# Chain places I miss **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [July 31, 2021, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-places-i-miss/947721 "2021-07-31T19:44:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [August 1, 2021, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-places-i-miss/947721/21 "2021-08-01T01:08:04Z")
Though they’re still around, I miss Friendly’s. They’re not near me, and the menus are uninteresting. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-places-i-miss/947721/22 "2021-08-01T01:32:31Z")
[Taco Viva](https://www.tacoviva.com/) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-places-i-miss/947721/23 "2021-08-01T01:41:38Z")
Prior to COVID, I used to go to Cici’s Pizza regularly – it’s kind of a cheap pizza buffet, but I love their Buffalo Chicken pizza. These days, not only do I not feel comfortable eating at a buffet, but several Cici’s in this area have closed – there are, I think, only two left in the Chicago area, both of them over 40 minutes away from me. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-places-i-miss/947721/24 "2021-08-01T01:43:46Z")
Apparently they are still going in some regions. > **[Schlotzsky's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schlotzsky%27s)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > Schlotzsky's is an American franchise chain of restaurants, specializing in sandwiches and pizza. The company is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Schlotzsky's has more than 330 franchised and company-owned locations throughout the United States. Most locations are in the south and southwestern United States, but the company is expanding into areas across the country, particularly the north and southeast. > Schlotzsky's is part of the Focus Brand... When they first opened in my town they were fantastic. Many fond memories of sitting in their dining area, reading a guitar magazine, chompin’ on one of their big sandwiches. But as the franchise owners ( I presume) began to struggle they raised prices and made portions smaller. Pretty soon it was a pale shadow of it’s former glory and closed soon after. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-places-i-miss/947721/25 "2021-08-01T01:48:05Z")
I remember Lums, mentioned upthread. Also, a place called “Baker’s Square” that had great pies. I had a soup there once, by accident, that was fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-places-i-miss/947721/26 "2021-08-01T01:53:10Z")
I remember Lums. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-places-i-miss/947721/27 "2021-08-01T01:58:55Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Arthur Treacher’s Fish and Chips. No one made it quite so good. > > Going far further back, there was the Automat. This was what I was coming in to post. I think the thing about Treacher’s is they existed in a time when demand for certain fish wasn’t too high, so they actually served really high quality fish. At least by today’s standards, the fish they were serving would be cost prohibitive to sell at their price point in modern times. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-places-i-miss/947721/28 "2021-08-01T02:13:57Z")
Fletcher’s corn dogs. They dip the dog right in front of you and fry it up. Also their lemonade was devine. I miss having an Arby’s close by. They’re becoming almost extinct in Texas, but go right across the border to Oklahoma and they’re everywhere. Weird. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-places-i-miss/947721/29 "2021-08-01T02:50:19Z")
**Shakey’s Pizza** (the old-timey one). I loved their pizza and Mojo Potatoes. **Swensen’s Ice Cream Parlor**. They had a sundae with malt balls and marshmallow on it that was wonderful. **Whataburger**. I know they still exist, but not anywhere near me. **Port of Subs**. Ditto. There are a bunch of them in the CA central valley area, but the closest one to me is like 200 miles away. They’re my favorite fast-food sub shop by a mile. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-places-i-miss/947721/30 "2021-08-01T02:56:26Z")
Yes, all the local Arby’s closed around here a few years ago, for some reason. Now the closest one to me is 15 miles away. ---
**Author:** ![mtnmatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a3d4f5/32.png) [@mtnmatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mtnmatt)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-places-i-miss/947721/31 "2021-08-01T03:02:41Z")
I think there are still Shakeys here in SoCal, I recently saw an ad and thought the mojo fries looked good, if not a bit heavy paired with pizza. I loved Roy Rogers burgers back in the day, they sort of petered out though there a few lingered in Jersey Turnpike rest stops for a while, IIRC ---
