Filed Under: burger king, discontinued fast food items, discontinued taco bell food, fast food, Fast food menu items that no longer exist, food, kfc, mcdonalds, McRib, taco bell, taco bell . If you were lucky enough to adventure into a Rainforest Cafe, which first opened at the Mall of America in Minnesota in 1994, then you know all about its glory. Once a chain, now a singular outpost, Chicago-based Henrys Hamburgers was the go-to spot for burgers and fries (even outdoing Micky Ds!) Closed: Oct. 20, 2013. The chain never fully bounced back, but hung on for a long time. Their restaurants looked like tiny castles painted in white, and from within, they dispensed tiny little burgers. To read and save unlimited articles, sign up to become a Delish member. After changing the name multiple times and a series of bad decisions, the company filed for bankruptcy in 1981. There were nearly 90 worldwide during the chain's heyday in the mid-1990s, as The Telegraph reported. People Are Decorating Their Fridges On TikTok, 58 Cult-Favorite Items You Have to Try at ALDI, 40 Iconic Fast Food Joints That No Longer Exist. Of course, like many smaller chains, it could not compete in the burger wars. This Texas steakhouse first opened in the 1960s, and it remained an independent chain throughout the Dallas area. If you were a Mets fan in the 1980s, chances are you were incredibly confused by the ubiquitous Howard Johnsons chain. 18 Blockbuster Restaurant Chains From the '90s That Are Gone or Hard to Find, 15 Classic American Desserts That Deserve a Comeback. Over the next decade, it saw huge expansion, which unfortunately was cut short by the '70s economic crisis. Initially, the chain and its 15 cent hamburgers were a massive success. Forward-thinking fine dining, first from. In the same vein, there is one and only one Yogis still in business in a little town in South Carolina called Hartsville. For 33 years, this New York City family-owned, cafeteria-style institution served as a rallying point for hopeful politicians (both JFK and Ed Koch campaigned here), as well as a favorite dining destination for locals. And then there are others that maybe had some early success, caught fire but then eventually flamed out whether it took many decades or even less than two years (as youll see). Dee's was so popular it had a franchise in South Africa due to the Mormon missionaries who had fallen in love with it when visiting the state. When times got rough in the 1980s, the operators sold off many VIPs to get ready for it none other than Dennys. They were famous for their chicken and fish dishes, homemade salad dressings, and desserts. Womp, womp. After all, who doesn't miss looking at the "famous" film props that adorned these restaurants and wondering, "What movie is that even from?". 11 Strict Rules Starbucks Workers Have to Follow, The 7 Best Things To Order At Cheesecake Factory, The 6 Things You Have To Try At Ruby Tuesday, I Tried Everything At Blake Shelton's Restaurant, 95 Restaurants That Offer Birthday Freebies, The 14 Best Christmas Bars In New York City, What To Eat And Drink On A Disney Dream Cruise, 40 Iconic Restaurants That No Longer Exist, Time Life Pictures/DMI/The LIFE Picture Collection. Depend on your area maybe. Nowadays, if you want to overspend on hamburgers and chicken wings while watching your favorite team, you have to head to an actual sports arena. Pup N Taco had a great idea when they founded the California-based joint in 1956. The late country star Kenny Rogers got into the fast-food biz in 1991 with this Southern-fried restaurant, but by 1998, the chain declared bankruptcy and was subsequently reorganized by buyer Nathans Famous, makers of those hot dogs. Delish editors handpick every product we feature. Its true, not all restaurant chains out there traffic in unhealthy food. "The salad bar was the best thing ever," one faithful Michigan Steak and Ale customer said to America Jr. in 2008. Hilltop Steak House. A much larger player in the franchise biz, Mrs. Fields, acquired Hot Sam in 1995; unsurprisingly, the bigger fish soon enough ate its smaller sibling and began shutting down the Hot Sams. But the idea soon caught on and Chi-Chi's couldn't compete. Delish participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. In addition to steak (and presumably beers, based on its name), Steak and Ale also offered an unlimited salad bar, which sounds healthier than it probably was. According to the New York Times, America's passion for the sugary, carbonated beverage soared from the '60s to the '90s before beginning a steep downward trend in the aughts.By 2015, soda consumption had taken a nosedive to the tune of a 25 percent . The spot was known for serving . Dixons remained as an online brand, but later . It's one of the biggest shows on the Food Network,. In what is now regarded as a cautionary tale of slapping