# 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:** 20
### Author:  [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2009, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/381 "2009-10-08T21:47:42Z")
Sorry about that, I had no ill intent and didn’t notice that **chcrawfish** is a new poster.
My comment was meant to be along the lines of “Chug, chug, chug… or go, go go…” in a sense rooting for a poster who seemed quite excited about the topic. I probably should have punctuated with 😃 to clarify my meaning.
And welcome to the SDMB, **chcrawfish**! Yummmm, crawfish…
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### Author:  [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)
#### Post date: [October 9, 2009, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/382 "2009-10-09T00:21:49Z")
This chain vanished 6 years ago (in the Boston, MA, area). Since then, the buildings have been empty, and deterioratig. Just recently, the one in Newton Highlands (Highland Ave.) is being renovated-it is going to be an “Acapulco” Mexican restaurant-a truly awful place.
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### Author:  [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)
#### Post date: [October 9, 2009, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/383 "2009-10-09T01:34:01Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#):
>
> Pizza, Pizza!!
You are evil.
There was a very small MIchigan chain that I think has disappeared: **[Hot N Now](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_'n_Now)**. how awesome of a name is that?
Their prices were awesome. Drive thru service that has never been beaten by any of the big three ( Mc Donald’s/ BK or Wendy’s) and the food was really good.
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### Author:  [@Wolverine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolverine)
#### Post date: [October 9, 2009, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/384 "2009-10-09T02:47:13Z")
I came to mention [Chi-Chi’s](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chi_Chi's) which closed all its U.S. stores in 2004. Apparently they lasted longer than I knew (the one’s in the Detroit area closed in the mid-1990’s). There are still a few opened overseas though.
Never mind. I only clicked on the main page, not realizing it was 8 pages long. I did a quick search and didn’t see anything posted without reading the entire thing. Carry on.
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### Author:  [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)
#### Post date: [October 9, 2009, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/385 "2009-10-09T07:56:04Z")
Well, now that the undead has been raised, Church’s is far from defunct. There are about 1600 restaurants worldwide, including 10 here in Tucson.
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### Author:  [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2009, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/386 "2009-10-10T10:20:42Z")
On the bus through Chinatown here in LA, I noticed there is still an abandoned Velvet Turtle, with all the signage still intact. It looks like it has been sitting there empty for a couple of decades. You would think they would do something with the property. God our Chinatown is lame. Thank God for the San Gabriel Valley!
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### Author:  [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2009, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/387 "2009-10-10T10:45:15Z")
> [@ralph124c](#):
>
> This chain vanished 6 years ago (in the Boston, MA, area). Since then, the buildings have been empty, and deterioratig. Just recently, the one in Newton Highlands (Highland Ave.) is being renovated-it is going to be an “Acapulco” Mexican restaurant-a truly awful place.
Good Mexican food is pretty scarce around Boston. We take what we can get.
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2009, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/388 "2009-10-10T13:32:00Z")
Just to forestall any road trip plans, the Lums in Plattsburgh I mentioned back in 2006 has now closed. I haven’t been to Elmira lately but I’d recommend calling ahead.
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### Author:  [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2009, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/389 "2009-10-10T15:20:59Z")
> [@Stan\_Shmenge](#):
>
> On the bus through Chinatown here in LA, I noticed there is still an abandoned Velvet Turtle, with all the signage still intact. It looks like it has been sitting there empty for a couple of decades. You would think they would do something with the property. God our Chinatown is lame. Thank God for the San Gabriel Valley!
Man, that is too bad-the Velvet Turtle had an awesome Steak diane! What a shame.☹
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### Author:  [@jed67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jed67)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2010, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/390 "2010-07-10T07:56:27Z")
> [@Merhouse](#):
>
> OMG, I’ve been reading this thread and have just been amazed at all the chains I remember; I’ve been to way too many of them, but Pewter Pot really caught my eye. They had the absolute **BEST** muffins in the entire world!
>
> I went to college in Rhode Island (URI) and went up to MA one day for some long-forgotten reason, I ended up stopping at the Pewter Pot in Braintree. I loved the muffins so much I subsequently made trips there specifically to buy muffins! Long way to go for muffins, but well worth it 😃
I remember Pewter Pot; my mother would take me there when she was shopping, either Weymouth or Braintree, MA.
Does anyone remember York Steak House? or maybe Rustler Steak House?
