A fire wrecked this family restaurant in October 2009, and it came back swinging just seven months later. The rebuild added more seats, a patio, and a carryout area.
That’s a serious comeback for a place built around sundaes.
It has served one New Hampshire city since April 1986. The chain behind it once ran about 850 restaurants across the Northeast.
Today, fewer than 90 remain anywhere.
I like how this spot feels like a time capsule that still takes orders. The menu has pancakes in the morning and thick milkshakes all day.
I can’t imagine a better place to argue over who gets the last waffle fry.
So how did a giant shrink this much? And why does this one keep going?
The answers come with a side of hot fudge.
Concord Has Been Scooping Here Since The Mid-Eighties
Back in April 1986, a Friendly’s opened on Loudon Road in Concord. That makes it one of the longest-running family restaurants of its kind in New Hampshire.
Think about how much has changed since then. Phones left the kitchen wall, and movies moved from tapes to streaming.
Yet this booth-and-sundae spot is still here. Friendly’s in Concord now stands as one of only two locations left in the entire state.
The other one sits in Merrimack, which opened in 2017. So Concord holds the title of the veteran, and it wears that badge well.
For many New England families, Friendly’s became the go-to place for birthdays. It was also a classic reward spot after a good report card.
That history matters more than you might expect. A restaurant that lasts nearly 40 years usually means a community keeps showing up for it.
I believe that kind of staying power deserves a little respect. Plenty of flashier places have come and gone in the same stretch of time.
So if you grew up with Friendly’s, this is your chance to reconnect. And if you never went, Concord gives you a front-row seat to a true regional classic.
A Fire Couldn’t Keep This Sundae Shop Down For Long
October 2009 brought bad news to Loudon Road. A fire destroyed the Concord Friendly’s, and the building was a total loss.
Many businesses would have called it quits right there. Instead, the restaurant was rebuilt and reopened in May 2010.
Seven months from ashes to ice cream is a quick turnaround. Construction crews clearly didn’t waste time waiting around for spring.
The new building wasn’t just a copy of the old one, either. It came with extra seating, so more families could squeeze in at once.
Energy-efficient lighting was part of the upgrade too. That’s a smart move for a restaurant that keeps its doors open seven days a week.
The rebuild also added a carryout area and outdoor patio seating. Those features still give the place a slightly different feel from older locations.
I like how the comeback story makes this particular Friendly’s feel tougher. It survived a fire, two company bankruptcies, and a wave of closings around it.
That’s a lot of drama for a place famous for whipped cream. Next time you order a sundae here, you’re eating at a restaurant that refused to give up.
Grab A Patio Seat When The Weather Plays Nice
Outdoor seating at a Friendly’s is not something every location ever had. The Concord rebuild in 2010 added a patio, and it’s a nice bonus on warm days.
New Hampshire summers are short, so you take every sunny evening you can get. A cone outside beats a cone in the car by a wide margin.
The carryout area is the other perk worth knowing about. It makes grabbing a treat simple when the family doesn’t want a full sit-down meal.
Friendly’s also offers takeout and delivery through its regular service options. So a lazy night on the couch can still end with a sundae.
Here’s a practical tip for families. If the kids are restless, the patio gives everyone a little more breathing room than a booth.
Ice cream also melts on its own schedule, not yours. Eating it outside means a few drips won’t land on a restaurant tabletop.
I can’t imagine a better way to end a summer errand day in Concord. Pull in, order something cold, and let the sunshine do the rest.
Just keep an eye on the sky. New England weather loves a surprise twist.
Ice Cream Is Still The Real Main Event
Twenty-two ice cream flavors sit on the Friendly’s menu. That’s enough choices to make a simple dessert order feel like a big decision.
Ice cream is how this whole story started, so it makes sense that it still steals the show. The Concord location keeps that tradition going strong.
The sundae list reads like a party invitation. You’ll find the Jim Dandy, the Reese’s PB Cup sundae, and the Retro Royal Banana Split.
Fans of sweet nostalgia can try the Fluffernutter or the S’mores sundae. Kids get their own pick with the Monster Mash.
Then there’s the Fribble, Friendly’s famous name for its thick milkshake. It’s one of the chain’s most recognizable treats, and it has been for decades.
Prefer something blended with mix-ins? The Friend-z is the answer, and cones and dishes are always an option too.
A smart move is to plan dessert before dinner arrives. Otherwise, you might fill up on fries and regret it later.
Sharing is another clever approach for big groups. Order a couple of sundaes for the table, and everyone gets a taste without a sugar overload.
Burgers And SuperMelts Bring The Savory Side
A hamburger was the very first food item Friendly’s ever added to its menu. That happened back in 1940, and burgers have stuck around ever since.
Today the lineup goes under the Big Beef Burgers name. Options include the All American Burger, a Bacon Cheeseburger, and a Chili Cheeseburger.
