Friendly’s restaurant in Augusta, ME (Billy Hathorn)
These famous national chains have their roots right here in Massachusetts. Take a look to see which one of your favorite chains got their start in the Bay State.
Legal Sea Foods:
This casual seafood restaurant was founded by George Berkowitz in 1950. He started with Legal Cash Market in Cambridge, but in 1968 he opened the first Legal Sea Foods restaurant right next door. Today, Legals is still headquartered in Boston but has spread down the East Coast.
Friendly’s restaurant in Augusta, ME (Billy Hathorn)
Friendly’s:
During the height of the Great Depression, 20-year-old Prestley and 18-year-old Curtis Blake opened a modest neighborhood ice cream shop in Springfield, with double dipped cones for 5 cents. The Blake Brothers named the business “Friendly.” Now, for almost 70 years this chain has been serving up classic American fare throughout the East Coast.
Boston Market:
In 1985, founders Arthur Cores and Steve Kolow put together three ingredients: fire, a spit, and chicken. The first Boston Market, then called Boston Chicken, opened in Newton. Now, they are serving their home-cooked meals in more than 450 locations nationwide.
CVS Pharmacy:
Currently the second largest pharmacy chain, after Walgreens, and the 12th largest company in the world according to Forbes, this general merchandise drugstore was first christened as the “Consumer Value Store” back in 1963 in Lowell. Sid and Stanley Goldstein founded the store with Ralph Hoagland, selling everything from over the counter prescription drugs, beauty products, seasonal merchandise, groceries, photo services and the occasional flu shot. The store is now more properly stands for “Convenience, Value, and Service.”
Papa Gino’s:
This popular New England pizzeria first opened in 1961 in East Boston. Papa Gino’s founder Michael Valerio emigrated from Italy in the 1930s and brought with him generations of family recipes that helped Valerio and his wife Helen open their first pizzeria, Piece O’Pizza. In 1968, they changed the restaurant name to Papa Gino’s and began to expand their business throughout Boston. Today, there are 170 Papa Gino’s locations throughout New England.
Dunkin’ Donuts:
With the West Coast clamoring for the chain to open its first establishment in Santa Monica, Calif., this global coffee chain is the pride and joy of Massachusetts coffee lovers. Started in Quincy by William Rosenberg in 1950, there are now over 11,000 Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants in 33 different countries.
Friendly’s restaurant in Augusta, ME (Billy Hathorn) 
