# Defunct restaurant chains
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [December 6, 2006, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004 "2006-12-06T00:37:55Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 14
### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [December 8, 2006, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/261 "2006-12-08T22:36:27Z")
[QUOTE=RogueRacer]
Our Chi-Chi’s was replaced by a chain called Carlos O’Kelly’s. I haven’t went there. It seems to me that someone is confusing some ethnicity there or something. 😉
[/QUOTE]
What? You never had a corned beef and cabbage enchilada? MMMM! 🙂
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### Author:  [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)
#### Post date: [December 8, 2006, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/262 "2006-12-08T22:38:32Z")
[QUOTE=Musicat]
Wasn’t there a Popeye’s chicken once? I seem to recall going to several in the Los Angeles area a few decades ago for their popcorn shrimp.
And two other chains, perhaps small, in the LA area: Pioneer Chicken (bigger portions than KFC) and All-American Burger (burgers of the plump persuasion). One of each of those stores was on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood between Highland and La Brea, IIRC.
[/QUOTE]
IIRC Popeye is still here, but all of the former All American Burger locations have now become Coffee Bean and Tree Leaf locations.
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### Author:  [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)
#### Post date: [December 8, 2006, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/263 "2006-12-08T22:48:56Z")
[QUOTE=fiddlesticks]
That reminded me of a donut shop from my old town, [Mister Donut](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mister_Donut). Interesting that it has mostly disappeared from North America but still can be found in Japan and El Salvador, of all places. They were okay (they specialized in the airy cream-filled varieties), but the best donut shop in town was a little bakery on the main downtown street that didn’t survive the death of its owner. I can still remember its mouth-watering smell…
[/QUOTE]
The Mr. Donut in the town where I grew up is still a donut shop, and still makes the same donuts. It’s now called Spunky Dunkers, and it is the best!
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### Author:  [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)
#### Post date: [December 9, 2006, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/264 "2006-12-09T13:14:29Z")
I like a small franchise chain I saw in Florida-I called them up, and asked about opening a franchise in my state. They were very nice, but said they had no plans to expand outside Florida. Can I open the same style restaurant, and use their concept (but with a slightly differnet name)? Liek instead of McDonald’s, I call my place MacDunny’s?
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### Author:  [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)
#### Post date: [December 9, 2006, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/265 "2006-12-09T15:16:23Z")
[QUOTE=Max Carnage]
Pizza Inn (“For pizza out, it’s-a Pizza Inn!”)
[/QUOTE]
[Pizza Inn](http://www.pizzainn.com/) is still in the Dallas area.
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### Author:  [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)
#### Post date: [December 9, 2006, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/266 "2006-12-09T18:27:37Z")
ralph124c writes:
\> I like a small franchise chain I saw in Florida-I called them up, and asked about
\> opening a franchise in my state. They were very nice, but said they had no
\> plans to expand outside Florida. Can I open the same style restaurant, and use
\> their concept (but with a slightly differnet name)? Liek instead of McDonald’s, I
\> call my place MacDunny’s?
I would say that you should make all the extraneous elements of your restaurant as different as possible. Choose the name of your restaurant to be as different as possible. Make the layout and the color scheme of your restaurant as different as possible. Make the names of the food items on your menu as different as possible, and make the ordering of the items on the menu as different as possible. The only points of similarity should be the choice and the quality of the food items, and even there you should try for some differences. You generally can’t trademark a style of cooking unless it’s utterly different from anything else in the world.
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### Author:  [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)
#### Post date: [December 9, 2006, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/267 "2006-12-09T19:27:27Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c]
I like a small franchise chain I saw in Florida-I called them up, and asked about opening a franchise in my state. They were very nice, but said they had no plans to expand outside Florida. Can I open the same style restaurant, and use their concept (but with a slightly differnet name)? Liek instead of McDonald’s, I call my place MacDunny’s?
[/QUOTE]
Sure, but if you do, be sure to use golden _arcs_– not arches-- for your logo, call your signature product the “Big Mick”, and don’t use sesame seed buns on it.
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### Author:  [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)
#### Post date: [December 9, 2006, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/268 "2006-12-09T20:10:22Z")
My husband just reminded me of a chain that is all but dead…a hamburger and ice cream place here in the Chicago area called Cock Robin. There used to be a bunch of them, but 2 that were near us recently closed, and I think there is only one restaurant left, in Brookfield, IL.
I liked it when I was a kid because the ice cream scoops were square!
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### Author:  [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2006, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/269 "2006-12-10T07:10:34Z")
I came in to this thread to mourn the loss of Ontario’s **Mother’s Pizza** , **Red Barn** , **Godfather’s Pizza** … but have been beaten to the punch.
Some chains I thought were dead are not – Suisha Gardens, Ponderosa, Kenny Roger’s Roasters…
Some defunct restaurants seemed like chains but might not be – Pizzapax, Great Scott Pizza…
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### Author:  [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2006, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/270 "2006-12-10T12:06:21Z")
I think there was a Burger Chain called **Top Hat** that is now defunct. I’m not sure, but I used to see them, never been in one.
There was also a **Kewpee’s** Hamburger franchise with locations in Ohio and Michigan that I think has gone the way of the dodo. Great, basic, burgers.
