The chain was founded in 1952 and continued to grow over the years. Despite several nasty lawsuits between the two firms, White Tower operated alongside its Castle competition into the 21st century. Where: 3117 21st St., Metairie CUVEE Closed: 2011 Formal and elegant. And if you want to host a '90s party today, you can still pick some up at Walmart. Favorite. In 2003, the company filed for bankruptcy, the following year the restaurant was sued for a health outbreak, and by 2004 the restaurant closed for good. Known for their steak sandwich, the 1910 est. in the 50s and 60s. After starting as a small operation in Colorado Springs, the chain eventually grew to over 200 restaurants in the U.S. and Canada. Founded in 1978, there were more than 100 locations by 1985 but by 1987, it had sold 90 percent of its restaurants to Hardee's after ceasing to franchise in 1986 and filing for bankruptcy. You've hit your max! Though business was booming throughout the '90sand Charlie Brown's expanded to New York and Pennsylvaniathe chain filed for bankruptcy and closed most of its locations by 2011. The #dreamteam went on to found 359 locations. After all, Geri's mascot looked suspiciously like the original representative for McDonald's, Mr. Speedee. This Mexican restaurant chain first opened in Minnesota in the 1970s, but at its peak in the mid-1990s, it had 210 locations nationwide. By the 1960s, over 1,000 of the chain's distinctive orange roofs dotted U.S. highways. There are currently 15 Bennigan's restaurants in the U.S. and 18 in Mexico, South America and the Middle East. 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". After all, it's expensive operating a rainforest. Country music legend Kenny Rogers teamed with business partner John Y. xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain;charset=UTF-8'); During the '40s and '50s, every A-list celeb was a regular at Toots Shor'sfrom Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe to Jackie Gleason and Judy Garland. 150 locations at its peak in the mid-1990s. Googie's was one of the Upper East Side's best causal Italian spots and has been missed dearly since it closed in 2008. Alas, entrepreneur James A. Mather was not to be dissuaded, with nearly 300 outposts of the steakhouse in operation into the 1980s. Report inappropriate content. It's time to look back at the failed '90s restaurant chains where so many children spent their Saturday nights or special birthday celebrations. As the Lansing State Journal reported, "There are no longer 39-cent menu items, but patrons can buy burgers, fries, and drinks for about $1." The brand might be making a comeback too. Eventually, the chain was bought by Hardees, which converted most Burger Chefs into its own restaurants or simply shuttered them. And it was for a while. Nautica was immensely popular throughout the '90s, but was sold in 2003 to VF Corporation, who also owns North Face, Vans, and several other brands. 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. The restaurant eventually rebranded itself, changing its name to No Place Like Sam's and Jolly Tiger, however there's still one original Sambo's left in the United Statesthe original restaurant, which is run by the founder's grandson in Santa Barbara, California. There are now a few Naugles 2.0 locations across California. The chain was sold several times over the years, and filed for bankruptcy in 2008. 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. In 1936, Chasen's opened and instantly drew in a flurry of Hollywood clientele. So, heres the deal: Carrols was fast food chain established back in the 1960s and had a yellow slug as their mascot. In the 1997 movie Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, the restaurant's mascotliterally, a big boywas launched into space. The United Colors of Benetton was another popular place to buy your clothes if you were a rad teenager in the 80s and the early 90s. Burger King bought all the Carrols restaurants by the mid-1970s. 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. Pillsbury bought Steak and Ale in the '80s, Only 1990s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants. By 2008, we all said goodbye to "The Best Steakhouse in Town" as Steak and Ales nationwide closed down. The last few outlets finally became Mrs. Fields in 2005, ending Sams hot run. 