Fast food brands remind us that not every player in the field succeeds. Some of the fast food favorites are now just memories, and we can’t help but think about the times when they served happiness on a tray. If you’re up for a nostalgic trip, check out these fast food places that are now gone, but will never be forgotten.
15. Carrols
We miss Carrols partly because of its iconic Club Burgers, which were basically double decker sandwiches. The restaurant also became a favorite in New York back in the 60s due to its range of affordable meals and efficient drive-thru service. By the 80s, Carrols found it hard to compete with giant chains and it was later absorbed into Burger King.
14. Doggie Diner
Doggie Diner opened in the 1940s and succeeded to have over 30 locations, with all of them featuring a unique, adorable mascot, a 7-foot tall glass statue of a dachshund wearing a bowtie and a chef’s hat. It was quite a sight to behold, and the experience was much better while eating the delicious burgers, hotdogs, and fries served by the restaurant!
13. Sandy’s
Sandy’s was a burger chain established to compete with the Golden Arches. The people behind the chain? Four men who were former McDonald’s franchisees! They were committed to improving what’s already working at McDonald’s but eventually, they weren’t able to keep up with other fast food chains. In 1971, Sandy’s was bought by Hardee’s.
12. Friendly’s
Friendly’s was founded in 1935 and became famous for their wide variety of ice cream flavors. So yes, if we have DQ and Baskin-Robbins now, people had Friendly’s back then. The chain that was long gone also created an innovative dessert called Fribble (a thick milkshake). Financial challenges hit Friendly’s, and they declared bankruptcy in 2011 and yet again in 2020.
11. Yogi Bear’s Honey Fried Chicken
When KFC had no real competition in the 60s, an entrepreneur named Eugene Broome built Yogi Bear’s Honey Fried Chicken. At first, the chain seemed succeeding with its well-loved mascot and recipe for a really juicy fried chicken. However, the chicken shop was bought by Hardee’s in 1968, and expansion was halted ever since. The only remaining branch today is in Hartsville, South Carolina.
10. Wimpy
Unlike other fast food spots serving extravagant meals, Wimpy’s has a simple combination of friendly ambiance, great food, and excellent service. It is named after the Popeye character, J. Wellington Wimpy, known for his love for burgers, but the chain also serves milkshakes and fries. Wimpy’s US locations closed in 1970s, but its other branches internationally are still flourishing.
9. Max & Erma’s
Named after a husband and wife duo, Max and Erma, this chain expanded to more than 100 locations during its prime years. Their menu is full of all things comforting: salads, soups, burgers, and steaks. They also made a name for serving warm chocolate chip cookies, well received by many patrons. By 2017, only few locations remained operational due to the challenges in maintaining the restaurants.
8. Beefsteak Charlie’s
Despite being founded more than a hundred years ago, Beefsteak Charlie’s only hit popularity in the 1970s. It became a go-to option for all-you-can-eat salad bars, which were pretty popular during that era. Beefsteak Charlie’s was so well-loved it even got mentioned in sitcoms like Friends and Will & Grace. They closed doors in 2009 due to unsustainable business practices.
7. Pup ‘N’ Taco
Californians back in the 1950s didn’t have to choose between hotdogs or tacos, because a chain called Pup ‘N’ Taco served both! Aside from these fast food favorites, they also had tostadas, tacos, burgers, and pastrami sandwiches. Pup ‘N’ Taco was able to expand to over 100 locations until Taco Bell came and bought out nearly every branch of the chain.
6. Chi-Chi’s
Chi-Chi’s was once a dominant force in the Tex-Mex dining scene, known for its signature items like Mexican Fried Ice Cream and fajitas served sizzling hot on the table. The festive atmosphere and themed decor also became a hallmark of the brand. However, when new Tex-Mex chains came into view, Chi-Chi’s struggled to differentiate itself, leading to its downfall.
5. D’Lites
During the 70s, consumers started taking fitness seriously but there weren’t many healthy options when it came to fast food. That’s when D’Lites started making a name for itself. The chain served low-calorie and low-fat menus, as well as several vegetarian options. Sadly, the people who supported the nutritious offerings weren’t enough, and D’Lites filed for bankruptcy in 1986.
4. Red Barn
Dining at Red Barn was an experience because the themed restaurant was known for having locations shaped exactly like a red barn. Patrons loved the iconic meals like Big Barney and Barn Buster, which will remind you of the Big Mac and Quarter Pounder. Red Barn had over 400 locations within and outside the US, but it shut down in 1988 when its parent company decided to focus its resources elsewhere.
3. Casa Bonita
In the 1970s, this iconic Tex-Mex restaurant made waves for having an immersive dining experience and pink-colored architecture that was impossible to ignore. It became a cult favorite among locals in Lakewood, Colorado, serving all-you-can-eat chicken or beef plates and sopapillas. After going bankrupt, South Park creators bought the restaurant and started planning towards its reopening.
2. Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour
This ice cream shop carries a nostalgic atmosphere. Combine that with over-the-top ice cream sundaes, and you get a dessert experience that’s unlike anything else you can find today. Farrell’s was known for its “Zoo Sundae,” which was a massive sundae for large groups or families celebrating special occasions. Unfortunately, due to mismanagement of resources, the last branch had to close down in 2019.
1. Burger Chef
For the top spot, we have Burger Chef, which was a chain that McDonald’s felt threatened by. During its time, Burger Chef became the 2nd leading fast food joint across North America. It was also the first chain to offer a kid’s meal that included a toy! In 1982, Burger Chef was sold to Imasco, a brand that used to own Hardee’s. The last known Burger Chef branch closed down 29 years ago.