Friendly's in Ronkonkoma closes

Friendly's in Ronkonkoma has served its last ice cream sundae. An employee who answered the phone at the national chain's location at 553 Hawkins Ave. Thursday said it was the eatery's last day of service and the location would permanently close at 10 p.m.

Friendly's restaurants, once a mainstay chain on Long Island, have slowly been marching toward extinction — the Friendly's in Miller Place closed last year joining a half-dozen other shuttered locations from Levittown to Middle Island. 

Founded in 1935 by the Blake Brothers in Springfield, Massachusetts, Friendly's was originally a stand-alone ice cream shop with double-dipped cones costing a mere 5 cents. “A friendly place for families,” its bright red signs became a childhood (and parental) oasis for classic sundaes and signature milkshakes. A menu of burgers and comfort food was added as the company grew.

There are 10 remaining Friendly’s across Nassau and Suffolk: Massapequa Park, East Meadow, Coram, Commack, East Islip, Sayville, Shirley, Stony Brook, Medford and Riverhead.

Friendly’s corporate office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Ronkonkoma closing.

By Marie Elena Martinez

marieelena.martinez@newsday.com@mariesworlds

A global freelancer who has checked her suitcase to raise her young daughter on her native Long Island, Marie Elena will always make time for good mezcal, even better tacos and killer conversation. Preferably, in a corner bar seat. She can be found on Instagram at @mariesworldeats.