Only 1990s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants. Aficionadough: Going Back (to the New) Gatto's. February 23, 2023 11:00 am. 40 Iconic Fast Food Restaurants That No Longer Exist 1 We Made A Magazine With Disney! Shaquille O'Neal, Wayne Gretzky, Joe Montana, Monica Seles, Ken Griffey, Jr., and Andre Agassi were just some of the high-profile investors. But it was all about that salad bar. Inexpensive surf and turf came in the form of Valle's, an East Coast chain that saw good business from 1933 until the millennium. Ownership has changed hands a few more times in the past three decades, and now there are several dozen Roy Rogers locations. In the same vein, there is one and only one Yogis still in business in a little town in South Carolina called Hartsville. Seemingly a great deal, as the ESPN Zone only lasted 20 years, despite having Mouse House corporate cash behind the whole thing. Founded in the early '80s, this chain specializes in a build-your-own salad bar, along with soup and pasta buffet options. 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 . However, Mr. Steak attempted to expand its menu beyond steaks around that time, driving away a significant section of its customer base. Morrison was soon spreading his restaurant into Florida, Georgia and other surrounding states. However, in the ice cream flavor wars, there can be only one, and Breslers hung up its paper hat in 2007 after 80 years in business. 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. After growing to 60 locations, the chain took a hit and closed its final door in 2009. However, while KFC flourished, Lum's popularity began to decrease. 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. With 42 locations in California and the Pacific Northwest, the future was looking bright for Pizza Haven. 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. The menu included offerings such as the Grand Slam Hamburger and the Chopped Barbecue Sandwich. Heather DeLuca Updated: December 20, 2022. and later moved to a location on Highway 153, where Rib & Loin is located today. 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. The last location closed in 2012. "It's an experience you don't want to leave because you may not get back there real soon." 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. 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. P.S. Lum's began life as a hot dog stand but quickly expanded over the 1960s to the point that it owned Caesar's Palace (yes, the iconic Las Vegas casino) by 1969. 11 years ago. If White Tower's name sounds a bit repetitive of White Castle, that's because the restaurant was doing its best to imitate the slider chain. His chain restaurant, which focused on causal dining, never grew to tremendous popularity. 2. Elaine's was a New York City institution since opening in 1963 and remained one until it closed in 2011. It was delicious. That was the end of Chi-Chi'sand rightfully so. For every In-N-Out success, theres an also-ran like Koo Koo Roo. 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. Initially, the chain and its 15 cent hamburgers were a massive success. 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 second Dominick's opened in 1934, and the family continued to run its stores until the '90s. 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( 'moc.sihttae.www' !== location.hostname.split('').reverse().join('') ) { Sadly, in 1991 Chicken George filed for bankruptcy and was dissolved. The following year, Planet Hollywood filed for bankruptcyand The Official All-Star Cafe went down with it. Last Call! One of America's first casual dining/sports-bar chains, Bennigan's often lagged behind similar concepts from contemporaries like Fridays, Applebee's, and Chili's. The family that owned the chain started closing locations in the early 1980s while converting the few remaining franchises to the more upscale Baileys Restaurant & Bar. One of the most amazing things about America is its diversity of cuisine. The chain was doing poorly even before COVID came along, which closed all Casas Bonita. The first restaurant opened in 1965, and success came quickly after that; by 1973 there were 62 of them. Ever wonder how the movers and shakers of Wall Street spend their lunch breaks? Regardless, the Miami-based chain did pretty well and eventually expanded to 175 locations. And for even more nostalgia, Only 1970s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants. 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. Kenny Rogers Roasters was another celebrity-backed chain restaurant, but this one was all about country music and homestyle chicken. Were calling this one a lose-win situation. Entrepreneur Eugene Broome was out to compete against KFC in the Southern-fried chicken sweepstakes. . Sadly, many of these 1990s chain restaurants have gone the way of the Discman and Tamagotchis: forgotten and discarded. "The hole it left in the landscape was more than physical. Ponderosa and Bonanza Steakhouses, now owned by the same parent company, once numbered in the hundreds combined in the United States. 