Family of restaurateurs opens a new Friendly's

Second in a three-franchise deal for Sussex County couple Wantage — Restaurateurs Frank and Mary Jean Negri expanded their business this June when they opened a Friendly’s restaurant here at the Wantage A&P Shopping Center. It’s the second of a multi-franchise agreement the couple signed; two years ago, in June 2007, they opened the Friendly’s of Newton. They will open a third restaurant in Sussex County, but have not yet determined where. The Negris have been in the restaurant business a while. They opened Papa-Roni’s on Route 15 in Sparta back in 1992. But Frank Negri’s first restaurant was opened in 1973 when he was 18. That store was later destroyed by a fire and he began working for Dunkin Donuts, where he started as a baker and as the company grew he managed five stores. In 1978 Frank opened a restaurant in Rock Island, Ill., with the help of his father-in-law. He managed the store with his wife’s brother and brother-in-law, while Mary Jean and her sister attended chiropractic college. After graduation, Frank and Mary Jean relocated to Sussex County and Mary Jean opened her chiropractic office, Lafayette Hilltop Chiropractic, in Lafayette, in 1985. The family has called Sussex County home for more than 25 years and restaurants have been their second homes. In 1992 the couple opened a second restaurant, Mama-Ronis, in Branchville, and Frank managed both Papa-Roni’s and Mama-Roni’s. When the family began their involvement in the franchise business, they sold Mama-Roni’s. It took a few years to develop and work on a contract with the corporation of Friendly’s, Mary Jean explained, but eventually a multi-franchise deal was signed, that included opening three Friendly’s restaurants in Sussex. Family business Frank Negri Jr. is general manager of the Friendly’s of Newton and the general manager who oversees both stores is David Rike, the couple’s nephew. Many family members are involved in the restaurant. Jack Negri and his wife Kathy helped open the first Friendly’s of Newton and continue to help as needed. The couple’s children all work in the stores part-time while attending high school or college. Daughter Anastasia Negri, a graduate of Florida State University who has a bachelor’s degree in business and hospitality administration, is now working in the industry in Tampa, but hopes to join the family business once she completes a master’s degree in business. Mary Jean credits other managers in both stores who “Make sure things run smoothly. These include Christina Myers, William “Woody” Woodrow, Lisa Presciepa and Rob Cushman Jr.