@Applewood
You seem to have no problem exempting the DNC from your list of the accussed.
@sneakypete Wut? Did you read what I wrote? I said I don't know that COVID or anyone or anything can be blamed for the demise of these restaurants and other retailers especially since many of them were already in trouble. Much of the time the trouble comes from bad management, overly ambitious expansion and for restaurants -- lousy food, poor service and outrageous prices. But it's often more convenient to blame troubles on a virus.
I've never been to a Friendly's; there were a few of them around up to several years ago, but they are long gone now. However, another chain that is closing locations here now is Cheesecake Factory. I once ate at a location close to Pittsburgh. The meal was blah and the cheesecake was overrated and overpriced. if I want good cheesecake, there are a number of Mom and Pop deli/bakeries around which make much better cheesecake and sell it at reasonable prices. I guess others around here agree with me because Cheesecake Factory is not doing well around these parts.
Now do you get my drift?