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. 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. After the success of the original restaurant and realizing the name had never been officially trademarked, restaurateur Larry Ellman legally renamed his "Steak & Brew" chain Beefsteak Charlie's in 1976. Within five years, the remaining locations had closed as well, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The chain said the affected restaurants were "no longer financially viable" and had unsustainable rental costs for the current trading environment. In 1992, another chicken chain called Clucker's sued Kenny Rogers Roasters, claiming the restaurant had copied its "wood-roasted chicken" concept. And then, just a month after the filing, disaster hit. Never known for subtlety, Red Barn was a group of country-themed fast food joints that were shaped like barns and painted bright red. The restaurant became known for hosting celebrity clientele, walls adorned with caricatures, and the unique building, which was shaped like a bowler hat. In 1998, they sold Kenny Rogers Roasters to Nathans. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. reach over 1,200 locations, then be sold 10 years later to a hungry competitor, H&H's last automat shut its doors forever, 14 retro electronics stores that no longer exist. Skip to main content Get top content in our free newsletter. If you saw something you wanted, you simply dropped in some coins and a door would open to provide a dish to take and enjoy. But shortly after the death of Edward Gold in 1977, Wimpys branches started to disappear in the United States. It quickly became popular because they served steaks at a very affordable price. And in 1991, "The Gambler" himself, Kenny Rogers, teamed up with a former KFC CEO to open his own rotisserie chicken business. ASK Italian and Zizzi. Naugles is a tex-mex restaurant in Southern California during the 1970s. As the chain opened more and more restaurants, especially in bigger cities, customers began objecting to the tone-deaf marketing. Sign of the Dove is considered one of the lost gems of New York City after closing and eventually being demolished in 1998. It pushed through a restructuring deal which resulted in the closure of 29 of its 244 restaurants, impacting 450 jobs. Last edited: . By 1961, they'd expanded to four restaurants. Hundreds of restaurants and venues have shut their doors for good as firms have tumbled into administration and launched dramatic restructuring deals to keep them trading. Iconic singer Minnie Pearl, who was just as famous for the price tags on her hats as for her singing, was one of the first to start the trend with her own fried chicken shop in 1969,Franchise Timesreports. In 1971, the building where fast food was born was demolished and turned into an unofficial museum for the chain by restaurateur Albert Okura. The Brown Derby became a Hollywood institution after the original Wilshire Boulevard location was founded by Herbert K. Somborn in 1926. In 1979, more than 1,000 Big Boy burger joints greeted customers across the U.S. with towering statues of the chain's chubby, cheery mascot. Call it a game changer. The majority of branches got sold off, and one remained. All of its location in the West Coast were closed in 2010. The chain, which was co-founded by former Masterchef champion Thomasina Miers, closed 10 of its restaurants after Covid-19 hammered profitability. Brown to launch the Kenny Rogers' Roasters chicken chain in 1990. But that success apparently was in part due to less than positive financial management. However, in 1982 the Marriott Corporation bought it and rebranded it to Roy Rogers Restaurants. 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But not every chain can last forever. Bennigans was sold several times through the years before filing for bankruptcy in 2008. The food chain was founded by Edward Gold in 1934. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Restaurant goers who were lucky enough to have sampled the Lum's menu while it was available often debate over what was better: Lum's famous hot dog, which was steamed in beer and paired with a sherry-infused sauerkraut, or the OllieBurger, which contained a hamburger patty packed with a top secret blend of 32 spices. Today, Howard Johnson hotels are still around, but those iconic orange topped restaurants and their butterfat-packed ice creams are little more than a distant memory. Unable to pay their bills, facing dwindling numbers of customers, or perhaps built around a trend that simply grew tired, some of our favorite haunts have now completely disappeared into history. Restaurants, pubs, bar, cafs and leisure venues were forced to shut their doors in March when the virus first struck the UK. Putney High Street, London. These are the reasons why these restaurants have been successful over time. Gourmet Burger Kitchen fell into administration after South African owners Famous Brands said the virus put an end to improvements in trading it saw last year after a major restructuring process in 2018. 