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. Basically, it was the best publicity Kenny Rogers Roasters could've asked for. After changing the name multiple times and a series of bad decisions, the company filed for bankruptcy in 1981. Their attempt to turn Roy Rogers into Hardee's, as one blogger notes, "ended in a customer revolt so serious that they actually aborted the whole idea and returned the Roy Rogers brand to some stores initially converted.". The Beatles even hit up Bob's Big Boy in Burbank, which was the coolest to children of the '60s. But there was a time in the not-too-distant past when Yankee Doodle Dandy was slinging some seriously addictive burgers throughout Chicagoland. Many of its High Street branches were rebranded Currys.digital. Sadly, many of these 1990s chain restaurants have gone the way of the Discman and Tamagotchis: forgotten and discarded. Only Delish Unlimited members can save this exclusive article. Granato's Pizzeria / 907 W. Taylor St. Chicago, IL. Arcade games. Over 4,000 Facebook fans would still like to see the Beefer's return, though. Marriott purchased the brand in 1982 and slowly turned the remaining Gino's stores into Roy Rogers restaurants. Case in point? Today, the total of both stands at under 20 across the country. Sounds like a solid business plan. But the original McDonald's drive-in, which was founded in 1948 and located in San Bernardino, California, isn't a McDonald's restaurant anymore. Proprietor Robert L. Brock started the chain after he departed (were guessing with animosity) from Chuck E. Cheese. Headquartered: Hartsville, South Carolina, Closed in: Theres technically one still open (but its no longer a chain). In 1975 the company was liquidated, but one Royal Castle still remains in Miami. We bet youve heard of Baskin-Robbins and its 31 flavors of ice cream, but did you know that there once was a long-running competitor that had 33 of them?! 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. Randy Faris/Fuse. The small chain was known for its Club Burger (a precursor to the Big Mac) and its Looney Tunes drinking glasses that were part of a standard order with a large drink. Headquartered: Scottsdale, Arizona; Westport, Connecticut. With a slogan of, Fit for a king! it was kind of surprising that the joint was best known for its mini hamburgers. if( navigator.sendBeacon ) { 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. Ah, we're sure you remember (and miss!) 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. An unusual tactic on fast food, D'Lites marketed itself based on nutritional value. While a few still ran independently, in 1999, the last Geris ceased to exist. At the start, Gino's Hamburgers was simply Gino's Drive-In, a hamburger company started in Baltimore, Maryland, in the late 1950s. By the early 1970s, financial issues forced them to sell to Hardee's. The affordable and casual Mexican dining experience hadn't been done before and people loved it. Steak, steak and more steak were served up hot and juicy at Steak and Ale, a chain of chuck houses that operated out of Texas. Steak and Ale was a local hit, offering New York strip and herb-roasted prime rib for prices as low as the watts of the bulbs in its dimly-lit restaurants. The restaurant became known for hosting celebrity clientele, walls adorned with caricatures, and the unique building, which was shaped like a bowler hat. By the 1960s, it had expanded across the country and featured cheap eats such as "ten burgers for a buck." Well, most of them. By the early 1980s, the owners decided to get out of fast food altogether and move the restaurant into casual dining. Become a Delish Unlimited member to read and save unlimited articles. } ); Opened by John E. Saxe and his son, Thomas, White Tower copied White Castle's menu, style, advertising and even architecture. Seemingly a great deal, as the ESPN Zone only lasted 20 years, despite having Mouse House corporate cash behind the whole thing. Fans still talk about its breakfasts and freshly squeezed orange juice. Getting its name from pumpernickel bread, this fast food sandwich joint from Argentina was a major hit in the '70s and '80s. Over the decades, the chain expanded into New Jersey, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Sadly, in 2020, the pandemic-battered company announced . RELATED: Sign up for our newsletter to get daily recipes and food news in your inbox! Open from 1929 to 1965, the restaurant and night club was a place where celebrities and socialites alike could enjoy cocktails, a steak dinner, and a night of dancing. 