a famous name on a restaurant and calling it quite, Minnie Pearl's Chicken, named after the country singer Pearl, once had almost 500 locations in business. By the early 1970s, financial issues forced them to sell to Hardee's. As popular as Carrols was, it could not compete in the burger wars. Town Square Cafe Magic Kingdom Before it was Tony's Town Square Restaurant, the restaurant at the start of Main Street, U.S.A., was simply known as Town Square Cafe. Wendy's Although the Southern Californian All-American Burger was never more than a regional success, it made its claim to fame when it was featured in the 1982 movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High. See how many of these you miss from the 1970s. Trader Vic's. The Polynesian-themed restaurant was in Seattle's Washington Plaza Hotel (now the Westin) and capitalized on the tiki-fad of the 1950s and 1960s. Chicken George was small but oh-so mighty. A previous version of this article was originally published in 2019. Back in the day, as your grandparents probably told you, their claim to fame was their five-cent burgers that you could buy "by the bagful." Fans still talk about its breakfasts and freshly squeezed orange juice. Pillsbury bought Steak and Ale in the '80s, Only 1990s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants. Seems like Burger Queen knew what was up even back in 1956. The hamburger joint was founded in 1959 when Colts captain Gino Marchetti joined forces with owners Joe Campanella, Louis Fisher, and Alan Ameche. With 42 locations in California and the Pacific Northwest, the future was looking bright for Pizza Haven. Henry's began a quick decline due to management shake-ups, no drive-thru pickup windows and a lack of diversity in its menu. Delish participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. This birthday star won two Emmys for her role as Lilith Sternin on "Cheers . Unlike old TV shows, which seemingly live forever online, once restaurant chains disappear, theyre gone for good. Doro wat, the berbere-red chicken stew, is now one of our food scene's biggest draws, but in the mid-'70sas many Ethiopians were fleeing their country's civil war and landing in neighborhoods like Adams Morganyou could find it at only one place: Mamma Desta. The Brown Derby became a Hollywood institution after the original Wilshire Boulevard location was founded by Herbert K. Somborn in 1926. Coined "dial-a-pizza," the Seattle-based chain grew to 42 restaurants. 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. 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. Like several other closed buffet chains, though, its store count dwindled in recent years as fast-casual dining started to dominate. The last location closed in 2017. With a name that combined its founding members names, Sambo was opened by Sam Battistone and Newell F. Bohnet in 1957. Kids from the '90s may also remember they had to stop frequenting Chi's-Chi's because the place went down in flames in 2003. Now I have to find another restaurant. It may have replaced a Swingle. Pictured: a former Red Barn converted to a Mr. Sub. Hot Shoppes; Little Tavern Burgers; Dino's Italian Restaurant; Eddie Leonard's Sandwich Shop; Port of Italy Restaurant; Kenny Rogers Chicken; Burger Chef; The Red Barn; Arthur Treacher's Fish-n-Chips; and too many more to list, but all of these are waaay better than While there were rumors of reviving the chain a few years ago, the brand remains dormant. Chef Kevin Reese replaced Hubert in the late '90s, and then Eric Labourchere led the kitchen until Martinique closed in 2015. Case in point? But tides quickly turned when other fast food restaurants started popping up. In 1967, Bahooka was opened in Los Angeles to capitalize on the Tiki phenomena in the U.S. at the time. Ahead, find 40 fast food joints, drive-throughs and road-side chains that are no longer with us. Chicago is famous for its hamburgers, be it at the original Billy Goat Tavern or Edzos Burger Shop. In addition to ethnic foods of all types, the U.S. has a history of self-founded restaurants. The Southern California chain was founded in 1970, closed in 1995, and was rebooted in 2015 when the trademark expired. Arcade games. New ownership has kept just 23 locations open in the U.S. Howard Johnsons was a line of hotels and restaurants that had been around long before HoJo was making stellar plays at Shea Stadium. 