15 Abandoned Fast Food Chains You Never Knew Existed

15 Abandoned Fast Food Chains You Never Knew Existed

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. Winkies: From Meat Suppliers to Fast Food Chain
3. Showbiz Pizza Place: The Animatronic Revolution
4. Childs: Paving the Way for Restaurant Giants
5. Minnie Pearl's Chicken: A Short-Lived Competitor
6. Carol's: The Yellow Slug and the Little Blonde Boy
7. Wags: Walgreens' Venture into the Restaurant Industry
8. Royal Castle: Fresh Burgers and Root Beer
9. Bob's Big Boy: A Recognizable American Icon
10. Dee's Drive-In: A Rise and Fall in Utah
11. Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor: Free Sundae for Birthday Kids
12. Kenny Rogers Roasters: The Singer's Chicken Chain
13. Howard Johnson: From Soda Stand to Motor Lodges
14. Steak and Ale: Quality Steaks for Every American
15. Gino's Hamburgers: A Football Player's Venture
16. Chi-Chi's: The Hepatitis A Outbreak

The Rise and Fall of Fast-Food Chains

Fast-food chains have become a ubiquitous part of our culture, with giants like McDonald's, Taco Bell, and KFC ruling the industry. However, not all fast-food chains have stood the test of time. Over the years, several successful chains have disappeared, leaving behind nostalgic memories for those who once enjoyed their offerings. From the rise of Winkies as a meat supplier to the bankruptcy of Chi-Chi's following a hepatitis A outbreak, this article delves into the stories of fast-food chains that are no longer around.

Introduction

The fast-food industry is a thriving business, generating millions of dollars in revenue. While popular chains like McDonald's and Taco Bell have become household names, there are many forgotten fast-food chains that have come and gone over the years. In this article, we will take a closer look at some of these defunct chains and explore the reasons behind their rise and fall. Join us as we journey through the history of these lost fast-food treasures.

Winkies: From Meat Suppliers to Fast Food Chain

Winkies, founded in 1963 by the Erenstein brothers, began as a meat supplier before venturing into the fast-food industry. Their breakthrough came when a restaurant they supplied, McDonald's, experienced an increase in orders. Inspired by McDonald's success, the Erenstein brothers opened the first Winkies restaurant. With the advantage of direct meat supply, Winkies quickly expanded, reaching a peak of 42 locations in three states. However, financial troubles hit Winkies, and they filed for bankruptcy in the early 1980s, marking the end of their fast-food journey.

Showbiz Pizza Place: The Animatronic Revolution

Founded in 1980, Showbiz Pizza Place was a unique concept that combined food and entertainment. Created by Creative Engineering and Robert Brock, Showbiz Pizza Place capitalized on the growing popularity of video games. What set it apart from competitors like Chuck E. Cheese was its animatronic characters that performed live shows. With 280 stores at its peak, Showbiz Pizza Place seemed unstoppable. However, unable to sustain itself, the company merged with Chuck E. Cheese in 1992, resulting in the rebranding of all Showbiz Pizza Place locations.

Childs: Paving the Way for Restaurant Giants

One of the oldest fast-food chains in the United States, Childs started in 1889 in New York City. With its expansion across 29 cities and even into Canada, Childs paved the way for restaurant giants like McDonald's. During the 1920s and 1930s, Childs operated 125 locations, impressing customers with its diverse food options, quality service, and emphasis on sanitation. However, the chain faced struggles in the following decades. Despite introducing new items like the hot dog machine and the ice cream machine, Childs ultimately closed all its locations in the late 1960s.

Minnie Pearl's Chicken: A Short-Lived Competitor

Founded in 1960, Minnie Pearl's Chicken aimed to compete with the immensely popular Kentucky Fried Chicken. However, despite initially finding success, with 567 locations opened and franchised, Minnie Pearl's Chicken couldn't keep up with its competitor. Revealing a substantial debt of $1.2 million, the owners made the difficult decision to close the chain in 1968. It is worth noting that the country comedian Minnie Pearl had no involvement with the restaurant other than lending her name to it.

