Friendly’s eateries, known for their ice cream creations and classic diner food, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, joining a long list of casual dining restaurants looking for protections from the financial impact of the coronavirus, CNN reports.
Friendly’s has 130 locations with approximately 9,000 employees, primarily on the East Coast. It has shrunk from 400 locations at its peak in 2011, when it also had to reorganize under Chapter 11 after the Great Recession.
“Unfortunately, like many restaurant businesses, our progress was suddenly interrupted by the catastrophic impact of Covid-19, which caused a decline in revenue as dine-in operations ceased for months and re-opened with limited capacity,” said CEO George Michel.