# '70s Fast Food restaurant question **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 15, 2004, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-fast-food-restaurant-question/269482 "2004-10-15T23:03:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-fast-food-restaurant-question/269482/21 "2004-10-20T00:23:24Z")
It was a great chain-they had hotdogs and beer! Good food and cheap beer-a winnning combination! ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-fast-food-restaurant-question/269482/22 "2004-10-20T00:23:50Z")
> [@Evil Captor](#): > > I remember Ollie’s Trolleys. They had great seasoned french fries and hot dogs and also sold a nice, cheap ice cream cone. When I was a poor student, they were one of the few places I could afford to go “out” to eat at. Then they went belly-up for some reason. I think they’re still around in some form. There’s one in Washington DC at the Hotel Harrington. I also remember Lum’s, but never went it. They sold beer, so I had no interest. Others I recall include: **Wetson’s**. I hear they’re making a comeback in the NYC area. The one time I went to one, they served the worst french fries imaginable: raw and greasy. They folded despite being a block from a college campus. **Carroll’s** – They closed and bought all the Burger Kings around here. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-fast-food-restaurant-question/269482/23 "2004-10-20T02:11:11Z")
> [@cstamets](#): > > Big Boy licensed their concept to regional companies. There were/are Frisch’s, Bob’s, and Elby’s that I’ve run into. I’m sure there were probably others. But, since each was licensed by Big Boy, Inc. (or whatever it’s called), it’s different from places like Judy’s, that appear to have been unlicensed knock-offs. Around here (Detroit area, at least), Big Boys are Elias Brothers-owned. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-fast-food-restaurant-question/269482/24 "2004-10-20T02:43:43Z")
We just got an A&W fast food restaurant, combined with a Long John Silver’s in the same space. I’ve seen a few of these pop up very recently around South Florida. The food was mediocre (I prefer Wendy’s burgers, which are also cheaper), but I love root beer, especially A&W. It was a real treat to get it served in the frosty mugs. Yeehaw! My father always speaks fondly of Lums, particularly the hot dogs cooked in beer. He said they were awesome. I remember Lums around Miami when I was very young in the early '80s, but they all disappeared. However, today, randomly driving around Davie, a town in Broward County, I found the one remaining Lums in South Florida! I was so excited, and I look forward to dragging my dad up there for beer and hot dogs, even if it is an hour away from where we live. Anyone else remember Taco Viva? We had a few of these around in the '80s before Taco Bell became such a huge and omnipresent chain, but most of them disappeared as well. A few were still around in mall food courts as late as the mid-'90s, but I haven’t seen a Taco Viva in forever. I loved their food, though! How widespread are Cozzoli’s Pizza (big New York style pizza slices, usually found in mall food courts) and Cajun Grill (another food court favorite)? I’ve seen several Cajun Grill title variations, and none of them seem to have the same menus beyond bourbon chicken. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-fast-food-restaurant-question/269482/25 "2004-10-20T02:48:06Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > How widespread are Cozzoli’s Pizza (big New York style pizza slices, usually found in mall food courts) and Cajun Grill (another food court favorite)? There’s a Cajun Grill just 20 or so miles from where I live (on the other end of the continent from you) ---
**Author:** ![cstamets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/958977/32.png) [@cstamets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cstamets)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-fast-food-restaurant-question/269482/26 "2004-10-20T03:03:45Z")
There also used to be Rax - a roast beef place similar to Arby’s. Rax became an Arby’s franchisee and converted most of their stores to Arby’s (similar to Carrol’s and Burger King). There had been a few Rax left in the Columbus area, but they’ve slowly died off. I think there is only one store left. And Hardee’s used to be a rost beef-only place until they bought Burger Chef and added burgers to their menu. I miss Burger Chef. They (at least our local ones) had a salad/topping bar and you could put whatever you wanted on your burger yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Hyperelastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Hyperelastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hyperelastic)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-fast-food-restaurant-question/269482/27 "2004-10-20T03:12:44Z")
> [@cstamets](#): > > There also used to be Rax - a roast beef place similar to Arby’s. > > Rax became an Arby’s franchisee and converted most of their stores to Arby’s (similar to Carrol’s and Burger King). There had been a few Rax left in the Columbus area, but they’ve slowly died off. I think there is only one store left. Let us raise a glass to the memory of “Mr. Delicious”. I think he’s the only character from commercials/pop culture who is totally absent from the Web. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-fast-food-restaurant-question/269482/28 "2004-10-20T03:16:11Z")
Another one we had and loved in the '80s: Rudy’s. It was a sit-down restaurant with a 1950s motif that served huge sirloin steakburgers, and had a toppings bar. I’d compare it to Fuddrucker’s as far as the quality of the burgers and toppings, although Fudd’s is still THE BEST. I guess Rudy’s “look” was more of an art-deco, streamlined Johnny Rockets, but the food was much better. Are those still left anywhere else? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-fast-food-restaurant-question/269482/29 "2004-10-20T15:56:04Z")