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. Since 2006, we've watched Guy Fieri travel coast to coast visiting some of the country's greatest establishments for Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. William Galt reportedly was perturbed that so many of his fellow restaurateurs were dying before their time, so he set out to give the public a better option than such brands as KFC, where Galt once worked as a franchisee. (Ditto Shea Stadium, which got the wrecking ball in 2009.). And if you visited a Steak and Ale in the mid-'90s, you probably remember it for its special early evening menu, with even lower prices and a free drink and dessert. But in the end, he abandons his cause after becoming hooked on the delicious rotisserie chicken. You could say that Red Barn, well, bought the farm. restaurant reached chain status come 1976. Heap Big Beef was one of the first "Wild West" themed restaurants, but it also had a Native American theme that people today would see as culturally insensitive. All Of Dunkin' Donuts' Iced Coffee Flavors, Ranked, These Vegetables Have The Lowest Carb Counts, Starbucks Introduces New Pistachio Cream Cold Brew. 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. The film's cult following outlived the restaurants, and its final west coast location closed in 2010. I used to love that as a kid,'" Roy Rogers co-president Jim Plamondon told Eater in 2017. "I miss Mighty Casey's," another wrote. 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. 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. Founded in 1948 in Michigan, the homestyle eatery had more than 60 locations across the states before it closed down in 2002. SATURDAY, DEC. 31, 2022 BIRTHDAY STAR: Actor Bebe Neuwirth was born in Newark, New Jersey, on this date in 1958. And if you happened to be cruising through Oregon during a certain 30-year stretch, you probably encountered a VIPs or two. My top three (almost a three-way tie) are: 1. Today, theres only one Morrisons left in Mobile, thus disqualifying it as being called a chain any longer far removed from the empire it once was. At its height, there were 230 White Towers, but the chain died after legal action from White Castle forced them to make significant changes. Headquartered: Los Angeles, California; Houston, Texas. Thats why it was sad when Miami-based Lums had to file for bankruptcy and close permanently in 1983. Case in point: Married couple William and Nancy Galt got into the health-food craze well before it was cool even in California. Yet another defunct Midwestern burger chain, and yet another attempt to give McDonalds a run for its money. "Ill hold onto it until I find another opportunity, even a smaller concept like a quick-serve, and trademark it. In the late '70s, it was hard to find a theme restaurant that didn't do well, but by far the most inventive was Boston Sea Party. Then, Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes closed all 97 remaining locations during the pandemic. In the 1980s and 1990s, brothers Richard and Larry D'Amico were instrumental in creating a new era in Twin Cities area dining, with their Primavera, D'Amico Cucina, Campiello, Cafe Lurcat and this. Although Puck owns other locations of Spago, in 2001 the chef decided to close down the original, which had become an institution amongst Hollywood's heavy hitters. The top floor included two restaurants: the Oak Grill, a men's-only dining room (women were allowed only with male escorts), and the airy Sky Room, the women's restaurant, with its glamorous. But '90s kids in the New Jersey area knew there was no salad bar as delicious as the one at Charlie Brown's Steakhouse. Leggys were 10 inches long, with legs that consisted of at least 75% of that. I was born in the Spring of 1990, during a time when technology was steadily growing and about to change the world in ways nobody could have expected or foreseen, before our thin and efficient iPhones were in the making. The iconic Saugus restaurant's giant cactus was shut off for good on Oct. 20. 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. Well, for awhile most of them had their midday meal at the Stock Exchange Luncheon Club, a members-only dining club located on the seventh floor of the New York Stock Exchange, which was founded in 1898. Good Earth was bought up by General Mills only a few years into the brands existence, and by the close of the millennium, Good Earth was no more. "When we open up again people are like, 'Oh my God, Roy Rogers is back. Yet another chain that sprang up in the Midwest, Burger Chefs founders used that invention to really make their burgers go gangbusters in the late 1960s and 70s. The founder of Chilis also founded Steak & Ale back in 1966. In the barrage of failed experiments, misguided attempts at health food and sad campaigns . (Unlike other restaurants, there was no way to order takeout from a buffet.). One of the countless mimics of McDonald's, Henry's Hamburgers was a major player in the '50s, '60s, and '70s. The Ohio chain grew to have upwards of 300 barns serving up burgers and help-yourself-salads. After rising in popularity for several decades, Michigan like nearly every place in America saw the homogenization of chain restaurants by the turn of the millennium. 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