30 Defunct Fast Food Chains and What Happened to Them

30 Defunct Fast Food Chains and What Happened to Them Fast food will always have a special place in the hearts of many of us. However, going back nearly 100 years, the fast-food industry has seen quite a bit of turnover, as many chain restaurants that were once at the top of their game quickly faltered and disappeared. Here are 30 memorable fast food chains! SOLD Number of Bankruptcy Sold Closed Liquidation Unknown Merger Locations at Peak 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 Investors included Ken Griffey r., Wayne Gretzky, Joe Montana, and Shaquille O'Neal. It was originally owned by Planet Hollywood. The chain first opened in New York City and closed all locations but one by 2001. The final location, which was purchased by Disney, remained open at Walt Disney World until 2007. 1 ALL STAR CAFÉ OFF 1995 (2007 Orlando, FL BURGER CHEF Burger To Chef Burger Chef had 1,050 locations in the 1970s but was eventually purchased by D Hardee's. The Big Shef and Super Shef burgers were two of the hottest-selling items. 1,050 ---- 1954 (1996 Indianapolis, IN 3 In 1980, the chain was called "the highest-grossing single chicken outlet in CHICKEN GEORGE I- 1979 1991 I----u o the country," and at its peak, it had locations in Atlanta, Baltimore, LOS Angeles, and Philadelphia. In 1991, they folded due to bankruptcy. Baltimore, MD 4 This popular Tex-Mex chain expanded across both the United States and Europe. One month after filing for bankruptcy in 2003, Chi-Chi's was hit with the largest outbreak of hepatitis A ever seen in the United States, CHI-CHI'S 230 I------- 1975 2004I I Richfield, MN This health-conscious fast-food chain offered healthier options than their competitors, but when chains like McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's began to do the same in the form of salads, baked potatoes, and other items, it spelled the end for D'Lites. Most of the locations became Hardee's restaurants. D'LITES (100+ I 1978 1987 An eri s Norcross, GA 6 DEE'S DRIVE-IN This hamburger shop originally opened near the University of Utah and saw success, then expanded. It eventually sold all remaining locations to Hardee's. late 50+ 1932 1970s DEES Salt Lake City, UT 7 Doggie Diner became very popular across San Francisco and Oakland, but it just couldn't keep up with major A competition like McDonald's and Burger King. Today, the brand name is used for hot dog sales at MLB's Oracle Park, the home field of the San Francisco Giants. DOGGIE DINER 30 T 1948 1986 Doggie DINER Oakland, CA GERI'S The chain was started by a former McDonald's VP and had many similarities A to the Golden Arches. The corporation folded in 1981, and the last independent location closed in 1999. HAMBURGERS 13 T 1962 1981 I HAMBURGERS Rockford, IL GINO'S Led by Baltimore Colts captain Gino Marchetti, the chain had 359 locations. In 1982, the Marriott Corporation purchased the chain and rebranded the locations as Roy Rogers restaurants. The final Gino's closed in 1986. HAMBURGERS Gino's I 1957 359 (1982 BURGERS U CHICKEN King of Prussia, PA 10 Henry's Hamburgers saw much success in the 1950s and 1960s, offering "ten burgers for a buck." By the mid-1970s, A most locations began to close due to competitors diversifying their menus and adding drive-throughs. One location still remains in Benton Harbor, MI. HENRY'S HAMBURGERS MENRYS HAMBURGERS mid 200+ 1954 1970s Chicago, IL 11 LA PETITE The U.S.-based bakery chain at one point had 140 locations but was bought and sold multiple times by Pepsi Co. (1982), Mrs. Fields Original Cookies (1987), and others before being acquired by Cucina Holdings Inc. in December of 2000. BOULANGERIE petite I -- 1977 68 (2000 -- ueinoo Mill Valley, CA 12 Lum's had hot dogs steamed in beer and at one point had 400 locations across the GUnited States, Europe, and Puerto Rico, but the company filed for bankruptcy in 1982. One location (Bellevue, NE) stayed in operation until 2017. LUM'S LUMS T45 -II 1957 1982 I Miami Beach, FL This was Florida's first fast-food drive-through chain, and it served 450,000 burgers during the first year of operation. By 1974, the chain simply ? couldn't keep up with the competition of McDonald's and Burger King. The specifics around the demise of Milligan's Beefy Burgers largely remain a mystery. 