# Chain restaurants that no longer exist **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 19, 2001, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-no-longer-exist/62507 "2001-04-19T05:51:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2001, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-no-longer-exist/62507/161 "2001-05-03T00:22:32Z")
How about **Bill Knapp’s** in southern Michigan and northern Indiana and Ohio? I loved those places! Comfort food at its best? Any left out there? Last time I went thru South Bend Indiana, the one there was gone. Or \*\*Stuckey’s[b/]? Are they out there anywhere? ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2001, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-no-longer-exist/62507/162 "2001-05-27T01:01:23Z")
There was a Mr. Donut on Maple Avenue in Vienna until a few years ago, when they tore down the building and built a Taco Bell. Just off Fairfax Circle is an Arthur Treachers, a block from the IHOP. I ate at the Fairfax Black-eyed Pea twice, and they took all the good stuff off the menu by the time I went back. ☹ In the Oakton Shopping Center, there’s a free-standing restaurant that was Hunter’s, then Caffe Parma, then Petitbon’s (as in the former Redskins coach), then Hunter’s again (with a different logo), now they’re converting it into a Famous Dave’s BBQ. ---
**Author:** ![Tornado\_Siren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Tornado\_Siren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tornado_Siren)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2001, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-no-longer-exist/62507/163 "2001-05-27T01:44:23Z")
How can all of you have forgotten the A-framed paradise that brought you hotdogs in all flavors? The Weinerschnitzel will long live in my culinary dreams. A chili dog so greasy you could lubricate 10 Chevy Chevettes with it. If they still exist…well…I would be shocked. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2001, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-no-longer-exist/62507/164 "2001-05-27T01:53:34Z")
They do. There’s one on Victory and Lankershim here in North Hollywood. There was one in Lakewood, Ohio. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2001, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-no-longer-exist/62507/165 "2001-05-27T14:43:18Z")
I was wondering about \*\* Orange julius\*\*, haven’t seen one in years, but they made a damn good chili dog. What about **1 Potato 2** , where you would buy a baked potato and then head for the toppings bar? Are they still around? \*\*Shakey’s \*\* is alive in WI, but the only thing worth eating is the Mojo potatoes ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2001, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-no-longer-exist/62507/166 "2001-05-27T20:30:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DoctorJ \* > \*\*Superdude beat me to Druther’s. It was the only real fast food-type place we had in my E. Kentucky one-horse town. They had the best cheapo fish n’ chips platter I have had to this day. I think they were absorbed into Dairy Queen, which the one at home became. > > My current home, Lexington, is the world headquarters of Long John Silver’s, so we have plenty of them. In fact, one just remodeled to become a combined LJS/A&W, and another is a combined LJS/Arby’s. I can’t stand them, myself–their commercials always depict a satisfied customer biting into a piece of fish with a mighty “crunch”, despite the fact that their fish has the consistency of a stack of wet paper towels. > > We have two Sonics in town (my GF is a huge fan of their Cherry Limeaid) and several Hardees (which serves an OK breakfast biscuit, but that’s about it). I also happen to know of a convenience store in Danville, KY that sells Godfather’s Pizza. > > Dr. J \*\* Sprry for the long quote, but darnit, **Dr. J** , you have in one single post mentioned almost everything I miss about Kentucky, in particular Lexington and Danville. We have several Sonics here in Jackson, MS: also an A&W. But we have to drive 90 minutes south to get to the only Long John’s in the state. I am hopelessly hooked on their chicken and hush puppies, and Captain D’s just doesn’t seem to cut it. I remember Rax when it was on the corner of Euclid and South Limestone, where the Fazoli’s is now. Great chocolate chip milk shakes. I was very sad when it went under. And the Druthers’ used to be Burger Queen. They had great burgers back then. Their mascot, Queenie Bee, was what I really remember. Then Druther’s took over, and I agree on the fish. They had wonderful fish. The one place I really miss about Lexington is Tolly Ho. Great place to go in the middle of the night. Nice greasy spoon. And White Castles. I know they still exist, just not here. We have Krystals, which are bad imitations, IMHO. And you have to pay almost $10 shipping to get a case of Ale-8-One down here. God, I wish I could afford it. I get a case about once a year. Love their website. The restaurants down here are okay, but nowhere near as good as we had in KY. ---
**Author:** ![omni-not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8dc957/32.png) [@omni-not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omni-not)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2001, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-no-longer-exist/62507/167 "2001-05-28T00:21:49Z")
> [@](#): > > Sambo’s - closed due to a perception of racism. You gotta love the irony… ---
**Author:** ![omni-not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8dc957/32.png) [@omni-not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omni-not)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2001, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-no-longer-exist/62507/168 "2001-05-28T01:15:38Z")
> [@](#): > > A&W was bought up by Pepsi, which also owns Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC, and probably one or two others I’m forgetting. Not to nitpick, but… According to their website, A&W was bought by Sagittarius Acquisitions in 1994 and Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC are owned by Tricon Global Restaurants (stock symbol: YUM - I’m not making this up). ---