25.Pillsbury Waffle Sticks: WHAT HAPPENED: These took the world by storm in 2003. 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. So, heres the deal: Carrols was fast food chain established back in the 1960s and had a yellow slug as their mascot. St. CeCe's. Thought known more as a watering hole . Marcus Lemonis of CNBCS "The Profit" still owns the Farrell's name and says it will be back. And the Disney empires money backing the entire operation. In the early 1980s he sold the chain to the Marriott hotel chain, which quickly converted all the Gino's into Roy Rogers. Heap Big Beef expanded, but it was still fairly short-lived. 11 / 11. The restaurant of world renowned chef, Wolfgang Puck, became a Hollywood hangout when it opened in 1982 on the Sunset Strip. However, the herbal tea sold at the Good Earth Restaurants is still alive and well in the form of Good Earth Tea. IL. Womp, womp. 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. How I Lost 10 Pounds For My High School Reunion, The History Of King Cake And The Plastic Baby. There were nearly 90 worldwide during the chain's heyday in the mid-1990s, as The Telegraph reported. 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. But Marriott Corporation scooped up the chain in 1982 and rebranded the locations into Roy Rogers Restaurants. Due to fickle consumer trends and high rent, many beloved restaurants have been forced to call it quits over the yearssome even after decades of success. All Rights Reserved. Big brothers in the '90s really were just like Buzz from Home Alone. You two could get that petition going. Many, many big TVs. Seven locations were revived a few years later, but they were all closed by 2016. Majority were sold off, but one location remains. That's in part because in 1990, Hot 'n Now was acquired by Pepsi and expanded into 15 different states all over the country. 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. Closed Restaurants in Tampa Bay Area, Florida. 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 it was acquired by theMarriott Hotel chain in 1971, it grew to 130 locations, but by the late 1980s, most of them had closed. The popular sit-down restaurant. Mercari/Fabiola Garcia. (Ditto Shea Stadium, which got the wrecking ball in 2009.). Delish editors handpick every product we feature. My top three (almost a three-way tie) are: 1. Only Delish Unlimited members can save this exclusive article. IL. 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. And if you want to host a '90s party today, you can still pick some up at Walmart. 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. This Texas steakhouse first opened in the 1960s, and it remained an independent chain throughout the Dallas area. If you were lucky enough to still have a Roy Rogers near you in the 1990s, chances are high you were a serious devotee. The chain was sold several times over the years, and filed for bankruptcy in 2008. Country Cookin soon had over a dozen outposts throughout Virginia, serving up finger-licking Southern treats. One of those is the Leggy doll. 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. While you cant get a Little Tavern burger anymore, there is good news: If youre looking to relive the vibe, a White Castles run should do the trick. Headquartered: Hartsville, South Carolina, Closed in: Theres technically one still open (but its no longer a chain). After Pillsbury bought Steak and Ale in the '80s, the chain went national with 280 locations. The company soon fell into controversy when opponents argued its name was a reference to a derogatory term for African Americans. 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. And if you happened to be cruising through Oregon during a certain 30-year stretch, you probably encountered a VIPs or two. If this sounds eerily familiar, its because White Tower came along only five years after the very similar and also Midwest-based, White Castle. And, as it so happens, Pizza Haven is to thank for your delivery needs. In fact, it was only surpassed by McDonald's in 1972. 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. After being revamped in the late 2000s, Bob's came back a little bit, and the chain now has multiple locations across California, Michigan, North Dakota, and Ohio. 18 Blockbuster Restaurant Chains From the '90s That Are Gone or Hard to Find, 15 Classic American Desserts That Deserve a Comeback. Anywaythe chain had 280 locations, served up a steakhouse filet for just $1.95 and, eventually, called in quits in 2008. 