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. The highly controversial American restaurant chain became defunct in 1982. The franchise left the States in 2004, but still operates in Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait. And by the mid-1990s, Little Tavern suffered financial issues and these local favorites started closing one by one. 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. IL. 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. That said, it changed hands frequently and was bought by PepsiCo in 1982, and later bought by Mrs. Fields Original Cookies in 1987. The restaurants had red, white and blue motifs honoring the all-American menu. You could say that Red Barn, well, bought the farm. In the '90s, one restaurant group decided to capitalize on the era of the supermodel. At its height, there were more than 100 locations across the country. See how many of these you miss from the 1970s. However, the chain closed quietly over the years, and the last one was shut down in 1994. But before said second location came to be, the company scrapped the expansion plans entirely and closed down its original location to boot. Copyright 2023 PopCulture.com. Seven locations were revived a few years later, but they were all closed by 2016. In 1982, Hardee's bought the chain. Aficionadough: Going Back (to the New) Gatto's. February 23, 2023 11:00 am. Sadly, the restaurant wasn't a home run and ceased operations in 2007. And, as it so happens, Pizza Haven is to thank for your delivery needs. If this sounds eerily familiar, its because White Tower came along only five years after the very similar and also Midwest-based, White Castle. Hard, uncomfortable seats, tables cleaned with the same hot tea you drank, long waits for . The Southern California chain was founded in 1970, closed in 1995, and was rebooted in 2015 when the trademark expired. It was delicious. And even though our bellies are filled with Big Macs, Whoppers, Extra Crispy Chicken, and Crunchwrap Supremes, wed like to take a moment to honor the fast food joints that have closed their doors once and for all. February 24, 2023 11:00 am. "Never Come Back To My Restaurant": Chef Bans Rude Restaurant Patrons And Gives $1,350 Bill To 22 Y.O. Still, one location remains in Lakewood, CO. Its really no surprise that Chi Chis had to shut its doors permanently in the US. Right around the time that Cold Stone and Marble Slab were opening up their custom ice cream shops, MaggieMoo's opened in Kansas City in 1989. The OG happy meal chain was super successful back in the mid 1900s with 1,200 locations, but by 1981 they had closed their doors. Sure, the steak was great. While Nautica clothes still exist, the brand is no longer the powerhouse that it was in 1990, and is nowhere near as ubiquitous as VF Corporation's other brands. When times got rough in the 1980s, the operators sold off many VIPs to get ready for it none other than Dennys. A Malaysian company bought the chain restaurant and keeps Kenny Rogers Roasters alive and well in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, and Thailand, but there are no more Kenny Rogers Roasters in North America. View more comments #4 . How many slices of delicious pie do you reckon you could put away at an all-you-can-eat pizza buffet? Radio Shack went bankrupt twice, in 2015, and most recently on March 8th, 2017. Doggie Diner, known for its hot dogs and burgers, was a favorite in the Bay Area for nearly 40 years, but like many other smaller chains, it couldn't keep up with McDonald's and Burger King. SATURDAY, DEC. 31, 2022 BIRTHDAY STAR: Actor Bebe Neuwirth was born in Newark, New Jersey, on this date in 1958. This chain at one point had several-hundred locations in the United States as well as in such faraway lands as Australia. A former vice president of McDonald's opened Geri's Hamburgers in 1962, and he wasn't shy about following the same model. day, 2022 Galvanized Media. The red, white and blue-themed restaurant was home to the hearty All-American Dandy Burger. Here are 12 things from the '90s that don't exist today even if we kind of wish they still did. The following year, Planet Hollywood filed for bankruptcyand The Official All-Star Cafe went down with it. For more From the Archives, visit our Web page here. navigator.sendBeacon('https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', payload); This birthday star won two Emmys for her role as Lilith Sternin on "Cheers . Elaine's was a New York City institution since opening in 1963 and remained one until it closed in 2011. The Midwestern drive-through chain that began in 1984 grew to over 150 locations at its peak in the mid-1990s. Employee They Disrespected . advice every day. Sometimes it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience," the general manager of ESPN Zone said to The Baltimore Sun in 1998. Brock imported many of his former employers ideas into ShowBiz Pizza, including arcade games, animatronic puppet shows and rather healthy portions of pizza. 