While seated, you could take a break from glossing over the delicious menu to stare at celebrity-signed paraphernalia adorning the walls on each of the many Famous Deli locations. 3. But as Hollywood exited the golden era, so did the Brown Derby, and by 1987 all four locations were closed. Fabulous burger if you had abstained from say three previous meals. Although it made it until 2000, the weakened economy that followed the 1970s gas crisis is thought to have sealed its destiny. Googie's was one of the Upper East Side's best causal Italian spots and has been missed dearly since it closed in 2008. But there was a time in the not-too-distant past when Yankee Doodle Dandy was slinging some seriously addictive burgers throughout Chicagoland. In 1975 the company was liquidated, but one Royal Castle still remains in Miami. Initially, the chain and its 15 cent hamburgers were a massive success. While the hotels still exist (the brand is owned by Wyndham), there is one and only one Howard Johnsons restaurant in Lake George, New York. This restaurant opened with Disney's Polynesian Village Resort in 1971 and remained in operation until 1994, when it was replaced by 'Ohana. Well, most of them. Mamma Desta (1978-1983) 4840 Georgia Ave., NW. Its demise involved filing for bankruptcy, a series of lawsuits, and the largest Hepatitis A outbreak in the country (courtesy of some contaminated onions). (Unlike other restaurants, there was no way to order takeout from a buffet.). This birthday star won two Emmys for her role as Lilith Sternin on "Cheers . Compaq. But besides the toys, TV shows, movies, and music, there was the food. That said, it changed hands frequently and was bought by PepsiCo in 1982, and later bought by Mrs. Fields Original Cookies in 1987. If ESPN Zone was for the grownup sports fans out there, then ShowBiz Pizza Place was where those sporties took their kids for birthday parties. In 1936, Chasen's opened and instantly drew in a flurry of Hollywood clientele. TechSpot. The chain of taquerias had by then expanded into New Mexico, where a few of the last operating Pups soldiered on bravely (and independently) after the chain shut down in 1984. Majority were sold off, but one location remains. View more comments #4 . As the popularity and variety of Mexican restaurants grew, Chi-Chi's began to suffer the consequences. Before McDonald's became commonplace in Utah, Dee's was a burger giant. Picture a fierce competitor to McDonald's with over 1,000 locations and you're picturing Burger Chef in its heyday. Brock imported many of his former employers ideas into ShowBiz Pizza, including arcade games, animatronic puppet shows and rather healthy portions of pizza. Think: tacos, hamburgers, hot dogs and pastrami sandwiches. Did the mustachioed third baseman have some kind of crazy side hustle, even while playing for the 1986 World Series champs? "When we open up again people are like, 'Oh my God, Roy Rogers is back. The Chipotle conglomerate opened up the first Tasty Made in 2016 and envisioned it as a burger chain that would compete against the likes of Five Guys and Shake Shack. You two could get that petition going. Employee They Disrespected . The chain's unique menu and distinctive glass-doored storefronts made it popular enough to support 400 locations at one point. 3. If you were a Mets fan in the 1980s, chances are you were incredibly confused by the ubiquitous Howard Johnsons chain. in the 50s and 60s. All Rights Reserved. Restaurant Review: Treasures to be Found in the Lebanese-Italian Fusion of Bistrolino. The Beatles even hit up Bob's Big Boy in Burbank, which was the coolest to children of the '60s. ADVERTISEMENT. Lauren Gray is a New York-based writer, editor, and consultant. Radio Shack went bankrupt twice, in 2015, and most recently on March 8th, 2017. Its signature item was beer-steamed hot dogs, and by the 1970s, Lum's was doing so well that Kentucky Fried Chicken wanted a piece of pie and further expanded operations across the country. The first restaurant opened in 1965, and success came quickly after that; by 1973 there were 62 of them. After much success, the company took their stock public, but after an investigation by the Security Exchange Commission and inquiries with their books, the chain closed up shop in 1968. Depend on your area maybe. var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); Even though Shor reopened a year later, the restaurant's heyday had passed. Sadly, in 2020, the pandemic-battered company announced . 