Hungry for something bolder? The Bacon Mac and Cheese Burger stacks comfort food on top of comfort food.
The Honey BBQ Burger and the Friendly’s Patty Melt round things out. Each one pairs easily with golden fries, waffle fries, or onion rings.
SuperMelts are a signature move here. These grilled sandwiches come in versions like Philly Steak and Cheese, Honey BBQ Chicken, Pastrami, and Turkey Club.
There’s even the Fishamajig SuperMelt, which wins the prize for best sandwich name. It’s hard to say without smiling a little.
Appetizers deserve a look too. Munchie Mania, Loaded Waffle Fries, Fried Pickle Chips, and Mini Mozzarella Sticks are all on the list.
My advice is simple. Pick one appetizer for the table, then save space, because the dessert menu is coming for you next.
Morning People Get Pancakes With Personality
Doors open at 8 AM at the Concord Friendly’s, every day of the week. That makes it a handy breakfast stop before school runs, errands, or a weekend drive.
Plenty of people only think of Friendly’s for dinner and dessert. Breakfast fans know better, and the menu backs them up.
Traditional Buttermilk Pancakes are the classic starting point. From there, things get more adventurous fast.
Blueberry Muffin-Top Pancakes sound like two breakfasts in one. Maple Caramel Banana Walnut Pancakes bring a dessert vibe to the morning.
French toast gets the fancy treatment with brioche. You can also order it as Strawberries and Cream or Chocolate, Banana and Cream.
Not into sweet breakfasts? Omelets cover the savory side, including Meat Lover’s, Garden Vegetable, Ham and Cheese, and a Philly Steak and Cheese version.
There’s also an Omelet Your Way option. That works well for picky eaters who know exactly what they want.
I believe breakfast might be the most underrated meal at this place. It’s a calmer way to enjoy a nostalgic restaurant, and nobody will judge you for ordering chocolate pancakes.
Two Teen Brothers Started All Of It In 1935
Prestley Blake was 20 years old, and his brother Curtis was just 18. In 1935, they opened a small ice cream shop in Springfield, Massachusetts, called Friendly.
Yes, two teenagers launched what became a Northeast giant. That’s a pretty good argument for chasing your ideas early.
A second shop opened in West Springfield in 1940. That’s when the food menu showed up, starting with a hamburger.
By 1951, there were 10 Friendly restaurants in western Massachusetts and Connecticut. Growth kept rolling from there.
Around 500 restaurants were open by 1974. At the peak in the mid-1990s, the chain hit roughly 850 locations across 15 states.
Here’s a fun detail for trivia night. The apostrophe and the letter s weren’t officially added to the name until 1989.
So for more than 50 years, it was simply Friendly. The New Hampshire restaurant on Loudon Road actually opened a few years before the name change.
I like knowing a sundae comes with a backstory. Every Fribble ordered in Concord connects back to two brothers who started with one tiny shop and a big plan.
Keene Said Goodbye, And Concord Kept The Lights On
April 2019 was a sad month for ice cream fans in Keene. The Friendly’s there closed, leaving the Monadnock region without its familiar sundae stop.
Concord took a hit that year too. Another Friendly’s on North Main Street closed in October 2019.
Those closings reflected bigger trouble for the company. Friendly’s filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2011 and again in November 2020.
In January 2021, Amici Partners Group, an affiliate of Brix Holdings, acquired the chain. By then, the restaurant count had shrunk dramatically.
Today, there are only 87 Friendly’s locations left across 11 states. That’s about one-tenth of what existed at the peak.
New Hampshire now has just two. The Loudon Road spot in Concord survived, along with the newer Merrimack location.
For Keene residents, that means a road trip for a Fribble. Concord is the closer choice for many folks in the western and central parts of the state.
I can’t help rooting for the survivors after a story like this. When a place you love gets rare, every visit counts a little more.
Set Your GPS Before The Sundae Cravings Hit
Finding the last Concord Friendly’s is easy. It sits at 147 Loudon Rd, Concord, NH 03301, along one of the city’s busiest shopping corridors.
That location makes it simple to pair with errands. Grab groceries, run a few stops, then reward yourself with a cone.
Hours run from 8 AM to 10 PM, seven days a week. That wide window works for early breakfasts and late dessert runs alike.
Dine-in, takeout, and delivery are all available. So the sundae can come to you if leaving the house feels like too much effort.
Planning a party? Friendly’s offers catering options with names like the Ice Cream Social and the SuperMelt Party.
Those could be a fun twist for a birthday or office celebration. Few things get a crowd smiling faster than ice cream showing up.
Can’t make it out at all? Friendly’s ice cream is also sold in supermarkets, so a taste of the brand can live in your freezer.
Still, nothing beats a booth in New Hampshire’s longest-running Friendly’s. Go while it’s here, and order the extra scoop.
