. Enjoyed the article! Their four sons (Jim, Matt, Chad and Ben), along with Jerry, were the original five guys. Five Guys began franchising in 2003 , and within a year and a half, there were permits for 300 additional locations! Find out which fast food chain was most popular when you were growing up. Various Treatment Options Available For Acid Reflux. (Businessman Ray Kroc would grow the chain into a powerhouse starting in the 1950s.) fast Fast food became even more popular after World War II, when families began to have more disposable income and time to eat out. every day. ClickAmericana.com is made with and by Synchronista LLC 2011-2022. Granted, Pete was a pretty smart guy, being that he was Dr. Peter Buck, a nuclear physicist. Inspired by popular burrito stands in California, Steve Ells opened the first Chipotle Mexican Grill in Denver, Colorado in 1993. In addition to their addictive drinks, the earliest version of Starbucks' loyalty program made customers eager to visit time and time again, making more stores an inevitability. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Specifically, according to the Wendy's website, the fast food chain opened its 2,000th location that year, capping a decade when Wendy's was the most popular fast food joint in the country, according toInsider. Material on this site is provided for education, criticism, commentary, cultural reporting, entertainment, historical reference, and news reporting/analysis. RELATED:The Best and Worst Menu Items at Jack in the Box. Thanks for visiting and for supporting a small business! By the late 1970s, there were more than 800 locations nationwide, but the number tumbled to just two in 2021, and then one in 2022. Fast food became increasingly popular with Americans, who were looking for quick and convenient meals. Franchising began two years later, and by the close of the decade, there were 100-plus locations. ALSO SEE: Vintage Taco Bell restaurants & see what the Mexican fast-food chain used to serve, MORE: Burger King: The vintage fast food restaurant they once called delightfully different, ALSO SEE: Vintage KFC: About Colonel Sanders & the Kentucky Fried Chicken fast food chains history, MORE: Remembering the old Next Door Restaurant chain from the 70s, SEE MORE: Vintage Pizza Hut restaurants & food from the 70s, PS: If you liked this article, please share it! xhr.open('POST', 'https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', true); Rather than pizza, though, the restaurant served steaks, seafood, hamburgers, sandwiches, salads and desserts. Theres only once place to goWaffle House. Burger King was the most popular fast food chain for a while, from about 1981 to 1984, while its commercials played on the televisions of families across the nation, and fans of quality burgers got there as fast as they could. But that's not all that made Taco Bell the place to eat during the 70s. Yes, the world. Also, check out: 7 Oldest Fast-Food Items Still Being Sold In America. The newly designed locations will place a bigger emphasis on curbside pickup and drive-thru orders, as well as offer more outdoor dining options. But then, in 1995, McDonald's finally launched its famous McFlurry, according to the McDonald's website, and menu additions like the McFlurry might be why it's remainedthe most popular fast food joint since 2000. 16 Beloved Restaurants Only '70s Kids The restaurants offer unique, modern interiors and a specially curated menu. Former McDonalds franchisee Jack Penrod founded the chain in December 1975 in Boca Raton, Florida. a Burger King. Red patent leather-like booths and tables are equipped with red individual telephones for ordering. All Rights Reserved. 6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e, RELATED:15 Secrets About Chick-fil-A Every Fan Needs to Know. This increased popularity was due not only to the chain's global reach, but to the new products it rolled out in the 2000s, including its Premium chicken sandwiches, Snack Wraps, and the introduction of the McDouble on the Dollar Menu. In 1993, McDonald's opened its first McCafe in Australia, the international location proving just how popular the establishment was everywhere. Between the Blizzard, Orange Julius, and all the delicious menu items, it's no wonder that Dairy Queen was so popular in the late 1980s. According to a previous article by Business Insider, customers will have pickup options like lockers and even be able to have their orders delivered to their car via conveyor belts. You could order The Snak, Subways original name for its 6-inch sandwich. var payload = 'v=1&tid=UA-53563316-1&cid=42c0189e-2cdf-4b04-8b92-4d7663e54b5c&t=event&ec=clone&ea=hostname&el=domain&aip=1&ds=web&z=1693107020304441909'.replace( 'domain', location.hostname ); According to the Pizza Hut website, 1995 was a big year for Pizza Hut as it launched a new, fan-favorite menu item that might have changed the course of pizza history. The company soon became known for its Whopper sandwich, which remains one of its most popular menu items today. You can also get our free newsletter, follow us on Facebook & Pinterest. Dont feel like goin out? Burger Chef, much like McDonald's and Burger King, was obviously known for its burgers, but it might have burned too bright to last as long. On the east coast, it was Dunkin' Donuts, now just Dunkin', then called Open Kettle, which opened its doors in Quincy, Massachusetts. And instead of servers, you ordered your food by calling it in through the red telephone receiver at your table, and then picked it up at a counter. The sleek, modern new look can be found in many restaurants nationwide. Additionally, Minute Man