5. Come 1981, the corporation folded. The stateside Red Barns were transformed into other restaurants, and those in Australia were eventually bought up by McDonalds. ASwiss company purchased Lum's in the late 1970s, but it had bitten off more than it could chew, and Lum's filed for bankruptcy in 1982. The menu included offerings such as the Grand Slam Hamburger and the Chopped Barbecue Sandwich. To quote Queen Bey, who will run the world? Little Tavern was a chain of charming, cottage-style restaurants that felt like a home away from home for many children of the '90s in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. area. In addition to its rather hefty portions of sopapillas, Casa Bonita was famous for its live shows featuring circus performers and cliff divers, which science has proven is good for digestion. The advent of the. A Tribute to Chi Chi's Mexican Restaurant/Facebook, largest Hepatitis A outbreak in the country, 14 Charlie Brown's locations still remain, Bring Back Hot'n'Now to Wisconsin Now/Facebook. IL. Hard, uncomfortable seats, tables cleaned with the same hot tea you drank, long waits for . Closed Restaurants in Tampa Bay Area, Florida. 2 50 Best Healthy Pasta Recipes 3 All Of Dunkin' Donuts' Iced Coffee Flavors, Ranked 4 These Vegetables. Become a Delish Unlimited member to read and save unlimited articles. Sorry, Kramer. Its true, not all restaurant chains out there traffic in unhealthy food. The film's cult following outlived the restaurants, and its final west coast location closed in 2010. In the 1980s, the restaurant began to decline, as it switched up menu items in favor of more chicken and fish. The chain is noted for introducing several fast-food staples to the industry, like kids' meals with toys. Adobo Grill Adriano's Italian Restaurant Alma Angellino's Angellino's Annie Moore Irish Pub Athanasios Greek Italian Cuisine Aunt Heidi's Italian Restaurant Avanzare Bad Ass Coffee Company . Its main competitors, Arby's and Roy Rogers, sunk the chain. What started as a popular Manhattan restaurant founded in 1914 grew to a huge chain throughout the northeast during the '80s. Say it with me now: L-O-L. Poor Miller's Outpost was big in the '70s and '80s, but it just could never be as cool as The Limited in the '90s no matter how hard it tried . The mega-bookstore started out with a single location in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and expanded to hundreds of locations throughout the U.S. during its 40-year run. Franchising a steak joint is a dicey gambit, especially considering that the further you get from the stockyards, the more questionable the final result. In the mid-1950s, Henry's Hamburgers, started by the Bresler's Ice Cream Company, was so popular that it had 35 locations in the Chicago area, which was more than McDonald's at the time. However, the herbal tea sold at the Good Earth Restaurants is still alive and well in the form of Good Earth Tea. For more From the Archives, visit our Web page here. Taco Bell hoped the creation would compete with offerings from big burger chains like McDonald's and Burger King, but it only lasted till the mid '90s thanks to diners' declining interest. It should come as no surprise that the red barn was painted red and shaped like a barn. With prices like that, what child of any era wouldn't have loved Little Tavern? And if your meal didn't end with a sparkling chocolate volcano, you were doing something seriously wrong. While there were rumors of reviving the chain a few years ago, the brand remains dormant. In 1982, the company was sold to Marriott and used as a foothold to expand their chain, Roy Rogers. Gino's Hamburgers Football Hall of Famer Gino Marchetti opened the first Gino's Hamburgers in 1957, and by the 70s, he was able to boast over 300 locations. After Pillsbury bought Steak and Ale in the '80s, the chain went national with 280 locations. However, other Big Boy restaurants across the country remain open, sporting the double-decker burgers and iconic mascot that became a staple of American eateries throughout the 20th century. Founded in the late 1800s by William Filene, Filene's was a Boston-based department store with almost 50 brick-and-mortar locations throughout New England and New York at its peak. A time when fruit snacks, sodas, candies and fast food could be "extreme", multi-colored and when food was expected to be loud. we miss them all. Carrols was an upstate New York favorite that people still reminisce about to this day. The chain had closed by. In 1984, Taco Bell bought 99 Pup 'N' Taco restaurants in California, but not three stores in Albuquerque, two of which went by the name "Pop 'N' Taco". Pepsi Joe's (AKA Happy Paradise) (10th, above Race). What's Your State's