Professional Profile: David Blair - 1966

Name: David Blair - 1966

Title: Director of Real Estate

Company: Friendly Ice Cream Corp.

Location: Springfield, Mass.

Birthplace: Springfield, Mass. - 1930

Education: Trinity College, Hartford, Conn. After 2 years in Korea, Dave joined Aetna Insurance Co. in the field of real estate mortgages; in 1955 he went to Mass. Mutual Life’s mortgage department; and in 1956, came to Friendly Ice Cream as Director of Real Estate. “It was at this time that the 25 store, $3 million firm decided to expand its operation, and today, 10 years later, we are $21 million, with 120 units and 2 shopping centers in Mass., Conn., R.I., N.Y., N.J. and New Hampshire. We do not plan to be shopping center developers, but have twice been in positions where the sites offered lent themselves to high-class centers. We check out about 50 sites per week, rely on brokers for our leads, and would like to check 100. We are most interested in neighborhood areas, 20,000 sq. ft., free-standing units which serve a complete meal. We are and have been in the enviable position of never financing a unit.” Dave is married, with a daughter; is chairman of the regional meeting of the International Council of Shopping Centers to be held in October and is an avid tennis player.