"I can tell you that we do have a potential buyer, but we?re still in the process of making the deal. I can?t tell you who it is or when it?s going through," said Lynn Bolton, Public Relations Coordinator for Friendly?s Corporate Office.

The original asking price for the property at 1985 Centre St. was $850,000, but the current asking price is close to $1.5 million, according to Kelly Tynan, Executive Director of West Roxbury Main Streets.

"From what I hear from people, it?s well over a million dollars. My assumption is, it?s going for probably close to $1.5 million," Tynan said.

While Tynan had heard about the price, the identity of the ?potential buyer? remains a mystery.

"I do know it?s not any of the local banks or Dunkin? Donuts from what I?ve been told. Beyond that, I have no idea as to who it is," Tynan said.

Business leaders said they had heard that The Cooperative Bank in Roslindale, the Corrib Pub, the Mayo Group, and Vintage Restaurant had bid on the property or expressed interest in the location.

"We did make an offer," said Marty Bligh, owner of the Corrib Pub. However, he said his offer was not high enough to obtain the property.

Peter Riley, an employee of the Cooperative Bank in Roslindale, said the bank has shown interest in the property but was not awarded a bid.

Peggy Rose, a spokesperson for Vintage Restaurant, said she is not aware of any of the owners of Vintage Restaurant expressing interest in the property.

Ryan Fitzgerald, Neighborhood Coordinator for West Roxbury, said he is not yet aware of a potential buyer for the property.

"What?s important for us is everyone is so pleased and proud that Centre Street is coming along," Fitzgerald said. "Obviously, to see a restaurant in a place that has served families for many decades, we?d like to see that happen again or a good local business. I think that would obviously be a preference we have."

Friendly?s, which opened in West Roxbury on May 1st 1969, closed on Christmas Day 2005. Maura Tobias, spokesperson for Friendly?s Ice Cream Corporation, said the West Roxbury location had been performing poorly in the last few years and Friendly?s decided to pull the plug on the local branch.