Favorite Super Bowl Dip? Sign of the Dove is considered one of the lost gems of New York City after closing and eventually being demolished in 1998. But in 2016, Souplantation's parent company, Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp., filed for bankruptcy protection, which included plans to close around 30 of those stores. After growing to 60 locations, the chain took a hit and closed its final door in 2009. Mighty Casey's might've struck out, but Atlantans remember them fondly. Ma'am Sir 4330 W Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90029 East side Filipino restaurant Ma'am Sir closed its doors at the end of August. We stan a health-conscious fast food restaurant. Dun. Binaca. The second Dominick's opened in 1934, and the family continued to run its stores until the '90s. In the barrage of failed experiments, misguided attempts at health food and sad campaigns . But it was all about that salad bar. Founder John Jay Hooker set up a copy cat model of the restaurant and hired popular comedic actress, Minnie Pearl, as the spokesperson. Soon, everyone was able to experience the glory of olives as a burger topping. The club's iconic building was later demolished and turned into Paley Park. a local bar or two where everyone knew your name. The Howard Johnson's hotel-restaurant chains began in the 1920s and evolved along with the American car culture. The first Planet Hollywood opened in New York City in 1991, backed by Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes closed all 97 remaining locations during the pandemic. Skip to primary navigation; Skip to main content; Skip to primary sidebar . While the food was popular, the restaurants were never able to break into the market and were sold off to Nathan's in 1998. The chain never fully bounced back, but hung on for a long time. Today, only one last restaurant remains in Sturgis, Michigan. A classic restaurant opened in 1951 by Carl Rosenfield, the business closed in 2008 and the building was demolished in 2010. By 2010, there were only two remaining Zones, and after a great many corporate moves (i.e., Disney selling the restaurants to other corporations), the final Southern California location was officially zoned out in 2018. Early morning pizza brings us an insane amount of joy. The chain, which was owned by Planet Hollywood, first popped up in New York in 1995. Think: including operators of the restaurants owning their stores and not leasing from the corporation, and not being required to buy supplies from the corporation. Here are the ones we miss the most. Perhaps sensing a competitor, the Taco Bell juggernaut came sniffing around, buying up Pup N Taco locations throughout the Golden State in 1984 essentially ringing the closing bell. Regardless, the Miami-based chain did pretty well and eventually expanded to 175 locations. Our content is fact checked or reviewed by medical and diet professionals to reflect accuracy and ensure our readers get sound nutrition and diet advice. But it turns out, that concept wasn't good enough to last. All rights reserved. In the early 1990s, the . However, a rapid fall from success including failure to evolve and a controversy involving horse meat resulted in just one Henry's location being open today. xhr.send(payload); Today, the total of both stands at under 20 across the country. A former vice president of McDonald's opened Geri's Hamburgers in 1962, and he wasn't shy about following the same model. The nautical-themed restaurant that served up unbelievable deals on seafood (as waiters wore colonial garb, no less) was scattered across the country. But, for better or for worse, the shopping mall rose in prominence over the decades, and during the 1990s, a whopping 140 malls were being built in the United States per year. Bill Knapp's made a name for itself in the restaurant world thanks to its quality ingredients and menu full of home-cooked foodnot to mention its dreamy chocolate cake. However, its buildings are still out there and have been repurposed for other businesses. By the early 1970s, financial issues forced them to sell to Hardee's. A bad chain of events led the company to file for bankruptcy in 1987. At its peak in the '60s, this California-based chain had 750 restaurants across the country. moneycontrol. The last original location shut down in 2006. Prior to its troubles, the D.C.