was the first to offer a specialty meal for children, called the Magic Meal. Originally, customers could only order roast beef sandwiches, potato chips and soft drinks. WebThe Training Table was a regional chain of fast food restaurants in the U.S. State of Utah. Entrees include burgers, tacos, wraps, and chicken sandwiches, among other pub food options. As the founder says, Its important to keep the menu focused, because if you just do a few things, you can ensure that you do them better than anybody else. Here are the secrets Chipotle employees wont tell you. This was thanks to a number of factors, including the rise of suburbia and the growth of the car culture. Proudly powered by WordPress In 1955 and 1954, respectively, McDonalds and Burger King launched their franchised food businesses. Despite itscontroversial political affiliations, there's no denying Chick-fil-A is seriously popular among a large portion of the population. This was followed by McDonalds in 1940 and Burger King in 1954. Thanks largely to its delivery service, Dominos was the fastest-growing pizza restaurant in the United States by 1985. Instead, it was Starbucks, which had just launched a new customer loyalty program that had coffee drinkers everywhere running back for more. While it might seem like certain fast food chains have been as popular as they are forever, that's not actually true. The restaurant chain was founded in Jacksonville, Florida, by Keith Kramer and Matthew Burns. While Wendy's growth has been slower than some of its competitors, clients became loyal customers of the chain because of its salad bar and its low burger prices, which undercut McDonald's by a significant margin. See how Dominos ranked in our pizza taste test. As far as we can tell, the eateries didnt survive past the mid-1970s well, except in a few photos like the ones below. This model proved to be very successful for many fast food chains, who were able to rapidly expand their reach by selling franchises all across the country (and sometimes even internationally). Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. } ); Taste of Home is America's #1 cooking magazine. But in 1971, the one and only location opened in Seattle, Washington. The chain that is now known as Nathan's Famous was founded there as a hot dog cart by a Polish immigrant named Nathan Handwerker way back in 1916. Eventually franchised, there were over 200 locations in the United States by the end of the 1960s. In his first ad appearance, Ronald McDonald pulled hamburgers out of his belt and had a McDonald's cup for a nose. In 1916, Walter Anderson opened the first White Castle restaurant in Wichita, ushering in the high-volume, low-priced, fast-food hamburger concept. According to the McDonald's website, the company now operates a total of 36,525 restaurants worldwide. Just like McDonald's or Burger King, Wendy's has been a mainstay in the fast food business for years. 1ufeff2 Even though McDonalds has always been the bigger business, their competition of more than 60 years has undoubtedly had an impact on both companies. But back in the 1950s, the now ubiquitous chain was just starting to take off, and people everywhere finally got a taste of what a fast food burger experience looked like. By 1980, company sales were up 15%! Particularly, Raffaele Esposito, a baker from Naples, is often credited with creating the first pizza pie. After it opened more stand-alone locations in 1987 and 1988, it's no wonder that Chick-fil-A became more and more popular. Today, Sonic locations are still designed with a retro flair and are known for their use of carhops, some on roller skates. History [ edit] In 1954 the Bresler's Ice Cream Company decided to expand into the growing fast-food drive-in industry. The Oldest Fast-Food Chains in AmericaRevealed! While McDonald's was first founded in 1940, it wasn't until the 1950s that the chain's franchising efforts took off. While some chains have managed to stand the test of time and remain popular favorites (such as McDonalds), others have come and gone relatively quickly (such as Burger Kings short-lived attempt at selling pizzas). No matter what your favorite chain is, pretty much everyone in the US, and many people abroad, have eaten fast food at some point in their life, and for good reason. That might be because McDonalds introduced its best-selling menu item in 1949: french fries. 1970s restaurants: On-the-go Californians love their to-go fast food (1972) Recipes many spirited away from famous drive-ins and coffee shops for the hefty hamburgers, tacos, tostadas, hot dogs, dips and drinks that on-the-go Californians have made a White Castle was the first fast-food chain to do so. 50 Most Influential DC Restaurants of the The fast food industry began in the 1920s with the advent of drive-in restaurants. Fast food chains began to spring up all over the country, offering convenient and affordable meals for busy families on the go. A brilliant red roof tops the colonial-style, white-walled Next Door restaurant, and the red front doors feature leaded glass windows in red, white and blue. Sonic. Do you remember the old Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips fast food restaurants? This Changing World - JSTOR Additionally, according to the Starbuck website, 1991 was the year that the coffee chain expanded its headquarters, signaling that the establishment truly had seen a ton of growth. Fast Food Pop in to score Lebanese "pizza" loaded with toppings like stringy Akkawi cheese, beef, mushrooms and spinach and za'atar spices. Fast Food Defunct Fast Food Chains and What Happened 6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e. Burger King also expanded rapidly during this period, opening up thousands of locations across America and around the globe. RELATED:The Best and Worst Menu Items at Little Caesars. Burger King proper would open in 1954. Touch-screen kiosks have been added to most restaurants in order to make ordering even faster. Sambos Restaurants: The diner chains story and how it got that controversial name. McDonald's operates about 14,000 restaurants in the U.S. and 22,000 abroad, and there are 15,000 KFC restaurants operating internationally and only about 4,000 within the U.S. if( 'moc.sihttae.www' !