**Author:** ![omni-not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8dc957/32.png) [@omni-not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omni-not)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2001, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-no-longer-exist/62507/169 "2001-05-28T01:39:04Z")
Here you go… [http://www.ponderosasteakhouses.com/scripts/LOCATION.ASP](http://www.ponderosasteakhouses.com/scripts/LOCATION.ASP) ---
**Author:** ![Mauvaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mauvaise/32/11084_2.png) [@Mauvaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mauvaise)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2001, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-no-longer-exist/62507/170 "2001-05-28T01:50:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SPOOFE \* > \*\*We used to have a lot of “Bob’s Big Boy” running around here in southern California, but now the only time you see one is in an Austin Powers movie. Which is sad… I used to love that place. \*\* They don’t have any here in Phoenix that I’ve found, but they still had them in the suburbs of Detroit (I lived there last year). Good salad bar. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Evnglion \* > \*\*as far as I an tell, Sonic Drive Thru has disappeared off the face of the earth \*\* There are Sonic Drive-Thru’s all over Phoenix. They have awesome fresh fruit slushies. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. \* > **Pioneer Chicken. Are they still around? They had bigger pieces of chicken than KFC (back when KFC had “side breasts” and “centre breasts” instead of the whole piece) and I liked their yellow gravy better than KFC’s brown gravy.** This is the one I was going to mention. Pioneer was way better than KFC. I used to eat there at least once a month when I was growing up. There is still one in LA (or there was a couple years ago), but I can’t remember where exactly, sorry. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bughunter \* > \*\*And what about Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlors? Are they out of business? \*\* I was just telling a friend about this place the other week. McDonalds now advertises their shakes as “extra thick”. Feh… you haven’t had a thick shake until you’ve had a Farrell’s shake. I remember practically bursting veins in my head trying to drink their shakes through a straw. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2001, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-no-longer-exist/62507/171 "2001-05-28T02:26:40Z")
> [@](#): > > For the record, Sambo, wasn’t an Indian boy. The theme for the restaurant came from the nursery rhyme (?) ‘Little Black Sambo’ Thus showing that the ignorance that caused the chain so much trouble is alive and well today. Sambo is an Indian boy (Indian = From India). The English, who ruled India for quite a while, referred to any ethnic minority with dark skin as ‘black’ (you might even note that there are “black” Irish - swarthy skinned and dark haired individuals). You can get a copy of the original story by Helen Bannerman, _Little Black Sambo_ from the official web site for the only remaining Sambos Restaurant in the United States, located in Santa Barbara, California (go to [Sambos Restaurant](http://www.sambos.com)). One might note that there are no tigers in Africa, which quite thoroughly ends the mix-up of the term “black” with the term “African” or “Negro”. Nevertheless, in combination with certain allegations made as the company spread nationwide in the 60’s about disparate treatment, the two terms were quite thoroughly mixed and confused by the press and by those with an axe to grind. This controversy, combined with some bad financial strategies, doomed the chain. We had a thread on this not too long ago, if anyone wants to dig it out. ---
**Author:** ![Fionn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fionn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fionn)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2001, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-no-longer-exist/62507/172 "2001-05-28T02:34:22Z")
I completely forgot about a chain, possibly a tiny local one, called Fajita Junction until I drove past its old building this week. Does anyone else remember this? I remember at least two, one in Pasadena, TX, and one in my hometown of Deer Park. They had great fajitas. I don’t remember exactly when they existed, but I would guess the late eighties or the very early nineties. According to my older brother, who may not have been an incredibly reliable source of information, said the chain closed down because of a shooting in one of the restaurants. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2001, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-no-longer-exist/62507/173 "2001-05-28T02:52:04Z")
**Big Boy** - As I noted in the thread [Hellmann’s Mayonaise and the Rockies](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=11763), Big Boy restaurants were always a franchised concept, the original idea of the “Big Boy Burger” being developed by Bob Wian, the Bob of “Bob’s Big Boy”. Other franchise holders were Frisch’s and Kip’s, and, if I recall correctly, Shoney’s. **Hardee’s** - Owned now by CKE Restaurants, Inc., the current version of what started out as Carl’s Jr. Restaurants, then became Carl Karcher Enterprises. I dug up research on this merger in another thread - anyone wanting the details can wrestle the search engine to the ground. 