Sadly, the last storefront with the name closed in 1996. Only about half of its U.S. locations still exist today. At the start, Gino's Hamburgers was simply Gino's Drive-In, a hamburger company started in Baltimore, Maryland, in the late 1950s. Closed Restaurants in Tampa Bay Area, Florida. His chain restaurant, which focused on causal dining, never grew to tremendous popularity. The restaurant became known for hosting celebrity clientele, walls adorned with caricatures, and the unique building, which was shaped like a bowler hat. Mighty was in the name and mighty it was. Just look to horse racing-themed chain Beefsteak Charlies. To quote Queen Bey, who will run the world? Where: 3117 21st St., Metairie CUVEE Closed: 2011 Formal and elegant. You could say that Red Barn, well, bought the farm. Chicago is famous for its hamburgers, be it at the original Billy Goat Tavern or Edzos Burger Shop. With over 37,000 restaurants worldwide, it's safe to say McDonald's isn't going anywhere. Proprietor Robert L. Brock started the chain after he departed (were guessing with animosity) from Chuck E. Cheese. If you were a Geri's fan, you can show your love with this T-shirt. Sadly, many of these 1990s chain restaurants have gone the way of the Discman and Tamagotchis: forgotten and discarded. (194?-2016) Rapp's Restaurant / 602 W. Northwest Hwy. Children of the '90s probably remember Chi-Chi's for its chimichangas and fried ice cream. But after 24 years, the glamorous watering hole closed in 1995. 6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e. This is our formal thank you to DLites for being way ahead of its time. And if you happened to be cruising through Oregon during a certain 30-year stretch, you probably encountered a VIPs or two. I Became Polyamorous for All the Wrong Reasons. The struggle is real. 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. It was delicious. 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. Before Chipotle and Taco Bell, there was Chi-Chi's. 90s food was a time for exploration. 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. Geris Hamburgers was an Illinois based fast food burger chain with glaring similarities to McDonalds. After all, it's expensive operating a rainforest. 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. 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. In addition to ethnic foods of all types, the U.S. has a history of self-founded restaurants. So, if youre craving a good milkshakeroad trip? In the barrage of failed experiments, misguided attempts at health food and sad campaigns . One of those is the Leggy doll. Long Island-native Herb Wetanson was inspired to found Wetson's after seeing McDonald's while on a roadtrip out west. "It's an experience you don't want to leave because you may not get back there real soon." It may have replaced a Swingle. 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. 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. Entrepreneur Eugene Broome was out to compete against KFC in the Southern-fried chicken sweepstakes. The last restaurant shut down in 2000. The red, white and blue-themed restaurant was home to the hearty All-American Dandy Burger. Deep-fried oysters for 80 years. 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. Charging by the person rather than by the item eventually caught up with Eatza Pizza, and after the company headquarters relocated to Connecticut in 2007, the number of restaurants was cut drastically. To read and save unlimited articles, sign up to become a Delish member. How many slices of delicious pie do you reckon you could put away at an all-you-can-eat pizza buffet? Southern California means tacos, and Pup N Taco sold them by the truckload to a hungry public. The restaurant was serving up roast beef sandwiches throughout the 1960s. Like the other ice cream shops, MaggieMoo's would make made-to-order ice cream cones while mixing the ingredients in front of you. And by the mid-1990s, Little Tavern suffered financial issues and these local favorites started closing one by one. By the early 1970s, financial issues forced them to sell to Hardee's. One of the largest manufacturers of computers and related products and services in the 1990s. Call it a game changer. I am going back to the Fort Lauderdale area this winter for the first time in 20 years after lived in Davie in the mid to late 1980s. It was a time of Beanie Babies and Blockbuster, of Saved by the Bell and slap bracelets. 40 Iconic Fast Food Restaurants That No Longer Exist 1 We Made A Magazine With Disney! Basically, it was the best publicity Kenny Rogers Roasters could've asked for. Dees Drive-In catered to University of Utah students back in the 1920s and then expanded. First in Mid-City, then Metairie. 