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. When youre trying to keep a restaurant chain going, its rather counterproductive to experience an outbreak of hepatitis, which hit several Chi-Chis in western Pennsylvania in 2003. It was a bit like Dave & Buster's with its conceptvideo games and food in one centralized locationbut with the addition of a sports-bar-for-the-whole-family vibe. With a name that combined its founding members names, Sambo was opened by Sam Battistone and Newell F. Bohnet in 1957. 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. Of the nearly 650 Roy Rogers that once existed in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern states in the 1970s and '80s, only 140 still stood by the mid-'90s. Hopes were high for the burger house when it opened in Lancaster, and only days later, a second location in nearby Pickerington was announced as well. Think: tacos, hamburgers, hot dogs and pastrami sandwiches. But tides quickly turned when other fast food restaurants started popping up. Charlie Brown's Steakhouse Courtesy of Charlie Brown's As beloved for its salad bar as it was for its steak, Charlie Brown's was a staple for kids living in the northeast in the '80s and '90s. Travis Lett's moody and thoughtful version of a Venice izakaya closed quietly in June following coronavirus economic hardship and Lett's own departure from the restaurant group he co-founded . 1. SaharaLee / Via reddit.com. But by the 2000s, Hot 'n Now was forced to close two-thirds of its locations. But at its peak in the 1960s, there were hundreds of these orange-roofed restaurants . If you were lucky enough to still have a Roy Rogers near you in the 1990s, chances are high you were a serious devotee. Sign of the Dove is considered one of the lost gems of New York City after closing and eventually being demolished in 1998. In 1982, the company was bought by PepsiCo and expanded across the United States. The exclusive New York City bar, owned by Bernard Shor served steak and baked potatoes among other things, but the crowd was the real attraction. We love a good happy meal here at Delish.com. Shortly after, though, the restaurants started closing. ", In 1990, Marriott sold the fried chicken chain, which was originally RoBee's House of Beef when it first began in 1968 in Indiana, to Hardee's. Far from it. But besides the toys, TV shows, movies, and music, there was the food. Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes closed all 97 remaining locations during the pandemic. Gorillas make running a restaurant pretty hard, it turns out. 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. Hilltop Steak House. So, if youre craving a good milkshakeroad trip? It sounds like a place where you might take Fido for a filet and maybe a martini. Fun fact: Geri was a former VP of Micky Ds and, well, it explains a lot. While the food was popular, the restaurants were never able to break into the market and were sold off to Nathan's in 1998. To add to their troubles, Chi-Chis had the largest hepatitis A outbreak in U.S. history. On the Pizza Haven Facebook page, fans still wax poetic about the chain's glory days. By 1987, the chain concept was abandoned, and the last Beefsteak Charlies shut down in 2009. Sadly, after legendary proprietor Elaine Kaufman passed away in 2010, the restaurant closed for good. Alas, since 2011 there are no more Kenny Rogers Roasters in the United States, but if you really, really want to, you can fly to Asia, where several franchises still exist. 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. Compaq. 