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### Author:  [@jed67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jed67)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2010, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/391 "2010-07-10T08:00:29Z")
> [@Papermache\_Prince](#):
>
> I’d remembered the name “Victoria Station” but no details. There’s a book - **[Prime Rib & Box Cars: Whatever Happened to Victoria Station?](http://www.vicsta.com/toc.html)**
I remember Victoria Station, there was one on the North Shore in MA.
Does anyone remember Pebbles in FL?
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### Author:  [@jed67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jed67)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2010, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/392 "2010-07-10T08:05:40Z")
> [@Grossbottom](#):
>
> Lum’s is alive and well in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We used to lunch there a few years back: flat soda but decent stick to your ribs grub.
>
> I particularly miss Bojangles, which was thriving down here when I was a kid. It was a chicken and biscuits chain with amazing sausage biscuits! And there was Wuv’s, a burger and fries chain that’s long extinct. And how come I can’t find a Steak n’ Shake east of Sawgrass? I love SnS.
Bojangle’s just opened a new store in Altamonte Springs, FL and we use to have a Lum’s in Hingham, MA
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### Author:  [@jed67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jed67)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2010, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/393 "2010-07-10T08:12:16Z")
> [@brianjedi](#):
>
> I remember Bonanza. As I recall, they got bought out by Ponderosa Steakhouse (or at least all the ones in my area did.)
>
> Come to think of it, I haven’t seen a Ponderosa in a month of Sundays, either.
Bonanza’s still exist, Google their website.
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### Author:  [@jed67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jed67)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2010, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/394 "2010-07-10T08:14:17Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#):
>
> No, they’re gone. There is a chain in PA/NJ using the Horn and Hardart name, but they’re not automats and merely bought the name when the company went under.
>
> Other NYC chains that are no more include Needick’s (great hamburgers and orange drink) and Chock Full 'O Nuts Coffee Shop (though the coffee is still around, and they let you sell it in independent stores).
>
> When I tried them, it was clear that Wetson’s had the worst fries in the history of the universe. They were not only bad, but they were the worst of all possible fries. Think of undercooked potatoes fried in motor oil and served with a side of axle grease and you begin to get the flavor. :eek:
“come on down to Hardee’s, where the burgers are charcoal-broiled!”
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### Author:  [@jed67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jed67)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2010, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/395 "2010-07-10T08:16:50Z")
> [@elmwood](#):
>
> When I lived there, there was _[Maryland Fried Chicken](http://www.agilitynut.com/05/1/mdfried.jpg)_, with outlets that looked like they haven’t been touched since they were built in 1963.
I stopped at a Maryland’s cause it always smells so good; I left when I saw how nasty it was inside!!
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### Author:  [@jed67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jed67)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2010, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/396 "2010-07-10T08:18:44Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#):
>
> You live in Casselberry?
> I used to live there.
does anyone remember Chun King in Casselberry, FL?
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### Author:  [@jed67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jed67)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2010, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/397 "2010-07-10T08:20:08Z")
> [@acsenray](#):
>
> Ponderosa still has a few locations under the “Bonanza” name. Actually, I could never tell the difference between the two. Were they ever really two distinct places?
yes, they both still exist; there is a Ponderosa on I-drive in Orlando.
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### Author:  [@jed67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jed67)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2010, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/398 "2010-07-10T08:21:52Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#):
>
> Out in Salt Lake there used to be a chain of **Big Barn** or **Red Barn** or something lik that. For all I know they still exist someplace, but they’re gone from SLC. Some of their signs showed up at an independent burger joint (with the trademark names, like “Big Barny”, crossed out). One Chinese restaurant I liked was made out of an old Big Barn. I didn’t realize this until I stood way back from it one day and noticed that the new facade covered the front of a barn-shaped building.
>
> One chain tat seems to have disappeared is **York Steak House** , which used to be in the Northeast. Quick and inexpensive steaks, with nice salads and desserts. I kinda miss them.
Yes!! there was one in Hanover, MA
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### Author:  [@jed67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jed67)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2010, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/399 "2010-07-10T08:24:26Z")
Does anyone remember Village Inn restaurants? I remember one in the Tampa area.
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### Author:  [@jed67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jed67)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2010, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/400 "2010-07-10T08:28:08Z")
> [@alphawulf](#):
>
> Taco Tico–Crystal hamburgers–Jim Dandy Fried Chicken–I miss Crystal and the corn fritters at Jim Dandy
do you mean Krystal’s Burgers? they still exist.
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