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. Closed: Oct. 20, 2013. If not, then you probably recall South Park's legendary take on the Mexican-themed restaurant chain. Learn how to harness the power of tea to lose weight. (Unlike other restaurants, there was no way to order takeout from a buffet.). However, they were doomed by bad business practices, and Burger Chef was sold to Hardee's in 1981. Burgers and dogs sound like a match made in heaven. Here are the ones we miss the most. Themed fast food joints were having a major moment in the 1900s. Wendy's Frescata Sandwiches Frescata sandwiches. And for another trip down memory lane, check out these 15 Classic American Desserts That Deserve a Comeback. The chain served burgers, fried chicken, and salad. Howard Johnson's. There is one Howard Johnson's restaurant left in the country, in New York's Lake George. 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. Well, most of them. But by the 2000s, Hot 'n Now was forced to close two-thirds of its locations. But '90s kids in the New Jersey area knew there was no salad bar as delicious as the one at Charlie Brown's Steakhouse. The chain was founded in 1952 and continued to grow over the years. Planet Hollywood is quite literally out of this world now. 1. Many of its High Street branches were rebranded Currys.digital. The iconic Saugus restaurant's giant cactus was shut off for good on Oct. 20. After changing the name multiple times and a series of bad decisions, the company filed for bankruptcy in 1981. And by the mid-1990s, Little Tavern suffered financial issues and these local favorites started closing one by one. Unfortunately, though, that wasnt the reality for Doggie Diner. While there are no brick-and-mortar stores, it is the official hot dog seller at Oracle Park, the San Francisco Giants home stadium. The establishment closed down in 1971 when the building was seized for taxes. Randy Faris/Fuse. In 1982, Hardee's bought the chain. Ma'am Sir 4330 W Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90029 East side Filipino restaurant Ma'am Sir closed its doors at the end of August. But the idea soon caught on and Chi-Chi's couldn't compete. In the '90s, better known as the era of gimmicky restaurants, a set of iconic athletes (Wayne Gretzky, Andre Agassi, and Joe Montana, to name a few) teamed up with Planet Hollywood to open the Official All Star Caf. Basically, it was the best publicity Kenny Rogers Roasters could've asked for. And for more throwbacks, don't miss these 25 Great Foods from the 1980s That Will Remind You of Simpler Times. However, due to a lack of cohesive menu or recipes, the chain quickly fell apart within a few years. Get the best food tips and diet Some reports state that one of Geris founders was actually a former McDs corporate employee, which is why there were several similarities to Geris menu, look and design. The combination of corn syrup-fortified gummy candy and soda made perfect sense in the early '90s, which marked the height of the "Big Soda" boom. An unusual tactic on fast food, D'Lites marketed itself based on nutritional value. The last Little Tavern closed permanently back in 2008. The chain's unique menu and distinctive glass-doored storefronts made it popular enough to support 400 locations at one point. Or reach out to the Yelp reviewer, who wrote: "Was the best of all time! 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. As the chain opened more and more restaurants, especially in bigger cities, customers began objecting to the tone-deaf marketing. Despite the lack of originality, Geri's grew in popularity in Illinois and Wisconsin and had quite the cult following. For every McDonalds, there are dozens of failed restaurant chains. A time when fruit snacks, sodas, candies and fast food could be "extreme", multi-colored and when food was expected to be loud. We should start a campaign to bring back Geri's." 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. 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. In the 1990s, restaurants became a source of star-studded entertainment in and of themselves. The stateside Red Barns were transformed into other restaurants, and those in Australia were eventually bought up by McDonalds. Now we have Taco Bell, but way back when, Naugles was the place to get your Mexican food fix. In 1982, the company was bought by PepsiCo and expanded across the United States. Think: tacos, hamburgers, hot dogs and pastrami sandwiches. Another Midwestern burger chain was the Michigan-based Mr. Fables, which was regionally famous for its olive burger, onion rings and secret sauces. Heck, you could even order a deluxe Mr. Dees Drive-In catered to University of Utah students back in the 1920s and then expanded. Steak and Ale was ahead of its time. After all, who doesn't miss looking at the "famous" film props that adorned these restaurants and wondering, "What movie is that even from?". Over the years the West Hollywood restaurant became famous for its Academy Award after parties as much as it was known for its chili. At its peak in the '60s, this California-based chain had 750 restaurants across the country. Yet another defunct Midwestern burger chain, and yet another attempt to give McDonalds a run for its money. At the start, Gino's Hamburgers was simply Gino's Drive-In, a hamburger company started in Baltimore, Maryland, in the late 1950s. "The salad bar was the best thing ever," one faithful Michigan Steak and Ale customer said to America Jr. in 2008. Tropical Hut / Chicago, IL. Southern California means tacos, and Pup N Taco sold them by the truckload to a hungry public. Picture a fierce competitor to McDonald's with over 1,000 locations and you're picturing Burger Chef in its heyday. Founded in 1965, in Ponzano Veneto, Italy, it became an instant hit. 