Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Way Back When-esday: A Farewell to Friendly's

Dateline: July 2011
Twins' Age: 9

Unbeknownst to us, this image may well be the last one taken in our beloved, beloved Brook Road (in Richmond, Virginia) Friendly's Restaurant. Every time Double Daddy had band practice? We went to that our Friendly's. For their 6th birthday dinner? We went to Friendly's. First day of school? We went to Friendly's. Last day of school? We went to Friendly's. When I wanted to talk about friendly customer service and the importance of honing memory skills (one of our favorite waitresses used no pad)? We went to Friendly's.

Late this past summer, we learned Friendly's was declaring Chapter 11. So potentially devastating was the news, Double Daddy "broke" it to me on the sly. We did let the kids know, but also shared the bright side of Chapter 11. The corporation could re-structure, and maybe, hopefully, do better as a result.

That afternoon, driving to pick up the twins from school, I heard the dreaded news on the radio. Of our local Friendly's-es, only two would remain open. "Ours" would not.

Once buckled in, we sped the familiar path to our happy haunt---hoping for a "Happy Ending." That hoped-for sundae wasn't meant to be. We were greeted (unlike how we'd ever been greeted in the past) with a locked door and lights out. If memory serves, there were some tears.

Offers to try the two stalwart stores were rebuffed. "Not the same." "They're not in our neighborhood." "Don't think the other ones are any good."

Then, last night, following the Christmas Concert at school (wherein She-Twin sang in the choir and played clarinet in the band; He-Twin was supportive audience member), for the celebratory "after-show" dinner, She-Twin selected another favorite, Quaker Steak & Lube. Once seated in the restaurant, unlike in past visits, the loud bar made it near impossible to hear each other. Before we placed an order, we left. Asking She-Twin for her alternate choice?

We went to Friendly's.
Dateline: December 13, 2011
Twins' Age: 10

Here's to a new---non- Eleven---Chapter.

Refinding familiar fun warms my heart this mid-week!

Why don't you dive into your digital files and play along with Way Back When-esday?

Seek out an overlooked snapshot or scan a scrapbook find...share an image you might not otherwise. Tell the tale and place a post on your blog. Be sure and link back to participate in the web-wide reverie...and please leave a comment when you do!



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What else warms my mid-week? One of my very favorite blogger's fresh release of three amazing new texts for kids! You can read She-Twin's review here, but please go peek at the author's page, CampbellLawson.com !

Please peek at the CampbellLawson.com website and let me know in the comments which text YOU'D select for your kid(s)! One randomly selected commenter will win a copy of Somebody!

And don't forget: warm someone else's mid-week, and do it for Abbie. Find the details here.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

How great that Friendly's opened again! There is a Friendly's near my aunt's house a couple hours away. Not somewhere we frequented but we did go once in a while and passed each time we visited their home.

Kelli @ writing the waves said...

We used to go to that one at Brook road too - and the one on Broad when I was in high school ALL THE TIME. I had no idea that they had filed chp.11. We have them all over the place around here. I took the kids for the first time over the summer to indulge in one of those giant sundaes! YUM!