**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:** [August 1, 2021, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-places-i-miss/947721/32 "2021-08-01T03:09:32Z")
There had been a Bob’s Big Boy between the bus stop and my workplace on the southern edge of Crystal City; I’d go in there pretty much every morning and make a buffet version of a Monte Cristo sandwich. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-places-i-miss/947721/33 "2021-08-01T03:37:52Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > Apparently they are still going in some regions. That is Schlotsky’s, as per **River Hippie** ’s link. I’ve eaten there before; most notably when I was on a business trip to Fort Worth, TX, in the late 1990s. My American business associates were anxious to take me to this great deli for lunch, and they did. It was good, but I’m unsure if it was as great as they made it out to be. But hey, it was a good lunch, and they were paying, so I have no complaints. On the same trip, one of my American associates wanted to check out a place that had recently opened up in Fort Worth. It was some kind of chain steakhouse, and he was pretty sure I’d never heard of it, but he was equally sure that I’d like it. Care to guess what it was? > **[The Keg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Keg)** > > The Keg is a Canadian-owned chain of steakhouse restaurants and bars in Canada and the United States. The original "The Keg and Cleaver" restaurant was founded in 1971 by George Tidball in North Vancouver, British Columbia. By February 2018, The Keg had expanded to 160 locations in Canada and the United States, when Canadian food industry giant Cara Operations (now known as Recipe Unlimited) purchased the chain for $200 million, from then owners David Aisenstat (49%) and Fairfax Financial (51%). ... Ironically, I’d eaten at many Keg restaurants across Canada at that point. I like them; the food is great, and while they’re part of a chain, they are several steps above a typical chain restaurant, and the final bill proves that. Still, though my host was at first a little disappointed that I not only knew Keg restaurants, but had been to many, he saw an opportunity to pick my brain as to what was best on the menu. We had a great time, and again, our American office was paying, so it was even better. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-places-i-miss/947721/34 "2021-08-01T03:55:32Z")
thanks, I forgot about them and Long John Silvers ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-places-i-miss/947721/35 "2021-08-01T04:00:34Z")
forgot to add Der Wienerschnitzer, and Winchells donuts ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-places-i-miss/947721/36 "2021-08-01T04:05:34Z")
wow, Woolworth’s was Walmart before Walmart, everything you wanted under one roof. Remember Sears had peanut/jellybean combo? ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-places-i-miss/947721/37 "2021-08-01T04:16:58Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > Apparently they are still going in some regions. > > [Schlotzsky's - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schlotzsky's) It’s odd to me to hear Schlotzsky’s mentioned in a thread on chain restaurants that people miss – there are a dozen within ten miles of my house. ---
**Author:** ![dummygladhands71](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c0e974/32.png) [@dummygladhands71](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dummygladhands71)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-places-i-miss/947721/38 "2021-08-01T04:36:42Z")
Seconding Sweet Tomatoes, that mushroom soup was wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-places-i-miss/947721/39 "2021-08-01T04:44:10Z")
Another one, for me, in the category of “they’re still around, just nowhere convenient” – Rocky Rococo, which is a Madison, Wisconsin-based chain of pizza places, specializing in pan pizza. I discovered them when I went to college at UW-Madison in the '80s, and ate there a lot. They have franchises throughout Wisconsin, but their locations come and go; they have opened up restaurants in Green Bay (where I grew up, and where my family still lives) several times, but they haven’t been in Green Bay for probably a decade now. There are two of them along the route I drive to Green Bay (one in Racine, one in Sheboygan), and I try to arrange some of my trips up there so that I can stop in there for a meal, but it’s effectively a craving I can only satisfy once or twice a year. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-places-i-miss/947721/40 "2021-08-01T06:31:33Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Woolworths, believe it or not. I can remember sitting on the cafeteria counter stool and ordering the patty melt and a malted. Best roast beef sandwich ever. I was going to say that I wish that I could taste that again, but I’m a dietary vegan, so maybe not. To taste that again, I might make an exception. > [@cochrane](#): > > I miss Shakey’s. Best pizza ever. Good memories. > [@Tarataratara](#): > > Sweet Tomatoes - I’m hoping they will come back. I love the composed salads and all the soup. OMG, I had forgotten about that place. So good. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-places-i-miss/947721.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-places-i-miss/947721.md?page=3)