Carol’s: The Yellow Slug and the Little Blonde Boy

Carol's, an early fast-food chain, made its mark with a unique mascot—a yellow slug. However, the mascot was soon changed to a little blonde boy sporting a fedora when Herb Schlotnik purchased the rights and started franchising the company. Offering 15-cent hamburgers, Carol's experienced success during its prime. In 1980, the last Carol's location closed its doors. However, the holding company saw an opportunity in the burger market and acquired Burger King, eventually owning and franchising over a thousand Burger King and Popeye locations.

Wags: Walgreens' Venture into the Restaurant Industry

While Walgreens is widely recognized as a drugstore chain, few may know that it once operated a 24-hour diner restaurant known as Wags. Inspired by the Denny's concept, Wags had 91 locations spread along busy highways between 1970 and 1991. The menu primarily consisted of breakfast platters and hamburgers. In 1988, Walgreens sold all its restaurants, except a few located in malls, to the Marriott Corporation. Ownership changed hands several times before Wags permanently shut down in 1991, with some locations converted into IHOP restaurants.

Royal Castle: Fresh Burgers and Root Beer

Royal Castle, founded in 1938 in Miami, Florida, gained popularity for its fresh burgers and root beer. Open for lunch, dinner, and even breakfast, Royal Castle operated 175 locations across Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, and Ohio at its peak. However, after being bought out by Performance Systems in 1969, the chain struggled due to competition from fast-food giants like McDonald's. Despite closures, one Royal Castle location in Miami, Florida, still stands today, serving nostalgic menu items to dedicated fans.

Bob's Big Boy: A Recognizable American Icon

Bob's Big Boy, originally called Bob's Pantry, started in Southern California in 1926. With its recognizable mascot, Bob's Big Boy became an American icon. Although the chain is now defunct, the parent company, Bob's Big Boy Restaurant Group, still exists. Today, only five Bob's Big Boy restaurants remain, preserving the legacy and charm that made the chain a beloved part of American fast-food history.

Dee's Drive-In: A Rise and Fall in Utah

Dee's Drive-In, founded in 1932 in Salt Lake City, Utah, was born from the entrepreneurial spirit of D. Frederick Anderson. Inspired by selling hamburgers at the University of Utah, Anderson decided to start his own burger joint. Dee's Drive-In experienced significant growth, with 53 restaurants bringing in $20 million annually. However, in the early 2000s, the chain faced multiple sexual harassment lawsuits, resulting in significant financial losses. The last location closed in 2005, and some restaurants were converted into Walgreens pharmacies.

Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor: Free Sundae for Birthday Kids

Founded in 1963 in Portland, Oregon, Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor was known for its free ice cream sundae offered to children on their birthdays. The parlors had an early 20th-century theme, complete with employees wearing boat hats. With 120 locations at its peak, Farrell's enjoyed success until economic troubles hit in the 1980s. The last Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor closed in Brea, California, on June 8, 2019. Marcus Lamonis, the current owner of the brand, holds the possibility of reviving Farrell's, keeping the hope alive for fans of this nostalgia-inducing chain.

Kenny Rogers Roasters: The Singer's Chicken Chain

Kenny Rogers Roasters, started by country music singer Kenny Rogers in 1991, specialized in serving delicious roasted chicken. Inspired by his early investment in Kentucky Fried Chicken, Rogers decided to venture into the restaurant industry. At its peak, the chain had 425 locations, with a strong presence in the United States. However, in 1999, Kenny Rogers Roasters closed its U.S. operations and now operates solely in Asia, with 156 locations. While the chain may be gone from American soil, its legacy lives on in Asian markets.

