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Is there an English single term for a regular customer who, because of always buying from the same seller, acquires a discount from the seller and might also treat their relationship as that of being a friend?

In our language (Filipino), the seller calls a regular customer [a] "suki".

Patron sounds like a supporter of a cause, and habitué doesn't have the connotation of friendship. Is there a more suitable term for it in English?

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    Some people just shorten to 'regular': "Norm was a regular at Cheer's." Also, one can say 'loyal customer' or 'preferred customer' (but the last one use more for marketing loyalty incentives to customers).
    – Merk
    Commented Oct 12, 2012 at 4:52
  • @Merk I think your comment is an answer.
    – bib
    Commented Oct 12, 2012 at 11:54
  • 'Loyal customer' is probably the one carrying the biggest hint of comradeship.
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Commented Jan 20, 2021 at 11:30

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pa·tron
2. A customer, especially a regular customer.
[The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000]

patron
2. (Business / Commerce) a customer of a shop, hotel, etc., esp a regular one
[Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins]

Patronage -Commercial (Wikipedia)
Sometimes consumers support smaller or local businesses or corporations out of loyalty even if less expensive options exist. Their regular custom is referred to as 'patronage'.

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