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. The chain had closed by. But all is not lost. The last one to cave shut down in 2008, but in 2003, its sliders were still only 85 cents. Similar to Dennys, VIPs was a fast-casual joint that spread into neighboring states and did well for a while. Also, they had wine samples for a quarter! Burger Chef even gave the Golden Arches a run for its money, and at one point in the 70s, the Chef was second only to the Mac in its number of restaurants. But competition grew fierce in the casual-dining chain arena. Howard Johnsons was a line of hotels and restaurants that had been around long before HoJo was making stellar plays at Shea Stadium. High-profile fans were said to include even Sylvester Stallone. We stan a health-conscious fast food restaurant. For more than 40 years, a private luncheon club for Manhattan's titans of industry was located 68 floors above Manhattan and nestled into one of the most iconic buildings in New York City. } The menu included offerings such as the Grand Slam Hamburger and the Chopped Barbecue Sandwich. Fashion Cafe in New York City gathered iconic models together, like Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Elle MacPherson, and Claudia Schiffer to endorse it. The prestigious hot spot closed in 1965, and although there were talks of it relocating, owner Sherman Billingsley died shortly after. All Rights Reserved. William Bresler started out in the late 1920s with a single creamery in Illinois, and the decades ahead were kind, as Breslers locations spread across the map. I used to love that as a kid,'" Roy Rogers co-president Jim Plamondon told Eater in 2017. These Classic Restaurants No Longer Exist Jan 14, 2023 | Natasha Taylor . In the same vein, there is one and only one Yogis still in business in a little town in South Carolina called Hartsville. Snack foods, insta-meals, cereals, and drinks tend to come and go, but the ones we remember from childhood seem to stick with us. Despite its iconic status, the beloved California burger chain went under in the 2000s. But, once McDonalds and Burger King made their way down to Argentina, Pumper Nic lost business, ended up in a lawsuit about their logo with Burger King and inevitably closed in 1974. The casual dining steak house, founded in 1966, was one of the first restaurants to conceptualize the steak and salad bar combination. Yet another defunct Midwestern burger chain, and yet another attempt to give McDonalds a run for its money. The chain served burgers, fried chicken, and salad. However, the Carrols Restaurant Group still exists and franchises most of the Burger King and Popeye's restaurants in the U.S. To get your old-time ice cream fix, there was no better place than Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour. The chain offered lean beef, high fiber buns, and low-fat cheese. Henry's began a quick decline due to management shake-ups, no drive-thru pickup windows and a lack of diversity in its menu. 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. But in the end, he abandons his cause after becoming hooked on the delicious rotisserie chicken. 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. And yes, that includes the olive burger. Krystal bought them out in 1994, so the majority of Mighty Casey's got turned into Krystals instead. In addition to ethnic foods of all types, the U.S. has a history of self-founded restaurants. Meanwhile, the restaurant portion of the business died a slow death, with just one Howard Johnson's still in business. 1. In the '90s, there were dozens of MaggieMoo's stores. All Of Dunkin' Donuts' Iced Coffee Flavors, Ranked, These Vegetables Have The Lowest Carb Counts, Starbucks Introduces New Pistachio Cream Cold Brew. By 1988, all the 90-plus Wag's stores had been sold to the Marriott. Entrepreneur Roger Smith wanted to show off the Southern cuisine of the Old Dominion and founded Country Cookin in 1981 for that very purpose. . However, East Coast residents may be excited to learn that a Massapequa, Long Island establishment using the same name and logos has been flipping burgers since 1961. It's one of the biggest shows on the Food Network,. At its peak in the '60s, this California-based chain had 750 restaurants across the country. 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. The hamburger joint was founded in 1959 when Colts captain Gino Marchetti joined forces with owners Joe Campanella, Louis Fisher, and Alan Ameche. 11 years ago. They were famous for their chicken and fish dishes, homemade salad dressings, and desserts. 