FRIENDLY FARM INC.

What FRIENDLY FARM INC. does

Friendly Farm Inc. (DBA Friendly Farm Restaurant) is a privately held, family-owned restaurant and event hospitality business located on a 200-acre farm at 17434 Foreston Road, Upperco, Maryland. Founded in 1959 by Jack and Dorothy Wilhelm as 'Friendly Farm Steakhouse' seating approximately 44 guests, the business has operated continuously through three generations of the Wilhelm family and now spans an expanded facility that houses all dine-in, banquet, and back-of-house operations. The restaurant serves family-style American comfort food, with award-winning crab cakes and fried chicken positioned as signature dishes, and operates Wednesday through Sunday from 12 pm to 7 pm.

The business operates a multi-stream hospitality model centered on a single physical location: dine-in service and carry-out, an event venue with a banquet room accommodating up to 150 guests for weddings and private events (corporate events, bridal/baby showers, retirement and graduation parties, family reunions, celebrations of life), an off-premise catering delivery service, physical gift cards sold online in $25/$50/$75/$100 denominations, freshly baked goods sold daily in the lobby, and branded merchandise. Distribution is direct to consumer via the restaurant, carry-out, and online gift card sales, with regional reach into Northern Baltimore County for catering and event services. Marketing is conducted through a Wix website, Constant Contact email club, and organic Instagram and Facebook presence.

The company is privately held with no external investment, funding rounds, or parent entity disclosed. Current operating leadership consists of third-generation siblings Caroline Wilhelm and Chris Wilhelm-Fouts, alongside front-of-house oversight by Jane Wilhelm and prior-generation owners Larry and Gary Wilhelm. Reported core/management headcount is nine, though the full operational staff supporting kitchen, front-of-house, events, and catering is not enumerated in available sources. No revenue is disclosed.

Name

FRIENDLY FARM INC.

Legal name

Friendly Farm Restaurant

Website

https://friendlyfarm.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Family-style restaurant and event venue

NAICS

Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Caterers (722320), Food Service Contractors (722310)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Family-Style Restaurants (THAFACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Farm-to-Table & Contemporary American Restaurants (THAFACAF), Private Culinary Experiences (Chef’s Table, Home Dining, Market-to-Meal) (THAJALAH), Farm-to-Table & Agritourism Dining Experiences (Farm Visits, Harvest Meals) (THAJAGAK)

Keywords

• Family-style dining
• Off-premise catering
• Wedding venue services
• Private event hosting
• Farm-to-table restaurant

Headquarters

HQ city

Upperco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Dine-in Restaurant Service: Family-style dining serving award-winning crab cakes, famous fried chicken, and other American cuisine. Operating hours Wednesday-Sunday, 12pm-7pm.
2. Off-Premise Catering: Full-service catering delivered to external events and venues. Customized meal options from simple delivery to full-service meals.
3. Gift Cards: Physical gift cards sold online in denominations of $25, $50, $75, and $100. Includes $5.00 shipping/handling fee.
4. Baked Goods: Freshly baked pies, loaves of bread, and desserts available for purchase daily in the lobby.
5. Private Events and Weddings: Event hosting services including weddings (up to 150 guests), corporate events, bridal/baby showers, retirement parties, engagement celebrations, graduation parties, celebrations of life, birthday parties, and family reunions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Friendly Farm Restaurant is a family-style American restaurant on a 200-acre farm in Upperco, Maryland, serving award-winning crab cakes, fried chicken, and comfort food. It complements dine-in and carry-out with private event hosting, wedding venue services (up to 150 guests), off-premise catering, gift cards, and daily baked goods. The venue leverages scenic farm views, rustic barns, and a gazebo with water views to host celebrations and corporate events.