-, Maryland-, and Virginia-based chain was a hamburger shop with block construction and a castle design. "The hole it left in the landscape was more than physical. Despite the lack of originality, Geri's grew in popularity in Illinois and Wisconsin and had quite the cult following. However, in the ice cream flavor wars, there can be only one, and Breslers hung up its paper hat in 2007 after 80 years in business. If you put Canadian in the name of your restaurant, then the most sensible place to locate your franchises is in New York City and South Florida, right? The company soon fell into controversy when opponents argued its name was a reference to a derogatory term for African Americans. The spot was known for serving . As in other parts of the country, competition from McDonalds, Burger King and the like was severe, forcing the chain to close in 1988. But after being bought and sold on repeat, the chain eventually closed in 1988. Call it a game changer. MaggieMoo's opened in Kansas City in 1989. And by the mid-1990s, Little Tavern suffered financial issues and these local favorites started closing one by one. This chain at one point had several-hundred locations in the United States as well as in such faraway lands as Australia. You've hit your max! Binaca toothpaste ruled India at a time. Fast food has always and will always have a special, special place in our hearts and our stomachs. There are still three locations in New Jersey, but many more have shuttered. Classic Restaurants Chains That No Longer Exist or Are Barely Surviving Today, some of the top fast food restaurants include the likes of Taco Bell, Wendy's, Subway, McDonald's etc. However, the chain fell on hard times when McDonald's and Burger King aggressively expanded into the New York market in the 1970s; by the end of the decade, Wetson's was but a memory. When Mr. DiMatteo passed away, his son and daughter sold the chain, and Dominick's quickly merged with other grocery brands. Granato's Pizzeria / 907 W. Taylor St. Chicago, IL. But after 24 years, the glamorous watering hole closed in 1995. In 1982, Hardee's bought the chain. So Bob and his big boy are still kickin' it on this earth. Sadly, in 1991 Chicken George filed for bankruptcy and was dissolved. This dial-a-pizza restaurant chain from Seattle was one of the very first to make home deliveries, beginning in 1958. Heap Big Beef expanded, but it was still fairly short-lived. The ensuing expensive lawsuit forced the company to sell off many of its properties, which were rebranded as other restaurants. Mr. Steak was a quality, yet affordable, steak house that took the United States by storm in the '60s. A pair of brothers started this Southern California chicken chain in the late-1980s, and for a while, things seemed like they were headed in the right direction. That was the end of Chi-Chi'sand rightfully so. College students and late-night drunk eats? However, it was memorialized on the sitcom Seinfeld and some remain in operation in Asia. They still exist. For a great many Angelenos, going to Jerrys for the best approximation of a New York-style Jewish deli on the Left Coast was a rite of passage especially in the late hours after the bars closed. Since it doesnt like its coming back for round two any time soon, we recommend you try our pretzel dog beer cheese dip ASAP. But, as The New York Times reported in 1998, the novelty of themed restaurants took a sharp downward turn toward the end of the decade. The last restaurant shut down in 2000. As the chain opened more and more restaurants, especially in bigger cities, customers began objecting to the tone-deaf marketing. "I remember them for their chili dogs," one person wrote on a message board in 2007. Contact Vickki Dozier at (517) 267-1342 or vdozier@lsj.com. Planet Hollywood. Alas, Brocks former bosses made him offers he couldnt refuse, and by 1992, all ShowBiz shops became Chuck E. Cheeses. With 42 locations in California and the Pacific Northwest, the future was looking bright for Pizza Haven. One of those is the Leggy doll. In 1979, the last Sandys changed its name to Hardees. You could say that Red Barn, well, bought the farm. Kids from the 1990s who grew up near a major city had the glory of experiencing ESPN Zone, yet another themed entertainment restaurant that cropped up in 1998. By 2008, we all said goodbye to "The Best Steakhouse in Town" as Steak and Ales nationwide closed down. Headquartered: Los Angeles, California; Houston, Texas. Launched in the mid 1960s by a group of disgruntled McDonald's employees, Sandy's offered similar menus to the golden arches, but there were key differences in their business structure. The current Bennigan's are owned by Dallas-based Legendary Restaurant Brands . Chain restaurants like Applebee's, Fridays, Chili's and Outback may dominate highways and mall locations alike, but it wasn't always that way.