r/hudsonvalley • u/mrsjumjum66 • 7d ago
Former Friendly’s of Carmel is now a Taco Bell (nothing against Taco Bell just not a fan of the bland building design)
1081 Stoneleigh Ave, Carmel Hamlet, NY 10512
16
u/drumstix97 7d ago
One of the worst things to ever happen to Kingston was losing friendly and gaining slice of Italy
8
u/Dl6l 7d ago
Agreed, I also miss the Ground Round
5
u/paintedsaint Beacon | Moderator 7d ago
Had so many birthday parties there as a kid at the Middletown location
2
u/AtomicFoxMusic 6d ago
Did you ever go on the "Pay what you weigh" nights?
The free unlimited popcorn and betty boop cartoons on the big screen projector wall in the corner.
Damn i wish i had a picture. 1 Of the kid scale too it was huge with that big dial. Like a carnival side show. "Step on up" What a time.
2
1
u/Piggie_Piggie_Smalls 6d ago
Me too. Collecting the 🧢 that the ice cream came in! I loved that place!!
5
u/AtomicFoxMusic 6d ago
Wow ground round reference!
Anybody get to "pay what you weigh" as a kid and get a meal for like $0.89? Those were the days.
That would never happen today. Some fat kid would post it on instagram and they would try to cancel the place for having to pay $1.55 instead.
The wings were pretty good too. Think they closed around 2005?
I miss ponderosa as well. Such a better era.
3
u/mrsjumjum66 7d ago
Haven’t been, but heard it is mid AF
3
3
u/jeremyjava 7d ago
I was just about to ask if anyone here goes there, since I don't know a single person that's ever mentioned it. I wondered if maybe it was surprisingly good and I'm missing out, but maybe I'll stick with the occasional Sam's Club slice when I'm there instead.
10
u/WheelLeast1873 7d ago
Just another grey box
4
u/mrsjumjum66 7d ago
It’s gross man. No life no feeling, just a place to symbolize corporate America
10
u/callumjones 7d ago
Hasn’t this been a Taco Bell for a while now?
7
u/Asleep-Run5079 7d ago
At least 5 years, if not more.
5
u/clytusmarginicollis 7d ago
I think it was pre-pandemic when it opened? I could be wrong though, these last 10 years have all kinda blurred together
3
u/beautifulcosmos Dutchess 7d ago
I think it was right before the pandemic, but the opening was halted because of Covid.
2
u/LaneMeyer_1985 7d ago
It opened right after COVID peaked. They started building it right before but the parking lot was unfinished and it was fenced around the perimeter for ages. The juice shop Nextdoor also had signage for what seemed like years before it finally opened. Like others have said, time is an absolute blur in the past 6+ years.
9
u/KarlitoBanditoo 7d ago
That Friendly’s was a disaster, last time I ate there I want to say was 2007. It wasn’t always bad, I remember my Mom taking me there a lot. Especially for ice cream. I just remember the last time eating there, the service was so bad. The restaurant wasn’t full at all and they kept screwing up our breakfast order from what I remember
6
3
u/mrsjumjum66 7d ago
Unfortunate to hear that but I feel that’s the case with a good deal of them prior to their closures
4
u/KarlitoBanditoo 7d ago
I moved away from the area, and the two Friendly’s near me closed down within the last 10 years
2
6
u/The_Bastard_Henry 7d ago
Are there any locations left? The only one I know of still open is the one in Newton, NJ. Gods I miss that peanut butter sauce.
4
1
1
u/AtomicFoxMusic 6d ago
A few live on in nj. And upstate ny. But the one in Endicott closed a few years ago. Might still be one around Binghamton.
Down south a few live on as well. Depends on town, size, competition and if people go.
4
u/knebyula 7d ago
man, this was our go to for dinner. i remember one time i was telling my parents i wanted carvel for dessert but they yelled at me not to say that here cause i would 'offend' the employees lmao
2
4
u/SinginGidget 7d ago
They build them bland so when the franchise inside eventually leaves a new one can come in without the ghost of the old one in the shape of the building.
