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Friendly's to close some area restaurants

Friendly’s is closing three local restaurants. The company confirmed that information for WXXI News on Monday, after reports of multiple Friendly’s closing in part of upstate NY and New England.

The locations immediately impacted in the Rochester area are two in Greece, at 3935 Dewey Avenue and 3081 W. Ridge Road, and another in Gates, at 4 Spencerport Road.

There are also locations at Eastview Mall in Victor and another in Geneva, but the company said that with respect to those two locations, “the company continues to be in discussions with its landlords.”

Friendly’s released a letter sent to franchisees by CEO George Michel, which said that the restaurants that are closing include 14 in upstate New York, three in Massachusetts, three in Connecticut, two in New Hampshire and one in Maine.

Michel said that the company is accelerating efforts “to reinvigorate the Friendly’s brand” in the face of shifting demographics and consumer preferences. He says closing the 23 corporate-owned restaurants was a tough decision, but says that it will help position the brand for the future.

Following the closures, Friendly’s will have 77 corporate-owned restaurants and 97 franchisee-owned restaurants.

Randy Gorbman is WXXI's director of news and public affairs. Randy manages the day-to-day operations of WXXI News on radio, television, and online.