Howard Johnson: From Soda Stand to Motor Lodges

Howard Johnson began in 1925 as a single soda stand in Wollaston, Massachusetts. It quickly grew into one of the first fast-food restaurants to offer dine-in service. Following the Great Depression, Howard Johnson became one of America's first franchise chains. At its peak, there were over 400 Howard Johnson locations across the United States. In 1954, the company expanded into the hotel industry, transforming its restaurants into motor lodges. While the last Howard Johnson restaurant closed in 2017, the motor lodges continue to operate under the Wyndham brand.

Steak and Ale: Quality Steaks for Every American

Norman Brinker's Steak and Ale restaurant chain started with a single location in Dallas, Texas, in 1966. Their goal was to serve quality steaks at an affordable price. In addition to steaks, Steak and Ale became known for its sandwiches, hamburgers, and salad bar. Unlike typical fast-food places, Steak and Ale's restaurants featured a Tudor-style building with dim lighting, creating an upscale ambiance. At its height, the chain boasted 280 restaurants. However, the market crash in 2008 led to bankruptcy, resulting in the closure of all Steak and Ale restaurants.

Gino's Hamburgers: A Football Player's Venture

Gino's Hamburgers, founded in 1959 by professional football player Gino Marchetti, started in Baltimore, Maryland. Known for its burgers and chicken, Gino's Hamburgers quickly grew to 359 locations across the country. The chain was eventually bought out by Marriott, which rebranded the restaurants as Roy Rogers in 1986. Today, a few Roy Rogers locations still exist, but the Gino's Hamburgers chain is no longer in operation.

Chi-Chi's: The Hepatitis A Outbreak

Chi-Chi's, a chain of Mexican restaurants owned by Hormel, opened its doors in 1974. With 210 locations across the United States, Chi-Chi's offered popular Tex-Mex cuisine. However, the chain faced bankruptcy in 2003, following a massive hepatitis A outbreak that resulted in four deaths and 660 infections—the largest outbreak in U.S. history at the time. Unable to recover from the lawsuits and financial burden, all Chi-Chi's locations closed in 2004. Interestingly, Chi-Chi's still operates successfully in Austria, Kuwait, and the UAE.

Conclusion

The fast-food industry is ever-evolving, with new chains emerging and old ones fading into history. Although these defunct fast-food chains may no longer be around, they have left behind cherished memories for those who enjoyed their offerings. From Winkies to Chi-Chi's, each chain had its own unique story. As we reflect on these lost treasures, we marvel at the perpetual nature of the fast-food industry, where only the strongest survive.

Highlights:

• Explore the rise and fall of forgotten fast-food chains
• Learn the stories behind famous but defunct restaurants like Winkies and Showbiz Pizza Place
• Understand the challenges faced by chains like Carol’s and Howard Johnson
• Discover the impact of bankruptcy and mergers on beloved brands
• Experience nostalgia as you reminisce about Bob’s Big Boy and Gino’s Hamburgers
• Reflect on the ever-changing landscape of the fast-food industry
• Share your favorite memories of defunct fast-food chains in the comments

FAQ:

Q: Are any of these defunct fast-food chains still in operation today? A: Some defunct fast-food chains, like Bob's Big Boy, still have a few functioning locations. Others, like Chi-Chi's, have expanded internationally, with open restaurants in countries like Austria, Kuwait, and the UAE.

Q: Did these defunct chains have any significant impact on the fast-food industry? A: Yes, some of these chains played a pivotal role in shaping the fast-food industry. For example, Childs paved the way for restaurant giants like McDonald's, while Gino's Hamburgers gained popularity through its association with professional football player Gino Marchetti.

Q: Why do you think these once-successful chains eventually disappeared? A: There are various reasons why these chains disappeared. Some faced financial troubles, while others struggled to keep up with competition from larger fast-food giants. Issues like bankruptcy, mergers, and even disease outbreaks also contributed to their downfall.

Q: What memories do people have of these defunct fast-food chains? A: Memories of these defunct fast-food chains differ from person to person. Some may recall their favorite menu items or the nostalgic ambiance of a particular chain. Others may reminisce about family outings or special occasions spent at these restaurants.