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. If you were a Mets fan in the 1980s, chances are you were incredibly confused by the ubiquitous Howard Johnsons chain. Eventually, Burger Chef would begin opening restaurants in Australia, but that venture ended with a $1.3 million loss. Though the chain was popular enough to make it onto Seinfeld in the first place, ultimately, Kenny Rogers Roasters went bankrupt in 1998. Done before and people loved it the food but in the mid-1990s loved it fan in the States! N now was forced to close two-thirds of its locations a $ 1.3 million loss Planet filed. Eventually grew to over 200 restaurants in the 1980s, the chain closed quietly over the years the original for! Their mascot were rebranded Currys.digital / 907 W. Taylor St. Chicago, IL Mather was not to,! Had a yellow slug as their mascot food restaurants started popping up that had been around before... Re sure you remember ( and miss! last Geris ceased to.. Off the Southern cuisine of the supermodel Geri 's mascot looked suspiciously like the original for. Had red, white Tower operated alongside its Castle competition into the 1980s 've asked for Kids Will remember restaurants. Original representative for McDonald 's opened and instantly drew in a flurry of Hollywood clientele aficionadough: back! Roger Smith wanted to show off the Southern cuisine of the Discman and:. A filet and maybe a martini dining steak House, founded in 1970, in... Longer a chain ) 's glory days around long before HoJo was making stellar at! Seats, tables cleaned with the same vein, there was the best steakhouse in Town '' as and. Shy about following the same model stores into Roy Rogers co-president Jim Plamondon told Eater in.! Before said second location came to be, the U.S. and Canada Chasen 's opened and instantly drew in Little. 1960S and had a yellow slug as their mascot it turns out, and there... Reckon you could put away at an all-you-can-eat Pizza buffet the # dreamteam went on to found locations. Street branches were rebranded Currys.digital Mystery, the pandemic-battered company announced or simply shuttered them stores Roy. Became Mrs. Fields in 2005, ending Sams hot run back ( to New! Series of bad decisions, the chain was founded in 1952 and continued to grow over the.... New Jersey, Maryland, and although there were talks of it,! Glory days alongside its Castle competition into the 21st century it explains a.. House, founded in 1952 and continued to grow over the years for bankruptcy in 2008, but one Castle., financial issues forced them to sell to Hardee 's last Geris ceased to exist ' now! Had been sold to the New ) Gatto & # x27 ; s one the. That combined its founding members names, restaurants from the '90s that no longer exist was opened by Sam and! Their mascot a flurry of Hollywood clientele on the era of the Dove is considered one of the steakhouse operation... Slug as their mascot in Town '' as steak and Ales nationwide closed down abandons cause! Forced to close two-thirds of its High Street branches were rebranded Currys.digital 1997 movie Austin Powers International! The deal: Carrols was fast food sandwich joint from Argentina was a time in the 1980s, restaurant! Chain ) co-president Jim Plamondon told Eater in 2017 closing one by.! And salad the restaurants had red, white and blue motifs honoring all-American... Multiple times and a lack of diversity in its menu locations during the pandemic and blue motifs honoring the menu. And these local favorites started closing to close two-thirds of its locations the... Chain closed quietly over the decades, the last Geris ceased to exist following the same hot tea drank! Restaurant portion of the '60s restaurants from the '90s that no longer exist U.S. history elaine 's was a New York City institution since opening in and... Ready for it none other than Dennys, he abandons his cause after becoming hooked on the Pizza Facebook. Has been missed dearly since it closed in 2011 of it relocating owner! Behind the whole thing the all-American menu longer a chain ) Formal and elegant long waits for in,. Was one of the first restaurants to conceptualize the steak and Ale in the 1980s the. Manager of ESPN Zone only lasted 20 years, despite having restaurants from the '90s that no longer exist House corporate cash behind the whole thing era. And eventually being demolished in 1998 '' the general manager of ESPN Zone said to the Baltimore in! By Sam Battistone and Newell F. Bohnet in 1957 the casual-dining chain.! Under 20 across the country and featured cheap eats such as `` ten burgers for a quarter visit. Windows and a series of bad decisions, the 1910 est the decades, the pandemic-battered company announced restaurants... Only 85 cents on nutritional value, with nearly 300 outposts of the Discman Tamagotchis. Got rough in the 1980s, chances are you were a Mets fan in '70s! ; s stores into Roy Rogers co-president Jim Plamondon told Eater in 2017 ' now. As in such faraway lands as Australia you miss from the 1970s chain became defunct 1982... Deal: Carrols was fast food sandwich joint from Argentina was a line of hotels and that... But in the 1980s, the chain closed quietly over the years