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. Starting in the 1980s, Mighty Casey's began popping up in Atlanta, Georgia, serving your classic American comfort foods: burgers, hot dogs, cheesesteaks, and chicken wings. Henry's began a quick decline due to management shake-ups, no drive-thru pickup windows and a lack of diversity in its menu. A deep wine list. While the food was popular, the restaurants were never able to break into the market and were sold off to Nathan's in 1998. With help from his family, Wetanson opened the first Wetson's in 1959. Blockbuster VHS Tapes 'Twas a long and (re)winding road for video rental store Blockbuster. Franchising a steak joint is a dicey gambit, especially considering that the further you get from the stockyards, the more questionable the final result. So if youre looking to pay tribute to the creator of the toy with burger purchase, say a prayer for Burger Chef. SaharaLee / Via reddit.com. Sports. According to Technomic's Tristano, the restaurant exists in the highly competitive mid-scale family-style market, which has been crowded out by fast, casual dining. Its demise involved filing for bankruptcy, a series of lawsuits, and the largest Hepatitis A outbreak in the country (courtesy of some contaminated onions). That said, it changed hands frequently and was bought by PepsiCo in 1982, and later bought by Mrs. Fields Original Cookies in 1987. 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. All Of Dunkin' Donuts' Iced Coffee Flavors, Ranked, These Vegetables Have The Lowest Carb Counts, Starbucks Introduces New Pistachio Cream Cold Brew. if( navigator.sendBeacon ) { You may recognize Casa Bonita from your '90s youth if you're from Oklahoma, Colorado, Arkansas, or Texas. The highly controversial American restaurant chain became defunct in 1982. The mega-bookstore started out with a single location in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and expanded to hundreds of locations throughout the U.S. during its 40-year run. Sign up for our newsletter to get daily recipes and food news in your inbox! So if you're in the area, bring younger millennials on over so they, too, can feel the joy of plastic tongs in their hands as they select crispy veggie toppings for their side salads. Today, 14 Charlie Brown's locations still remain in New York and New Jersey. Dixons remained as an online brand, but later . Now I have to find another restaurant. double-decker burger came from Bob's Big Boy, 25 Great Foods from the 1980s That Will Remind You of Simpler Times. EatThis.com is part of the AllRecipes Food Group. Soon, it found the support of Whoopi Goldberg, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Don Johnson, Melanie Griffith, Tom Arnold, Roseanne Barr, Wesley Snipes, and Danny Glover. The Brown Derby became a Hollywood institution after the original Wilshire Boulevard location was founded by Herbert K. Somborn in 1926. Here are 40 of the closed chains we miss the most. 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. } ); In 1936, Chasen's opened and instantly drew in a flurry of Hollywood clientele. The franchise left the States in 2004, but still operates in Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait. } else { var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); Penny's Diner of 12310 Winchester Road LaVale, MD 21502, a 1997 Starlite (#M4472 ), was moved to Low Moor, VA. "I miss Mighty Casey's," another wrote. Headquartered: Colorado Springs, Colorado. But as Hollywood exited the golden era, so did the Brown Derby, and by 1987 all four locations were closed. Here are 12 things from the '90s that don't exist today even if we kind of wish they still did. Get the best food tips and diet advice Bars you'd hit with friends until the lights came on and the bartender proclaimed 'last call!'. 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. By the early 1970s, financial issues forced them to sell to Hardee's. 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. Pup N Taco had a great idea when they founded the California-based joint in 1956. At one point, the chain changed its name to Druthers. 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. 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