😉 **Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour** - I did a search on this and found out that one still exists in San Diego for certain, and that you can get Yellow Page listings for about 10 others in various locations. It appears that the original owner, Bob Farrell, is now a motivational speaker, having apparently given up the business of ice cream. ---
**Author:** ![Lady\_Ice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f1d935/32.png) [@Lady\_Ice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lady_Ice)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2001, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-no-longer-exist/62507/174 "2001-05-28T03:02:01Z")
There was a The Pop Shoppe down here in Michigan when I was a kid. My grandfather used to take me there all the time. They had a roller converyor you put the crate on so that you could go through and pick out whatever flavors you wanted. It went out of business in '80, the year my grandfather died. (Coincidence?) Also, I miss the counter at Woolworths. The last one here closed down about 8 years ago. Long John Silvers, White Castle, IHOP, A&W, Orange Julius and Dunkin Donuts are still alive here in Lansing MI. The last Big Boy in town was just recently replaced by a pharmacy. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2001, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-no-longer-exist/62507/175 "2001-05-28T06:22:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jeffro \* > \*\*There used to be a chain in the central Ohio area called > Zantigos. It was a cheap Taco Bell, nothing cost more than 99 cents. > > There was also another chain called G.D. Ritzys. They were a hamburger place and they had known for bad fries > > Rax - rost beef > > Sisters Chicken and biscuts - chicken > \*\* Ah, yes! These bring back memories! There was also **Borden’s** which was owned by the dairy company in Ohio. Don’t remember much about the food, except that it was kind of like a McDonald’s/Burger Chef/White Castle place. There used to be an **Arthur Treater’s** in Columbus. Don’t know if it’s still there or not. Do remember that they had donated a bunch of tables to my high school, so I spent my formative years sitting at fast food tables while in school, pining over this or that female. Anybody know if they ever rebuilt the Tiki place in Columbus that got flattened a year or so ago? Only ate there once or twice, but it was really cool. Is **Little Caeser’s Pizza** still around? I’m probably the only human on the planet that liked them and they’ve all disappeared from around here. In Columbus, there was also **Jolly Roger Donuts** that later became **Jolly Pirate** or vise versa. Anyway, under their original name they were good, then they changed names and sucked. Any **Rally’s** still around? They had good burgers, but tended to be undercooked in this area. There also used to be the **Whistle Pop Shop** , which was a place where you could get different colored and flavored softdrinks. They went belly up when I was very little. Still miss 'em, though. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2001, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-no-longer-exist/62507/176 "2001-05-28T18:33:26Z")
Can anyone in Norfolk, Virginia, confirm there is still a **Lum’s** on Military Highway just north of Virginia Beach Boulevard? Almost had an auto accident in Nashville when I saw this sign: Mahalia Jackson Fried Chicken, It’s Glorifried! Don’t think it’s still around. ---
**Author:** ![hardygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@hardygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hardygrrl)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2001, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-no-longer-exist/62507/177 "2001-05-28T19:17:27Z")
There is an A & W with carport serice in Freeport Illinois-just off of Route 20 if memory serves. In Elgin-we still have a Checker’s but I give it another six months before it closes. Gundy-where was the Arthur Treacher’s in Elgin? I don’t remember one ever being here. And another great chain restaurant that I’m wondering about… Taco John’s. Great authentic-well as authentic as a chain can get-mexican food. Blows Taco Bell out of the water. I know of three-one in Rockford Il,one at Spring Hill Mall in West Dundee and one in Woodruff WI-now closed ☹ ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2001, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-no-longer-exist/62507/178 "2001-05-28T20:13:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AcidKid \* > \*\*Can anyone in Norfolk, Virginia, confirm there is still a **Lum’s** on Military Highway just north of Virginia Beach Boulevard? > \*\* I can’t confirm if it’s still there (my last visit was in 1995 or so), but that particular Lum’s was the hangout of choice for the meetings-after-the-meetings because the local AA clubhouse was up the street. I’ve got many, many happy memories of drinking coffee and spilling my guts to my sponsor. (We used to call it “Slums”) BTW, there’s a wonderful (if a bit juvenile) book called [The Complete Junk Food Book](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0070365016/qid=991080370/sr=1-38/ref=sc_b_38/002-6945860-3198459) by Michael Lasky that was current in the 70s and offers critiques on the many fast-food chains that litter our collective consciousness. ::MsRobyn ambles off into the sunset, singing “Junk Food Junkie” and dreaming of Farrell’s birthday parties past:: Robin ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2001, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-no-longer-exist/62507/179 "2001-05-28T23:06:02Z")
I vaguely remember Lum’s from the early seventies, though I never ate there. The closest one was on Route 7, in the strip mall which then boasted Zayre and Dart Drug. After Lum’s closed, a restaurant called **Mr. Mug’s** moved in; that didn’t last long, and a First Virginia Bank branch occupies the building now. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2001, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-no-longer-exist/62507/180 "2001-05-29T00:14:00Z")
In Orlando, there seems to be the remnants of an old KFC ripoff in the form of several **Maryland Fried Chicken** restaurants. The signs and buildings all seem to have been unchanged from the 1960s. I would imagine that somewhere in the United States, there’s probably an “Arkansas Fried Chicken” or “Georgia Fried Chicken” restaurant along some roadside. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-no-longer-exist/62507.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-no-longer-exist/62507.md?page=10)