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". Customers could order char-broiled burgers, bar-b-que sandwiches, homemade soups, entrees like hickory smoked ham steak or clam strips, or eggs, pancakes, and French toast. It gained massive popularity (in part for its fluffy pancakes) and in the years to follow there would be a chain in 47 states. In the '90s, one restaurant group decided to capitalize on the era of the supermodel. Unfortunately, after filing for bankruptcy in 1998, all but one of the stores were closed. Just think of all the history Hilltop Steakhouse lived through: Founded in 1961, it was around for the Vietnam War, the moon landing, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and so much more. Their food became popular but came up against stiff competition with KFC, Boston Market and others. Unfortunately, after 40 years of being in business, crowds drastically slowed down. The group was rescued by Boparan Restaurant Group, five months after its similar deal for Carluccio's. There is only one Henrys Hamburger store left and its located at Benton Harbor, Miami. By 1984, there were more than 60 Beefsteak Charlie's up and down the East Coast, all of which epitomized the chain's slogan: "I'll feed you like there's no tomorrow. They also introduced the first "Fun Meal" for kids, with mascots like Burger Chef and Chef Yo-Yoand even partnered with Star Wars for a historic promotion, offering cardboard droid "puppets." A then industry-rattling $1 million! But as tastes in the country changed, business slowed and the chain was sold several times, including to the owners of the roadside travel hub Motel 6 in the late 70s. They were known for offering a healthier menu compared to their competitors. It was owned by Planet Hollywood. Despite the taco specification in the chain's name, you had a much wider variety than simply tacos at Pup 'N' Tacos. The move preserved the company and 20 restaurants, but resulted in 651 job losses as 31 restaurants were axed. The restaurant had almost 1,000 locations at its height but shut down in the '80s after most were sold to Denny's. advice every day. Sadly, fast food took a toll on the automat tradition during the 1960s and 70s, causing many Horn & Hardart locations to close. The cafe chain saw creditors support its restructuring deal after it turned down a last minute takeover attempt by the billionaire brothers behind petrol forecourt giant EG Group, Zuber and Mohsin Issa. Rival food-to-go Japanese chain Wasabi also pushed through a CVA deal in the summer to protect its long-term future. As of early April 2021, only about 290 of the chain's pre-pandemic 490 restaurants were open, according to Restaurant Business, though it was unclear how many of those closings would be permanent. But after 24 years, the glamorous watering hole closed in 1995. Starting with a small shop in Indiana in 1954, Burger Chef eventually grew to over 1,000 locations and rivaled fast food giant McDonald's. That was the earworm jingle for the popular Red Barn chain of restaurants, which was founded by a trio of restaurateurs in Springfield, Ohio in 1961. Sadly, the last storefront with the name closed in 1996. Many iconic restaurants from history have come to an end or are barely surviving. For decades from now, we might not even see the popular classics or, of today. Administrators concluded a sale of the business and certain assets to a connected party, Bistrot Pierre 1994 Ltd, although the move resulted in six closures and 123 redundancies. There's Dennys in the UK, how did I not know this. But, sadly, Dubrow's closed in the late '80s, as the trend of diners began to die down. 7 Steakhouse Chains With the Best Quality Meat in America, 5 Outdated Steakhouse Chains That Are Making a Comeback, 9 Steakhouse Menu Red Flags, According to Chefs, two locations in Woodbury and Scotch Plains. The chain had five locations in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. The first VIP's opened in 1968, near the tiny town of Tualatin. Established by a group of unhappy McDonalds employees, Sandys had a menu that is very similar to McDonalds. Founded in 1933, Valle's Steak House saw huge expansion during the '60s by embracing the dining trend of leaning toward a menu full of steak and lobster. 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 you'll see). The series ran on CITV for three series and 33 episodes, between 1990 and 1992. They offered milkshakes, and hamburgers for less than a dollar. Taco Bell bought 99 branches of Pup N Taco in California but eventually all of its stores closed in 2010. Restaurants, pubs, bar, cafs and leisure venues were forced to shut their doors in March when the virus first struck the UK, and for many, it's triggered a total collapse. Back in the 90s, themed fast food joints were having a great moment. Even with the overall success of the fast food and sit down restaurant industry, many chains have been unable to survive recessions, depressions, and major changes in the food industry. 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. Although the name Burger Chefmay only sound familiar today to fans ofAMC's Mad Men, there was a time when it was one of the biggest fast food chains in America, with more than 1,200 locations across the country (second only to McDonald's at the time). The restaurant chain was started in early 1976 by restaurateur Larry Ellman. Developed in Berlinin 1895, an automat is a type of fast food restaurant where all the foods for sale are served through vending machines with virtually no human contact. For many, Chi-Chi's was the first place they ever got a taste of a chimichanga. That wasn't the chain's only hit. It was a major brand well into the '80s; by the time Black died in 1983, according to the New York Times, the company touted an annual revenue of $115.8 million, with 80 percent of that coming from grocery store coffee. if( navigator.sendBeacon ) { Today, there are an estimated 88,000-plus chain restaurants in the U.S, IBISWorld reports. Today, there are an estimated 88,000-plus chain restaurants in the U.S, IBIS World reports. Horn & Hardart isn't just a restaurant chain that has completely disappearedit's