I’m trying to think of the name of a Steakhouse franchise from a few years back that I believe tried to take on Outback and lost. I think they no longer exist. They had great rib-in Prime Rib, skin-on “smashed” potatoes, even lambchops. It was a modern steakhouse ala Outback but I believe they had a “Yukon” or “Great White North” theme. A bit more pricey than Outback but they had better food. Anyone remember it?
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### Author:  [@Papermache\_Prince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Papermache_Prince)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2006, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/271 "2006-12-10T12:17:47Z")
If the steakhouse you’re thinking of is [Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse](http://www.bugaboocreeksteakhouse.com/locations/main.asp), they still have locations in several Eastern states. Their slogan – “Flavor of the Canadian Rockies.”
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### Author:  [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2006, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/272 "2006-12-10T12:33:14Z")
[QUOTE=Papermache Prince]
If the steakhouse you’re thinking of is [Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse](http://www.bugaboocreeksteakhouse.com/locations/main.asp), they still have locations in several Eastern states. Their slogan – “Flavor of the Canadian Rockies.”
[/QUOTE]
Nope, that was definitely not the name. For some reason, I want to say that it was named after somebody, I think it had a Proper noun in there. I’m gonna go nuts if I can’t think of the name! :smack:
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### Author:  [@Asgardking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asgardking)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2006, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/273 "2006-12-10T12:42:22Z")
[QUOTE=gonzomax]
Were Daly drive in local to Detroit. There may be 1 left. IHOP is disappearing here. Taco Bell used to be big, Oh wait that was too soon. If they are blamed for killing a few they will be in trouble. Jack in The Box was done in by wiping out a few customers.
[/QUOTE]
There’s at least one in Livonia, although it’s not a drive up anymore. Livonia law prohibits eating in parked cars. As far as I’m concerned, Daly has the best salad bar in existance.
How about **Bill Knapps**? There used to be a few around here but no more. They’re big gimmick was that on your birthday you got a percentage off your meal equal to your age. So of course older people liked it better. All I really remember about the place was it served tiny portions. I always left hungry.
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### Author:  [@Asgardking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asgardking)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2006, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/274 "2006-12-10T12:45:43Z")
[QUOTE=jsgoddess]
And another local chain was Sister’s Chicken and Biscuits. I think they were completely gone for a while, but they have been recently resurrected by Massey’s Pizza (though without the biscuits). But Massey’s doesn’t have that amazing rice.
[/QUOTE]
They had Sister’s in the Detroit area as well. When I was young and my dad and brother would go off to scout camp, my mom and I would always go to Sisters. I agree the rice was fantastic and also the spicy chicken.
In fact, the place where it used to be has gone through several other restaurants over the years. I always think of Sisters when I drive by.
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### Author:  [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2006, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/275 "2006-12-10T12:52:57Z")
[QUOTE=devilsknew]
.
There was also a **Kewpee’s** Hamburger franchise with locations in Ohio and Michigan that I think has gone the way of the dodo. Great, basic, burgers.
[/QUOTE]
[Ah, I was wrong. They are still around](http://www.kewpee.com/history.php). Yay!
A classic burger, you can taste the history in these burgers.
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### Author:  [@Caractacus\_Pott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caractacus_Pott)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2006, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/276 "2006-12-10T12:55:31Z")
[QUOTE=Papermache Prince]
If the steakhouse you’re thinking of is [Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse](http://www.bugaboocreeksteakhouse.com/locations/main.asp), they still have locations in several Eastern states. Their slogan – “Flavor of the Canadian Rockies.”
[/QUOTE]
**Prince** ,
Thanks for reminding me of this place. I thought this was among the least appealing name for an overpriced, run-of-the-mill family steakhouse. Among the last thing I want associated with my food is bugs! I’d like to see how THAT name got through the focus groups.
I also must have repressed that memory, because I thought I’d visited the apparently non-existent LaCrosse, Wisconsin location. I never would have eaten there on my own but I was traveling on business. And curious if complimentary Deep Woods Off® wipes came with the meal.
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### Author:  [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2006, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/277 "2006-12-10T12:56:14Z")
> [@](#):
>
> All together the Kewpee has been in operation for over 70 years. It is part of a small franchise. It is one of the oldest franchises in the country and had over 200 restaurants east of the Mississippi before WWII. That’s 25-30 years before the first McDonald’s opened it’s doors. Most of those Kewpee’s closed during the war when ground meat was so hard to get. There are only six Kewpee’s left now. The headquarters is located in Lima, Ohio which is the site of three Kewpee’s. The other two Kewpee’s are in Lansing, Michigan.
Cool. Ohio is the keeper of the classic burger.
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### Author:  [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2006, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/278 "2006-12-10T15:26:29Z")
I seem to remember a steakhouse, not unlike Hoss’, called BOSS. Beer Onions Steak and Salad. All you could drink if I recall. Did I dream this or did it actually exist?
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### Author:  [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2006, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/279 "2006-12-10T16:00:38Z")
I figured out the name of the The Steakhouse! It’s **Mountain Jack’s**. Again, it still exists, just not in my area anymore.
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### Author:  [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2006, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/280 "2006-12-11T01:28:59Z")
[QUOTE=Khadaji]
I seem to remember a steakhouse, not unlike Hoss’, called BOSS. Beer Onions Steak and Salad. All you could drink if I recall. Did I dream this or did it actually exist?
[/QUOTE]
Did you ever go to Oliver’s Tavern in Essex, CT?:
> **[Google Search](https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&q=+%22beer+onion+steak+salad%22&btnG=Search)**
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