2 50 Best Healthy Pasta Recipes 3 All Of Dunkin' Donuts' Iced Coffee Flavors, Ranked 4 These Vegetables. The chain is noted for introducing several fast-food staples to the industry, like kids' meals with toys. xhr.open('POST', 'https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', true); Burgers and dogs sound like a match made in heaven. Sam's Red Hots / 2345 W. Armitage Ave. Chicago, IL. 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. Krystal bought them out in 1994, so the majority of Mighty Casey's got turned into Krystals instead. With help from his family, Wetanson opened the first Wetson's in 1959. Founded in the early '80s, this chain specializes in a build-your-own salad bar, along with soup and pasta buffet options. 2. Despite its tasty food, variety of cocktails, and a cozy interior, this locale struggled to draw in visitors during off-season months and ultimately closed its doors in 2001. If not, then you probably recall South Park's legendary take on the Mexican-themed restaurant chain. The restaurants had red, white and blue motifs honoring the all-American menu. The chains upsetting and racist name caused protests and lawsuits across the US at its 1,117 stores. 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. Prior to its troubles, the D.C.-, Maryland-, and Virginia-based chain was a hamburger shop with block construction and a castle design. But in the end, he abandons his cause after becoming hooked on the delicious rotisserie chicken. The current Bennigan's are owned by Dallas-based Legendary Restaurant Brands . Dun. The brand might be making a comeback too. Far from it. Maybe the birch beer made up for the small portions? Here are the ones we miss the most. American bakery chain, La Petite Boulangerie or "little bakery," did indeed start out small, with only two stores in the beginning. But for '90s kids, Bob's Big Boy had a very different significance. But, sadly, Dubrow's closed in the late '80s, as the trend of diners began to die down. Though the chain was popular enough to make it onto Seinfeld in the first place, ultimately, Kenny Rogers Roasters went bankrupt in 1998. After being bought out in 1969, things went downhill. Like all the other themed restaurants you've read about here, Rainforest Cafe struggled to maintain its luster. Founded in Oklahoma, this Mexican fast food eatery was famous for its sopapillas, small pieces of fried bread with honey. "Never Come Back To My Restaurant": Chef Bans Rude Restaurant Patrons And Gives $1,350 Bill To 22 Y.O. Barbie is one of the most popular and enduring doll brands of the past six decades but that doesn't mean we don't miss the others that have been lost along the way. However, Mr. Steak attempted to expand its menu beyond steaks around that time, driving away a significant section of its customer base. Granato's Pizzeria / 907 W. Taylor St. Chicago, IL. Now I have to find another restaurant. Chain restaurants like Applebee's, Fridays, Chili's and Outback may dominate highways and mall locations alike, but it wasn't always that way. Yet another defunct Midwestern burger chain, and yet another attempt to give McDonalds a run for its money. Mighty Casey's might've struck out, but Atlantans remember them fondly. Marriott purchased the brand in 1982 and slowly turned the remaining Gino's stores into Roy Rogers restaurants. 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. Yikes, thats fast! This all-you-can-eat healthy buffet-style restaurant that at one point operated 97 satellites was a COVID casualty. The following year, Planet Hollywood filed for bankruptcyand The Official All-Star Cafe went down with it. After all, who doesn't miss looking at the "famous" film props that adorned these restaurants and wondering, "What movie is that even from?". Two brothers, Clifford and Stuart Pearlman, launched Lum's, which specialized in "beer-steamed" hot dogs, in Florida in 1971. Leggys were 10 inches long, with legs that consisted of at least 75% of that. Diners look back fondly at Gibbs, which first opened in 1947, for its friendly service and welcoming atmosphere. "Ill hold onto it until I find another opportunity, even a smaller concept like a quick-serve, and trademark it. Country singer Kenny Rogers ventured into the chicken business in 1991. Their restaurants looked like tiny castles painted in white, and from within, they dispensed tiny little burgers. However, while KFC flourished, Lum's popularity began to decrease. Here are 40 of the closed chains we miss the most. 30 Things From The '90s That Are No Longer Around Yet People In This Online Group Want Back . In 1969, it was acquired by a Nashville Company, Performance Systems, but it didn't know quite how to run a restaurant business. 