a restaurant concept that's almost extinct in the U.S.: the automat. Initially, the chain and its 15 cent hamburgers were a massive success. The US convenience store was originally open from, you guessed it, 7am to 11pm. Kenny would be proud. The deal secured the future of 225 restaurants and shops, protecting 5,000 jobs. The chain also helped popularize such now-standard restaurant practices as dinner items on sale at lunch for less money, an all-you-can-eat salad bar, and free soda refills (alongside its menu of steaks, chicken, and pasta dishes, and a large selection of wine and beer) according to AmericaJR. Chain restaurants have been around for nearly 100 years, since White Castleand A&W Root Beer stands firstsprang up in the early 1920s. In 1925, the restaurant's owner passed away, leaving his 27-year-old son,Howard Deering Johnson, to take over. But like brick-and-mortar stores, not every restaurant can survive in the long run. While individual shops were once making more than $1.2 million per location in 2009, by 2013Crumbs Bake Shop was in the red, losing more than $18 million. Once those competitors started offering healthier food choices, it put Dlites out of business. Started in the early 1960s and popular in the 1970s, Mr. Steak managed to hold on until the 1990s, but the family-friendly steakhouse chain has now been defunct since the days Vanilla Ice was at his peak, according to Nation's Restaurant News. Here are some of the classic fast food restaurants that no longer exist. Country singer Kenny Rogers ventured into the chicken business in 1991. It was McDonalds biggest competitor back in the day. Lum's is also famous for having TV pioneer Milton Berle as its spokesperson, but even "Uncle Miltie" couldn't save the chain from filing for bankruptcy and closing most of its locations in 1983. document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { Pizza Hut said the move would protect about 5,000 jobs across its remaining restaurants as well as the "longevity" of the business. This restaurant was one of a kind. Thousands benefit from our email every week. And soon after that, it was gone. Bikinis Sports Bar & Grill. From America's first food-service automat to a castle-themed buffet to country comedian chicken joints, many classic restaurant chains have come and gone. The locations, which were usually near a major interstate, featured a delicious blend of breakfast, lunch, and dinner classics. The kiss of death for the franchise came in 2003 when a Hepatitis outbreak in the food supply led to three customer deaths. Even with ups and downs in the economy, the global pandemic, and changes in consumer tastes, these institutions seem safe and sound. Chain restaurants like Applebee's, Fridays, Chili's and Outback may dominate highways and mall locations alike, but it wasn't always that way. Less than three months later, TRG announced a CVA deal to shut 125 of its other restaurants, including a raft of Frankie & Benny's locations, as it sought landlord support to secure its future. McDonald's Happy Meals appeared soon after and Burger Chef sued, forcing McDonald's to settle out of court for trademark infringement. During the 1960s Childs remaining locations were sold off to other companies. Although it's vanished from the American fast food scene, the chain is still thriving in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Dubai. After brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald signed over the rights to their company to franchise agent Ray Kroc in 1961, they forfeited the right to their name. Arthur Treacher's presentation was decidedly more British than its competitors because of its heavy use of malt vinegar and the involvement of its namesake, Arthur Treacher, the sidekick on the popular "The Merv Griffin Show" and a well-known character actor his many roles as a stuffy English butler. During the popularity of this restaurant, it had 10 stores in different in famous locations like Times Square and Walt Disney World. In 2019, the last Farrell's, in Brea, California, closed down (per the OC Register) bringing the long history of the historical chain to a close. According to the Washington Post, the company expanded far too quickly at a time when profits within single shops were already starting to decline. By the early '60s there were over 200 Henry's locations more than McDonald's had at the time. The chain quickly became successful having over 1,500 locations all around the world. By the late '70s, though, the company had been sold. But the only place you'll find Chi-Chi's in America is in the grocery store, where Chi-Chi's-branded products remain on the shelves. Today, some of the top fast food restaurants include the likes of Taco Bell, Wendys, Subway, McDonalds etc. The film's cult following outlived the restaurants, and its final west coast location closed in 2010. Gourmet Burger Kitchens axes 362 jobs and closes 26 restaurants - see list in full, Every major brand that's cut jobs since the start of the coronavirus pandemic - listed, Is click and collect allowed in Tier 4? Here are some of the most iconic American restaurant chains that have fallen from grace. In 1936, Chasen's opened and instantly drew in a flurry of Hollywood clientele. Once a nearly national chain that offered low-cost steaks and other foods in more than two dozen states, the York Steakhouse chain closed down in the late 1980s, according to New Bedford Guide. The club's iconic building was later demolished and turned into Paley Park. Today, the total of both stands at under 20 across the country. 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