13 MILLIGAN'S BEEFY BURGERS Milligans M 1942 (1974II BEEFY-BURGERS Jacksonville, FL (14 The Grand Slam Burger and chopped barbecue sandwich were big hits at Mighty Casey's! The chain was purchased by Krystal in 1994, and most of the restaurants were converted into Krystal locations. MIGHTY CASEY'S Caseys Unknown -- 1980 (1994I HOT DOCS Atlanta, GA (15 This fast-food Mexican restaurant chain started in Southern California and eventually merged with Del Taco. In 2015, an entrepreneuer brought back a few locations after the trademarks expired. NAUGLES (N) 200+ I- 1970 1995 NAUGLES Riverside, CA TACOS & BURGERS 16 The Seattle-based pizza chain eventually opened franchises in Russia, Poland, and the Middle East, with 42 locations at its height. The final location, in Seattle, closed in 2012. PIZZA HAVEN Pizza Haven II--- 1958 2012 42 Seattle, WA 17 Doesn't that logo look familiar? The name was derived from pumpernickel bread, and the chain had to change their logo and name (to "Pumper") when the first Burger King opened in Argentina in 1989. PUMPER NIC PUMPER NIC T70 1974 1999 Buenos Aires, Argentina 18 Hot dogs and tacos were the top items here. In 1984, 99 Pup 'N' Taco locations o had been bought out by Taco Bell, and the final locations closed for good in 2010. PUP 'N' TACO 102 1956 1984 Rerjaco T Long Beach, CA 19 Red Barn grew to more than 300 locations and served burgers alongside A self-service salad bars. In 1988, franchise licenses were allowed to expire, leading to the closure of most locations. RED BARN RED BARN 300-400 - 1961 1988 Dayton, OH 20 During Royal Castle's best years, you could get a mini hambuger and their * signature birch beer for a grand total of 22 cents. The company was liquidated in 1975, but one location is still in business in Miami. ROYAL CASTLE Unknown I 1938 1975 I ROYAL CASTLE Miami, FL 21 The chain was tied to controversy over its name, which sparked several protests and lawsuits in the United States. Following many name changes, the company eventually folded. SAMBO'S OR-R-REAT FOOD! 1957 (1982 Sambo's Santa Barbara, CA 22 A group of four friends who were franchise owners for McDonald's founded Sandy's, where you could get a o hamburger, fries, and a milkshake for a total of 45 cents. In 1979, the company was bought out and merged into Hardee's. SANDY'S Unknown II--- 1958 1979 T Dld Tashioned flamburgers Kewanee, IL 23 At one of Steak and Ale's 280 locations, you could get a steakhouse filet for just $1.95! In 2008, the company's final 58 locations closed as part of a chapter 7 bankruptcy. STEAK AND ALE STEAK and ALE T280 (2008 Restaurant Dallas, TX 24 This Mexican-style chain restaurant had locations across 11 states and had a slightly different menu than Taco Bell. The chain would be bought and sold several times over, with the last remaining location closing in 2005. TACO VIVA TACO VIVA 85 1953 (1989 I Fort Lauderdale, FL 25 Tops saw most of their success in the Washington, D.C., area and even held franchise rights at one time for Kentucky Fried Chicken. The chain merged with Gino's Hamburgers in 1967. TOPS DRIVE INN TOPS "O 18 1953 (1967 DRIVE INN Arlington, VA 26 Walgreens used to have their own 24-hour casual dining chain. In the late 1980s, Walgreens began selling off o several locations, and many turned into IHOP locations, which are still open to this day. WAG'S Wags T 91 -I-- 197Os 1991 Deerfield, IL 27 How's a burger-and-french-fries combo for a quarter sound? The chain was |1o eventually sold to Nathan's Famous Inc. after they were unable to keep up with McDonald's and Burger King. WETSON'S Wetson's T7 I 1959 (1975 I New York, NY 28 WHITE TOWER Many people considered White Tower to be a complete imitator of the much A more popular White Castle, even down to their decor. Unsurprisingly, White Castle won the legal battle in court. HAMBURGERS 230 I 1926 (2004I I WHITE TOWER Stamford, CT HAMBURGERS 29 WIMPY'S GRILL WIMPY T4,525 While Wimpy's was an American fast-food chain, 1,500 of its 1,525 locations were opened in the United Kingdom. 1934 (1978 Bloomington, IN 30 WINKY'S This hamburger chain's three most famous sandwiches were the Big Wink, the Great One, and the Ground Rounder, and they offered hot dogs as well. WINKYS 42 1962 1982 Makes You HAFPY To Be Hungry Sewickley, PA 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 HOW to CAAK. Sources: https://www.delish.com/food/g30325089/fast-food-restaurants -that-no-longer-exist/ https://usastorefanon.fandom.com/wiki/Official_All-Star_Cafe https://www.tacoviva.com/history.html .RECIPES