the auction after receiving no offers to compete with the $75 million offer made by an affiliate of its owner, Sun Capital Partners Inc. Sun Capital paid about $75 million and retained ownership through its affiliate. On January 9, 2012, Friendly's announced that it would emerge from bankruptcy protection, but close 37 more locations. On November 12, 2019, the grocery division of Friendly's, amongst all other associates of its parent company, Dean Foods, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. On November 1, 2020, Friendly's announced that it would file for chapter 11 once more and sell "substantially all its assets" to Amici Partners—an affiliate of Brix Holdings—for $2 million, citing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. The company stated that "nearly all" of its locations would remain open, although some closures (including a location near Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, Connecticut) were announced. Acquisition by Amici Partners Group On January 19, 2021, it was announced that Friendly's was acquired by Amici Partners Group, LLC, a group made of experienced restaurant investors and operators with national and international restaurant franchisor background. Amici has acquired 130 corporate-owned and franchised restaurant locations with plans to keep all locations open. Legal issues In 2003, Prestley Blake filed a lawsuit against Friendly Ice Cream Corporation and chairman Donald Smith in a derivative action to force the money back to the company which Blake claimed was improperly paid for use of a private jet. Blake accused Smith of using the jet for personal use and using the airplane lease to carry $3 million annually from the company into another restaurant chain he controlled. Slogans "You're in for a nice surprise" (1979–1982) "There's no place like home" (1985–1989) "Where ice cream makes the meal / I wanna go to Friendly's" (2008–2011) "Oh, that looks good!" (2010–2011) "High 5, it's Friendly's!" (2011–2012) "Oh yeah!" (2012–2013) "Where ice cream makes the meal" (current) "Creating memories since 1935" (2015) "Life with extra sprinkles" (current) "Deliciously fun" (current) References External links 1935 establishments in Massachusetts Companies based in Hampden County, Massachusetts Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2011 Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2019 Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020 Economy of the Eastern United States Fast-food chains of the United States Fast-food hamburger restaurants Ice cream brands Ice cream parlors in the United States Regional restaurant chains in the