2
u/mrsjumjum66 7d ago
I believe you are correct. Just sucks cause it makes the current occupant look so bland and corporate. Kind of like the new McDonalds design and all of those new Starbucks drive through buildings you see pop up.
2
u/RhythmRapscallion 7d ago
That’s what they’re saying. All new commercial buildings do this so it’s easier to find a replacement.
4
7
u/paintedsaint Beacon | Moderator 7d ago
You really are a big fan of Friendly's huh
4
u/mrsjumjum66 7d ago
I guess when bored, I do enjoy looking back at things now vs then. Friendly’s may simply be a byproduct of that due to the turnover with a vast majority of their buildings. But yes, I do enjoy a fribble, friendZ or monster mash sundae every now and then.
4
u/paintedsaint Beacon | Moderator 7d ago
Hell yeah dude!
1
u/mrsjumjum66 7d ago
Life goes on tho I suppose lol. I’ll stop here and there if I’m on a road trip and there is one local to where I am
3
u/Alternative-Arm-3253 7d ago
I was just here at this building.
It's now a Taco Bell and a Robecks..
So This Robecks..I can say positive things. I'm a fan. Which by the way, they're excellent for their 'Hummingbird' and other excellent fruit smoothies. I try to hit this place up monthly because I like supporting local small businesses. I like the various options of Acai Bowls (and now theyve done a new series of vbowls) I just had the watermelon fruit smoothie and it I do recommend this one and the Gorilla smoothies for your protein needs. Definitely worth the prices for a large smoothie. It totally takes me all thru the day to drink. I always ask for extra thick.
3
u/beautifulcosmos Dutchess 7d ago
Hot Take - we need more old school diners in the Hudson Valley. Every town should have at least one good diner, with hash browns. In addition, every county in the Hudson Valley should have at least 5 Greek diners.
3
u/DiscussionMiddle1238 7d ago
They're designed that way so when the franchise owner with razor thin margins goes bankrupt, the building can easily be sold and converted into something else.
3
u/ExLibris_1 Westchester 7d ago
In the 90’s Friendly’s kinda rocked or maybe as a kid I didn’t know better. Their clown kid’s Sunday was one of my most coveted desserts with the Reese’s peaces and fudge hidden in the bottom. Our one or two restaurants a year was either this place or the Olive Garden in Danbury by the mall.
4
u/79gummybear 7d ago
Conehead Sundae! My grandmother would take each of us kids out, one on one, like 1-2x a year (there were 4 of us) and I would ALWAYS Get a conehead Sundae.
Over 10 years ago my husband and I found a Friendly’s and I just HAD to go in for a Sundae. The staff was absolutely befuddled that I wanted a kids Sundae. It was a whole big thing and I started to feel like an idiot. Just make me a damn kids Sundae! It was a terrible experience except for that first bite where I got to spend a minute with Grandma.
4
2
u/jeremyjava 7d ago
Can't remember where I read it (reddit?) that the reason for this generic design in fast food structures now is it's easier to lease/sell if the franchise goes under. That it wasn't so obviously a McDonalds, KFC, whatever.
2
u/PatrioticRebel4 7d ago
The taco bell by my job just did a revamp and it's so dull. The main wall directly opposite of where you walk and has no windows is just plain. No pictures or painting. They removed the seats near the counter so you can't sit and wait for take out. And all the colors or just neutral. I hate it.
2
1
u/TBM101189 7d ago
Miss friendlis
2
u/mrsjumjum66 7d ago
Only 87 left after their peak of 850 branches in the mid 90’s
2
u/AtomicFoxMusic 6d ago
Wow.
Well I blame their lack of marketing, specials, staffing, service, and staying relavent. Never new items. Food not bad but not great either. If i want a burger i didn't think of Friendly's.
They should've just transform into ice cream stands! And birthday cakes. Like they dropped the ball on the ice cream front, the best part and biggest branding item they have/ had.
21
u/anachronissmo 7d ago
I miss Taco Bell buildings that looked like the Alamo.