couldn't be found. I've tried to talk to them, and they just say 'it was acceptable at the time' and take no responsibility for their choices. I think that's what millennials do differently. We think and take responsibility for our choices." —forge_anvil_smith "We got so obsessed with the mistakes that boomer parents made that we're going too far in the other direction. One of my biggest issues is that millennial parents take zero accountability. There are countless studies about iPad kids and relying too much on screens, and yet you'll hear from countless parents making excuses like they're 'overwhelmed' and they help stop their kids 'disregardation.' And way too many have only one person in the room syndrome. Yes, you and your kid have every right to exist, but so does everyone else. And we can be really lacking in discipline. Previous generations might've been too hard, but we're way too soft." —AwarenessEconomy8842 "My parents forced me into their interests and never allowed me to engage with my actual interests because they were 'stupid.' They wouldn't even take me to the library to check out books except for special occasions, like one or two times a year. My mom didn't work, and we literally drove by the library several times a week." —randomly-what "I feel like many of our parents simply didn't know what they were doing. Some were genuinely trying their best, others didn't even try. They just had children because everyone had children. Now, most people give it a thought at least. And many decide against it." "I'm genX, grew up in the '70s and '80s, LOVED soccer, played it from age 8 to 18 and beyond… my mother came to one game, my father none. And this was true for all of my friends, too; the sidelines were always empty. I felt horrible when I missed one of my son's games when he was playing, and I just couldn't understand the boomer mindset. Truly the 'me' generation." —WhisperToARiot "My parents never gave me compliments. If I had great grades, nothing. If I did something kind/good/challenging, nothing. They'd only tell me what they didn't like or what I could change. So I want to do the opposite." "I read an article once where a woman said, 'I didn't help my kids if it was something they could do on their own.' It kind of stuck with me. My parents weren't perfect, but they did this, too, and I became a more prepared adult because of it. So, I do the same with my daughter. If she falls, I let her pick herself back up. I only intervene if she isn't safe or truly stuck. Otherwise, she's good at problem-solving and figuring stuff out." —Anonymous "Parents today never let their children be bored. When my daughter complained about boredom, I gave her some chores. She learned to embrace boredom, which is not entirely a bad thing." —Virginia, 79 "The media has scared today's parents to death. Even those of us who know reports of abductions are overblown feel pressured to hover over our kids because that has become the norm. When I was a kid, I wandered all over the neighborhood from an early age, and as soon as I learned to ride a bike, I wandered even farther. And I didn't have a cell phone I could use to check in. There were a couple of times when, due to a miscommunication, my parents didn't know where I was and worried about me. But they never stopped me from wandering, and all the other kids did it, too." —wjbc "For me, the biggest difference in mentality is that I'm helping my kids develop into the adults they are meant to be. I'm not here to control them so that they are like me. My kids are not copies of me. They will like different things. They will dislike different things." —HillyjoKokoMo "They had them so YOUNG too. I'm just now pregnant with my first at 38, and I can't imagine handling a small human just learning how to regulate its emotions when I was 20 and also learning how to regulate my emotions. Boomer family members warned against having kids later in life because you have less energy to keep up.... but honestly, I'd rather my kid has to deal with a mom that's occasionally dragging due to age, than a dysreflexed barely-not-a-child trying to raise them." "Both my parents worked when I was young. I was encouraged to be outside, not to be out of their hair, but to develop interpersonal relationships and skills. Even in the winter, I had to stay inside due to extreme cold or bad weather, but I'd be able to have a couple of friends over. Other than that, I was outside with friends. My parents taught me the value of hard work by example and by taking me with them. Now I see my grandchildren sitting in the house, playing those stupid games and not playing with kids their own age, developing all the skills their father and I did growing up…. I find that not just my issue, but a societal problem as well…" —Bob 68 "Our generation is better about involved parenting, especially fathers. My dad essentially was an inert, and so many other dads in his generation were the same. Dads now seem to be stepping up big time, so much so that certain culture warriors are whinging nastily about it." —throwawayfromPA1701 "We are very gentle parents because the boomers were rough and sometimes even bullies. We don't want to be the first bullies in our children's lives. As a result, we are too soft and need to find balance. I can't watch my daughter cry." —eneri008 Do you have something to add? As a parent, what is something you have decided to do the same or differently from the generation before you? Or, if you have grandkids, what is something different about the way your kids are raising kids of their own? Tell us in the comments or in this anonymous form.