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. The chain grew to more than 400 restaurants worldwide by the mid-'90s, and it's perhaps most famous for its appearance in a 1996 episode of Seinfeld, aptly titled "The Chicken Roaster.". After the regional chain was bought out in the 1980s, things took a turn. Wendy's The California-based hamburger and hotdog joint closed officially in 1986 after a 38-year stint. That said, it changed hands frequently and was bought by PepsiCo in 1982, and later bought by Mrs. Fields Original Cookies in 1987. day, 2022 Galvanized Media. And for even more nostalgia, Only 1970s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants. Well always have fond memories of this Planet Hollywood-owned eatery. Many contenders attempted to answer this very question at one of the over 100 outposts of the Arizona-based chain Eatza Pizza. Seinfeld fanatics will remember a classic episode in which the chicken franchise was forever immortalized. By the early 1980s, the company that ran Geris was in trouble, but somehow, a few locations managed to stay open until the turn of the millennium. Rather, Doggie Diner was actually where many hungry Bay Area residents dined for the better part of 40 years, mostly in San Francisco and neighboring Oakland. Founder John Jay Hooker set up a copy cat model of the restaurant and hired popular comedic actress, Minnie Pearl, as the spokesperson. One of many iconic Upper East Side eateries owned by the Santo Family Group, the fine dining experience in its garden of stain glass was said to have been magnificent," explained The New York Times. Sports. Eventually, Burger Chef would begin opening restaurants in Australia, but that venture ended with a $1.3 million loss. Headquartered: Scottsdale, Arizona; Westport, Connecticut. This funky restaurant, which started in the mid-'90s in the Hollywood District before moving to the Belmont Dairy development, featured spicy Caribbean-style barbecue like Jamaican jerk chicken . Beefsteak Charlie's commercials are famous for constantly plaguing viewers with their unlimited salad and shrimp barbut, unfortunately, after getting acquired in 1987, the restaurant slowly went out of business. With a menu including friend clams, baked beans, chicken pot pies and ice cream, Howard Johnsons was one of the first sit-down fast food outposts. For every McDonalds, there are dozens of failed restaurant chains. Its fate wasnt shocking. Despite its iconic status, the beloved California burger chain went under in the 2000s. restaurant reached chain status come 1976. Morrison was soon spreading his restaurant into Florida, Georgia and other surrounding states. Many a Gen-X kid had their birthday party there. The chain was doing poorly even before COVID came along, which closed all Casas Bonita. 40 Closed Restaurant Chains We Wish Were Still Open By Eric Althoff and Michelle Nati, updated on November 11, 2022 groovyhistorypics / Instagram One of the most amazing things about America is its diversity of cuisine. Dominick DiMatteo, who was born in Sicily, founded the chain in 1918. Ever wonder how the movers and shakers of Wall Street spend their lunch breaks? Over the years the West Hollywood restaurant became famous for its Academy Award after parties as much as it was known for its chili. Since the club closed in 1979, the space has remained vacant, and many of the original old art deco fixtures have been removed or damaged. But the idea soon caught on and Chi-Chi's couldn't compete. 75 Pins 3y T Collection by Theresa Wolski Similar ideas popular now Restaurant Burger Sliders Mini Burgers White Castle Hamburgers Onion Burger Patty Melt Hot Dog Stand New York Food Copykat Recipes Soda Fountain White Castle burgers. Case in point: Married couple William and Nancy Galt got into the health-food craze well before it was cool even in California. The remaining Seattle store shut its doors in 2012. Located on Seventh Avenue, The Stage was one of the most popular delis in New York City after being founded in 1937 and was known for having a menu full of Broadway-inspired dishes. Recognizable by its A-frame buildings, it served a small menu of roast beef sandwiches, French fries, fried pies, and shakes. Sign up for our newsletter to get daily recipes and food news in your inbox! The last Howard Johnsons closed last year. "One of the things we talked about was when you're in the zone it's a special experience. View More Replies. 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. 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. However, after years of decline, White Towers fortress collapsed in 2004. Founded in Southern California in 1936, only five Bob's Big Boys remain in operation today. Customers were instructed to "Eat like a king" at Lyon's, a competitor to Denny's with casual dining and low-cost breakfasts. Since then, a lot's changed. 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. So, heres the deal: Carrols was fast food chain established back in the 1960s and had a yellow slug as their mascot. It was as fancy of a place a child growing up in. 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