FRIENDLYS LI CELEBRATED 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF ALL-AMERICAN TREAT Restaurants Gave Free Cones to Kids Under 12

One of the truly delicious moments in the history of the world occurred 100 years ago: the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office awarded Patent No. 746971 to Italo Marchiony for his invention of an edible ice cream cone. To celebrate this auspicious occasion, all Long Island Friendlys restaurants gave a free four-ounce single-dip cone to anyone under the age of 12 who came to a restaurant on Monday, September 22.

N.Y., October -- One of the truly delicious moments in the history of the world occurred 100 years ago: the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office awarded Patent No. 746971 to Italo Marchiony for his invention of an edible ice cream cone. To celebrate this auspicious occasion, all Long Island Friendlys restaurants gave a free four-ounce single-dip cone to anyone under the age of 12 who came to a restaurant on Monday, September 22.

Because were so famous for our ice cream, we wanted to commemorate the date," explained Joe Vitrano, President and CEO of J&B Restaurant Partners, the parent company of all Friendlys restaurants on Long Island. Were very proud and happy that Friendlys is an important part of Long Island life, and so were always looking for ways to thank our customers.

As a kid growing up in Suffolk County, I always felt that eating at the local Friendlys was a real treat, especially when I had an ice cream cone," continued Vitrano. Heres my chance to make some other kids feel special."

According to Vitrano, nearly 5,500 kids received free cones from the 31 Long Island Friendlys restaurants. Although Marchiony actually received his patent in December, Vitrano and his managers decided to celebrate the anniversary while the weather was still warm. Of course, kids love ice cream no matter what the season," Vitrano said.

According to most sources, Marchiony actually started selling lemon ices in his edible holders in 1896 in New York City, but it was not until seven years later that the immigrant from Italy received official recognition from the Patent and Trademark Office. Although Marchiony is credited with the invention of the cone, another creation, which was much closer to our modern notion of a cone, was independently unveiled at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair.

Weve investigated the history of the cone pretty extensively," said Vitrano, and we accept the general view of experts that Marchiony should receive credit, regardless of how much or how little his invention resembles todays cone. He was the first to come up with the idea of putting a cold treat in an edible holder so we are satisfied that he is the father" of the ice cream cone. We recognize, though, that the cone also has several aunts" and uncles" who can claim partial credit for its existence."

J&B Restaurant Partners, headquartered in Ronkonkoma, N.Y., operates leading restaurant brands on Long Island, including Friendlys, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut Express. The company has grown dramatically over the past seven years, earning a well-deserved reputation within the industry. In less than five years, J&B has realized its commitment to becoming one of the fastest growing companies in the food service industry.

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