We’ve a couple of Cajun Grills in the food courts here in Nashville. They are always right next to a Chinese place. Probably because they serve the exact same food with different names. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-fast-food-restaurant-question/269482/30 "2004-10-20T17:48:18Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > Another one we had and loved in the '80s: Rudy’s. It was a sit-down restaurant with a 1950s motif that served huge sirloin steakburgers, and had a toppings bar. I’d compare it to Fuddrucker’s as far as the quality of the burgers and toppings, although Fudd’s is still THE BEST. I guess Rudy’s “look” was more of an art-deco, streamlined Johnny Rockets, but the food was much better. Are those still left anywhere else? We still have one (at least) in Cleveland. Anyone remember [The Red Barn](http://barnbuster.homestead.com/page1.html) ? I had one within walking distance of my house. Opened when I was about 11 years old. It was the 1st fast food joint I ever ate at. Wow. Strawberry milkshakes. yum. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-fast-food-restaurant-question/269482/31 "2004-10-20T18:34:06Z")
When I was a kid in the 70s in small-town Georgia, the only fast food restaurants in town were **Jack’s** and **Maryland Fried Chicken** , both of which seem to have vanished into the mist, at least in these parts. Are those franchises still around anywhere? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-fast-food-restaurant-question/269482/32 "2004-10-20T18:36:33Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > Anyone remember [The Red Barn](http://barnbuster.homestead.com/page1.html) ? Never heard of them but you just reminded me of a BBQ place outside New Orleans. Luther’s, maybe? It was like eating in a barn. ---
**Author:** ![JerH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bb73d2/32.png) [@JerH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerH)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-fast-food-restaurant-question/269482/33 "2004-10-20T18:53:20Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > Anyone remember [The Red Barn](http://barnbuster.homestead.com/page1.html) ? Yeah - does anyone know what happened to them? There are former Red Barn buildings all over the place in Erie (my hometown) and northern Virginia. While the business may have died, they obviously built them well. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-fast-food-restaurant-question/269482/34 "2004-10-20T19:05:21Z")
> [@cstamets](#): > > And Hardee’s used to be a rost beef-only place until they bought Burger Chef and added burgers to their menu. I miss Burger Chef. They (at least our local ones) had a salad/topping bar and you could put whatever you wanted on your burger yourself. I did not know that. What I remember about Burger Chef is that they were they first place I remember seeing the “fun meal,” before McDonald’s came out with their Happy Meal. Hardee’s moved into town sometime in my early childhood (early seventies?), either replacing or evolving from something called Sandy’s (IIRC), but they’ve always had burgers here. I also remember Rax and Lums and Big Boy (Top’s Bog Boy, here). ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-fast-food-restaurant-question/269482/35 "2004-10-20T19:05:32Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > Never heard of them but you just reminded me of a BBQ place outside New Orleans. Luther’s, maybe? It was like eating in a barn. Yep, there are Luther’s in both Louisiana and Texas at a minimum. I am pretty sure they are in several other states as well. Excellent BBQ for the money, IMHO. … Rax brought back some memories. There was one in suburban Metairie, LA, just outside of New Orleans, when was in school. The last time I ate at a Rax was in 1989 in Pensacola, FL. It seemed that there was a lot more going on at Rax than at the average Arby’s. I remember Rax, for instance, having a rather copious salad bar/buffet. ---
**Author:** ![vd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b19c9b/32.png) [@vd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vd)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-fast-food-restaurant-question/269482/36 "2004-10-20T19:16:50Z")
> [@cstamets](#): > > Big Boy licensed their concept to regional companies. There were/are Frisch’s, Bob’s, and Elby’s that I’ve run into… I’m sure there were probably others… I grew up with Bob’s, but I’ve also been to Marc’s. I think it was in Sioux Falls. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-fast-food-restaurant-question/269482/37 "2004-10-20T19:22:11Z")
> [@Fiver](#): > > A few years ago they dropped the “Big Boy” and became just Shoney’s. > > Now the “Shoney Bear” is their mascot. How recently have you seen a Shoney’s Big Boy restaurant? In the New Orleans area, Big Boy went away a good 20 years ago … maybe a little bit longer ago than that. I was wondering if some Shoney’s Big Boy restaurants stuck around in other areas for longer. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-fast-food-restaurant-question/269482/38 "2004-10-20T19:27:45Z")
I remember a Sandee’s restaurant in Tucson in the late sixties. The logo was a girl dressed in tartan from head to toe. I thought it was appropriate when that location was taken over by another highland clan, McDonald’s. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-fast-food-restaurant-question/269482/39 "2004-10-20T22:54:01Z")
There was ONE RAX restaurant in NE…it was at the junction of Rt s 495 and 24 , south of Brockton, MA. They went under more than 16 years ago…the place is now a ratburger place. Never met anyone who ate at RAX. Now, for you S. california dopers: was there not a really weird felafel restaurant chain called “Uncle Moustaches”? They had the most horrible food…they deserved to go under! ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-fast-food-restaurant-question/269482/40 "2004-10-20T23:09:31Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > How recently have you seen a Shoney’s Big Boy restaurant? > > In the New Orleans area, Big Boy went away a good 20 years ago … maybe a little bit longer ago than that. I was wondering if some Shoney’s Big Boy restaurants stuck around in other areas for longer. Nah. Big Boy’s been gone for a long time here, now that I think about it. I would imagine all Shoney’s establishments dropped the Big Boy franchise at the same time. I guess I just didn’t particularly pay attention when Shoney’s dropped the Big Boy affiliation. I just assumed the affiliation was still there, albeit de-emphasized. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-fast-food-restaurant-question/269482.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-fast-food-restaurant-question/269482.md?page=3)