Friendly’s CEO on Hand for Haverhill Reopening

FRIENDLIES
John Maguire, CEO of Friendly’s Corporation

By Tom Duggan – September, 2013

Last month, Friendly’s Corporation CEO John Maguire was on hand at the Friendly’s on Main Street in Haverhill for their grand re-opening.

The restaurant originally opened its doors in 1983. Maguire told the Valley Patriot that the Haverhill restaurant is one of the first locations to be part of the corporation’s efforts to “reposition the brand” and bring Friendly’s back to its roots.

Patrons of Friendly’s Main Street location in Haverhill were treated to free Sunday cups during the August 12th grand re-opening.

“Today was our ‘First Scoop’ event here at the Friendly’s in Haverhill, Mass that represents one of 40 restaurants in the Greater Boston area that we are doing what we call repositioning of the brand.

“We are bringing Friendly’s back to its roots, focused on great ice cream.”

Friendly’s recently remodeled the Lawrence restaurant on Winthrop Avenue. We asked Maguire if this was the beginning of remodeling all the Friendly’s nationwide.

“In the process of repositioning the brand, we started in Eastern Massachusetts, in Hyannis, on the Cape and we are working our way west. We’re remodeling locations and repositioning locations all throughout New England and the Northeast, and eventually we will take the changes that you see here today to the entire 360 restaurants we have in the Friendly’s system.”

Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini sent his Chief of Staff, David Van Dam to present a proclamation to Maguire for their work in the community.

“We really value the relationships we have with the communities we do business in. Haverhill has been a great community for us for the almost 30 years we have been here,” Maguire said after accepting the proclamation.

“One of the greatest things we do from a business perspective is join forces with the local community. We have kids here [today] from the local Boy’s and Girl’s Club, which is one our great charities. We also work with Easter Seals, helping disabled and disadvantaged kids. In fact, in the last 30 years, Friendly’s has donated over $30 Million to help kids through Easter Seals. And it just speaks to how we are part of the community. Our guests, the majority of them are young families with kids and this is our way of giving back.”

“We are going to take proceeds from some of the sundaes we sell over the next few weeks and donate the money to [Easter Seals] for some of the great work they do of really giving kids a leg up in the community, making a difference, having them meet mentors and people who can make a difference and show them how to be successful in life.”