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Weeklong deals at Friendly's in Florence to celebrate grand reopening
FLORENCE, Mass. (WWLP) – To celebrate Friendly's reopening in Florence, the restaurant and ice cream establishment will be welcoming customers back with deals for the whole week. Chick-fil-A to open 12-15 new locations in Massachusetts, including Springfield and West Springfield Friendly's, located on 54-56 Main Street in Florence, is reopening under new ownership on Monday, with a new look and new specials for locals to enjoy. Families are encouraged to drop in throughout the week to see what deals are in store. From Monday to Friday, kids eat free with the purchase of an adult entree if you dine in. For those taking a sweet treat to go, visit on the weekend for the buy-one-get-one-free Single Scoop Cone or Dish deal on Saturday and Sunday. Friendly's in Florence will be open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Fun awaits western Mass. locals of all ages at this newly refurbished classic. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
27-03-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Iconic chain closes restaurants after Chapter 11 bankruptcy
It seems like many restaurant brands have a moment but can't evolve to remain relevant. Chains that were once very popular like Ground Round, Chi-Chis, Friendly's, Howard Johnson's, and so many others hold a place in peoples' hearts, but nostalgic fondness does not equal current success. Related: Popular Mexican dining chain files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy All of these chains are either gone or have dwindled to much smaller amounts of locations than they had in their heydays. In fact, while certain huge fast-food chains, including McDonald's, Burger King, Taco Bell, and Wendy's, seem enduring, most restaurant chains seem to have a shelf life unless they reinvent themselves. Howard Johnson's, for example, was where you stopped on a long road trip for decades. There were other options, like Denny's and the Big Boy chain, but HoJo's, as it was known, was sort of ubiquitous until it wasn't. Restaurant concepts can't really be owned. If one company has a good idea for a place to eat, that pretty much guarantees competition. Think how many chains have copied Chipotle's make line and tried to bring that concept to other types of food. It has worked in certain cases and has not diluted interest in the original brand, but history shows that over time, it's very hard for restaurant chains to stay popular and relevant. TGI Fridays was a leader in the fast-casual, sit-down space. Instead of being a family restaurant like Friendly's or Ground Round, TGI Fridays was heavily built around its bar. It's not exactly a sports bar, but it borrows heavily from that concept. That was a fairly novel idea in 1965 when the chain first opened its doors in New York. The company remains proud of its heritage. "As the original casual dining bar and grill, TGI Fridays offers authentic American food and legendary drinks, served with genuine personal service. Bringing people together to socialize and celebrate the freeing and liberating spirit of 'Friday' was the concept's founding premise, from which the brand promise 'In Here, It's Always Friday' was born," the chain shared on its website. More bankruptcy: Popular breakfast dining chain files for Chapter 11 bankruptcyHuge national car wash chain files Chapter 11 bankruptcyTroubled trucking company files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy The problem is that TGI Fridays showed that there was a demand for a family-friendly restaurant built around a bar and a good-time vibe. That paved the way for dozens, maybe hundreds, of competitors. TGI Fridays lost its way somewhere in the 2000s when its food quality slipped and rivals like Chili's, Ruby Tuesday, and even Applebees took some of its audience. After a series of reinvention plans failed (unlimited appetizers being the most notable), TGI Fridays filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Nov. The chain is expected to survive, but it has plans to close or has already closed around 130 restaurants. The court filing only impacts the chain's U.S. restaurants. "TGI Fridays Franchisor, LLC has franchised the brand to 56 franchisees in 41 countries. All of these franchise locations, both domestic and international, are independently owned and therefore not included in TGI Fridays Inc.'s Chapter 11 process. They are open and serving customers as usual," the chain shared in a press release. U.S. operations, however, are greatly impacted. The chain has arranged financing to operate the stores it's keeping open and to pay to close the ones that are not profitable. Related: Popular restaurant and bar chain files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy "The Company has secured a commitment for debtor-in-possessionfinancing to support operations while proceeding through the Chapter 11 process. It also filed motions with the Bankruptcy Court that, when approved, will allow the company to, among other things, continue its customer programs in the normal course," it shared. In most cases, the restaurants closing down are locations where the chain's lease makes profitable operations impossible. The company has not fully decided which locations will close and some closures are dependent upon court rulings. The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