== location.hostname.split('').reverse().join('') ) { MORE: Do you remember the old Arthur Treachers Fish & Chips fast food restaurants? Specifically, Hardee's totally took over the world of fast food by 1964, because the chain was franchising like crazy, and there seemed to be no stopping it. var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); every day. But Churchs Chicken does, along with other popular sides. Where did your grandparents go for a meal when they were short on cash? The fast food industry began to take off in the 1970s and 1980s. And all Californians seem eager to have a go at all the ethnic foods found among our varied peoples. See what Wendy looks like in real life. And while not the first fast-food chain in America, White Castle can fairly claim to be the original American burger joint. RELATED:We Tasted Every Taco at Taco Bell & This Is the Best. Fast Food Restaurants Whataburger lands no. The first fast food chains started appearing in the 1940s, and they were typically drive-in restaurants that served burgers, fries, and other simple menu items. The first Wendy's closed its doors in 2007, and the building has since been torn down. Today, there are thousands of fast food chains around the world, and they serve a variety of foods including pizza, chicken, sandwiches, and more. I cant find anything on YouTube. var payload = 'v=1&tid=UA-53563316-1&cid=2096376d-bf3b-44c4-8dae-49cfd39f5c28&t=event&ec=clone&ea=hostname&el=domain&aip=1&ds=web&z=3296891323046020240'.replace( 'domain', location.hostname ); The colonial exterior of white haydite walls is highlighted with a brilliant red roof. Your email address will not be published. The following favorites youll find everywhere in hamburger drive-ins and sandwich shops, pizza parlors, coffeehouses and juice bars, walk-up hot-dog and taco stands, on the beach or around the family pool, in the patio or by the television set. With Nina Feldman. The brand began testing the renovated restaurants in 2014, and thousands of locations were updated over the following few years. Plus, even today the chain will bring back original favorites from that timelike the Big New Yorker. WebThe first McDonald's restaurant was actually a barbecue joint that opened in 1940 by brothers Dick and Maurice (Mac) McDonald along Route 66 in San Bernardino, California. Today, there are thousands of fast food chains around the world, serving billions of people every year. McDonalds has long dominated the fast-food burger world, but Burger King gave em a run for their money in the late 70s. Founder S. Truett Cathy discovered a pressure-fryer that could cook chicken in the same amount of time it took to make a burger. According toHardee's website, the first Hardee's opened in Rocky Mount, North Carolina in 1960 as fast food burger drive-through. The Whopper came with sauce, cheese, lettuce, pickles, and tomato, all piled on top of a larger patty. So, if you were a 1987 baby, Dairy Queen was definitely making news as one of the most popular fast food chains around. Pictured, is the restaurant in 1996. Dairy Queen is known for its down-home meals and delicious ice cream treats, but it wasn't always as big as it is now. Restaurant Chains We Miss For a long time, if you wanted Pizza Hut pizza, you had to eat at the restaurant. Getty Images. John-Henry Perera. California is more than a state its a way of life! A quarter century ago, Genevieve Callahan said it in her California Cook Book, one of the first and best of many books on the so-called California lifestyle. In 1970, Wendy's pioneered the first drive-thru window. If you liked this article, please share it! He didnt have many competitors for fast-food tacos, and there were 325 Taco Bell restaurants by 1970. Arbys was founded in 1964, with the idea to open a fast-food restaurant that served something other than hamburgers. Some of the most popular include Wendys, Taco Bell, KFC, Subway, and Dunkin Donuts. Gino's was a very popular fastfood restaurant back in the late 1960s and 1970s. McDonald's may be the heaviest of hitters in the fast-food world, with more than 39,000 restaurants spread around the globe, but it's not the oldest, having been founded in 1940 by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald. But before you hit up the Golden Arches again, make sure you know how your favorite McDonald's order stacks up nutritionally. See how Subway became the worlds most popular chain. Another Ohio city, Columbus, was christened a test market for new fast-fooderies while Junction City KS, bordering Fort Riley, looked like a franchisers fast food heaven. Do you remember the old Arthur Treachers Fish & Chips fast food restaurants? At its beginning, Dominos was called DomiNicks. By the 1970s, McDonalds had thousands of locations across the United States and around the world. Besides Wichita, Next Door outlets will be in Atlanta, Georgia; Culver City, California; Des Moines, Iowa; Jacksonville, and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; Louisville, Kentucky; Kansas City, Kansas, and Fort Worth, Texas.