Product overview

FRIENDLY FARM INC. is a family-style restaurant business offering a unified portfolio of dining and hospitality services. The core offering is restaurant dining featuring award-winning crab cakes, famous fried chicken, and comfort food served family-style. The business operates as a platform of related services including private event hosting, wedding venue services on their 200-acre farm, off-premise catering delivery, and complementary products such as gift cards, freshly baked goods, and branded merchandise. The restaurant also offers specialized menus including lunch/dinner, carry-out, and group dining options. The business was founded in 1959 and spans three generations of the Wilhelm family.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Restaurant Dining Family-style dine-in restaurant service featuring award-winning crab cakes, famous fried chicken, and American comfort food. Operates Wednesday through Sunday, 12pm-7pm, and serves families and individuals seeking a scenic rural dining experience on the 200-acre farm.
• Lunch and Dinner Menu Full lunch and dinner menu featuring family-style comfort food, crab cakes, fried chicken, and seasonal offerings served in the restaurant.
• Carry Out Menu Take-out menu with available carry-out specials for customers ordering food to go from the restaurant.
• Group Dining Menu Specialized menu options for group dining events and large parties hosted at the restaurant.
• Wedding Venue Services Wedding venue hosting on a 200-acre farm with outdoor ceremony spaces, rustic barns, rolling hills, and a gazebo with water views. Reception space accommodates up to 150 guests. Includes on-site catering and experienced event staff.
• Private Events Hosting Event hosting for corporate events, bridal/baby showers, retirement parties, engagement celebrations, graduation parties, celebrations of life, birthday parties, and family reunions. Hosted in the recently renovated banquet hall with new menu options and beverage packages.
• Off-Premise Catering Full-service catering delivered to external venues and events. Offers customized meal options ranging from simple delivery to full-service meals. Brings Friendly Farm food to customers' own venues or event locations.
• Gift Cards Physical gift cards available for purchase online in $25, $50, $75, and $100 denominations. Cards are mailed to recipients with a $5.00 shipping, handling, and processing fee added to each purchase.
• Baked Goods Freshly baked pies, loaves of bread, and other desserts available for purchase daily in the restaurant lobby.
• Branded Merchandise Friendly Farm branded hats, shirts, and sweatshirts available for purchase at the restaurant front desk during visits.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Blue Door FloralsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecommended wedding vendor listed on Friendly Farm's weddings page. Provides floral arrangements for wedding events held at the farm venue.
• Becky's Bakes LLCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecommended wedding cake vendor located in Lineboro, MD. Listed as a preferred vendor on the weddings page.
• B BakeryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecommended photography vendor for weddings, located in White Hall, MD.
• Frozen In Time PhotographyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecommended wedding photography vendor listed on the weddings page.
• GraulsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecommended vendor located in Hereford, MD, mentioned on the weddings page.
• Shannon Marie PhotographyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecommended wedding photography vendor listed on the weddings page.
• Bertuccos BakeryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecommended wedding cake vendor located in Hampstead, MD, listed on the weddings page.
• Baltimore County Beverage AssociationminorOthersIndustry association membership. Displayed as a logo on the website footer, indicating industry affiliation.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Linwoods: Family-owned Owings Mills, Maryland restaurant serving contemporary American cuisine with catering and private event offerings. Comparable as a Maryland multi-generation family restaurant with dine-in, catering, and event services targeted at the same Northern Baltimore County demographic.
• Woodberry Kitchen: Baltimore farm-to-table restaurant led by Spike Gjerde, emphasizing local sourcing and rustic American cuisine. Comparable as a Maryland heritage-driven farm-to-table dining concept with similar menu positioning around Mid-Atlantic ingredients.
• Zeffertt's Catering: Maryland off-premise caterer serving weddings, corporate events, and private parties. Comparable as a regional Maryland full-service catering operation competing for the same off-premise catering revenue stream.
• G&M Restaurant: Linthicum Heights, Maryland family restaurant famous for crab cakes and American comfort food. Comparable as a Maryland family-style restaurant with a similar crab-cake-led menu focus and multi-generational operating history.
• Stone House at Stoneleigh: Virginia estate-style wedding venue with on-site catering and scenic grounds. Comparable as a destination wedding venue with in-house food service and rustic/scenic property, directly competing for the Mid-Atlantic wedding market.
• Ceresville Mansion: Frederick, Maryland historic mansion wedding and event venue with in-house catering. Comparable as a Maryland destination wedding venue with full-service catering, competing for the same regional wedding bookings.
• Gertrude's Restaurant: Farm-to-table restaurant inside the Baltimore Museum of Art founded by chef John Shields. Comparable as a Maryland-based farm-to-table American cuisine concept serving a similar regional customer base and emphasizing local sourcing in a destination setting.

Broad incumbents

• Foreman Wolf Restaurant Group: Baltimore restaurant group operating multiple full-service concepts including Charleston and Cinghiale. Comparable as a larger Maryland restaurant operator with catering and private event capabilities spanning multiple concepts.
• The Oregon Grille: Historic Hunt Valley, Maryland steakhouse and event venue. Comparable as a long-standing Maryland full-service restaurant with private event and banquet capabilities serving the same Baltimore-metro affluent market.
• Turf Valley Resort: Maryland resort hotel with banquet facilities, wedding venues, and on-site dining. Comparable as a larger Mid-Atlantic hospitality operator offering combined lodging, event, and dining services against Friendly Farm's event business.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/FriendlyFarmRestaurant
• Instagraminstagram.com/friendly.farm.md/?igsh=MXA4emo3end2cXNnaw%3D%3D
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/friendly-farm-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FRIENDLY FARM INC.