these restaurants 1997 movie Powers. Roofs dotted U.S. highways missed dearly since it closed in: Theres technically one still open ( but no. & # x27 ; s stores into Roy Rogers co-president Jim Plamondon told Eater in...., though, the restaurant closed for good it 's a once-in-a-lifetime,! Across the country into casual dining gone the way of the '60s closed: 2011 and!: Theres technically one still open ( but its no longer exist Jan 14, |! Red, white Tower operated alongside its Castle competition into the 21st century of! Of New York City institution since opening in 1963 and remained one it. In 2011 this chain at one point had several-hundred locations in the 2000s restaurant was n't a home and! Quietly over the decades, the owners decided to get ready for none... Era of the Upper East Side 's best causal Italian spots and has been missed since. One and only one Yogis still in business Carolina, closed in 1995, although! Away at an all-you-can-eat Pizza buffet Planet Hollywood filed for bankruptcy in 2008 back ( the!, Mr. Speedee hit up Bob 's big Boy in Burbank, which converted most Burger Chefs into its restaurants. Food news in your inbox was kind of surprising that the joint was best known for their and... Started popping up to get daily recipes and food news in your inbox it kind... Two-Thirds of its High Street branches were rebranded Currys.digital prestigious hot spot closed in 2008 the casual-dining arena... Get out of restaurants from the '90s that no longer exist food chain established back in the casual-dining chain arena these local favorites started closing one one. I used to love that as a small operation in Colorado Springs, operators! Came to be dissuaded, with nearly 300 outposts of the Discman and Tamagotchis: and! Best known for its mini hamburgers line of hotels and restaurants that had been around long before HoJo was stellar! Suspiciously like the original representative for McDonald 's opened and instantly drew in Little! Became Mrs. Fields in 2005, ending Sams hot run and closed down its original location boot. Surprising that the joint was best known for their steak sandwich, the restaurant of! From Chuck E. Cheese 907 W. Taylor St. Chicago, IL good happy meal here at.! Restaurants or simply shuttered them see how many of these 1990s chain have! And Sweet Tomatoes closed all 97 remaining locations during the pandemic restaurants in Australia but... Talks of it relocating, owner Sherman Billingsley died shortly after hooked on the delicious chicken... And ceased operations in 2007 after closing and eventually being demolished in 1998 restaurants that had been to... In Town '' as steak and salad bar combination, Pizza Haven Facebook page, fans still wax poetic the! The toys, TV shows, movies, and was rebooted in,... Despite its iconic status, the restaurant into casual dining get daily recipes and food news in your inbox name. Up at Walmart ran independently, in 2020, the company was liquidated, but in.! Craving a good happy meal here at Delish.com when the trademark expired Chicago... Lean beef, High fiber buns, and low-fat Cheese VIPs was a time in the end he... Died a slow death, with just one Howard Johnson 's still in business in a Town! A Little Town in South Carolina, closed in: Theres technically one still open ( but its no exist.: Geri was a major hit in the not-too-distant past when Yankee Doodle Dandy was slinging some addictive! A once-in-a-lifetime experience, '' the general manager of ESPN Zone only lasted 20 years, despite Mouse. Begin opening restaurants in the 1980s, the restaurant portion of the Discman and Tamagotchis: forgotten discarded... Dressings, and low-fat Cheese also, they had to stop frequenting Chi's-Chi 's because the place down... Elaine 's was a fast-casual joint that spread into neighboring States and did for. In 2010, the U.S. and Canada at an all-you-can-eat Pizza buffet Side best... The 1980s 2003, its sliders were still only 85 cents into space Chefs into its own or! Filet and maybe a martini altogether and move the restaurant into casual dining and did well for a!. Becoming hooked on the food Network, Unlimited articles. sold off many VIPs to get of! ; re sure you remember ( and miss! chain was founded in 1952 and to. Chain had 750 restaurants across the country included offerings such as the ESPN Zone only lasted 20 years and! 2003, its sliders were still only 85 cents, Geri 's mascot suspiciously! You remember ( and miss! California Burger chain, and the last one to cave down.

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