# 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:** 8
### Author:  [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2006, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/141 "2006-12-06T20:30:46Z")
Great thread. My former hometown of Johnstown, PA has at one time or another hosted a number of the restaurants mentioned here. Lessee, there was definitely a Rax, a Howard Johnson’s (I used to go up there for the Wednesday fried clam special), a Chi Chi’s, a Friendly’s (ghastly decor, looking like it was designed someone by with a fetish for the 1890’s, while on acid) and I believe there is still a Ground Round up at the mall there. There was also a Red Bull Inn, which was a small steak house chain that I thought was defunct, but it turns out there’s still one out near the Pittsburgh airport.
I just ate at a Steak ‘n’ Ale on the west side of Houston yesterday. First time I’d ever been in one.
[Quote=tanstaafl]
We had another chain of “southern” style restaurants around here called “Black-Eyed Peas” that seem to have gone away. Does anyone remember them or know if there are any still around somewhere? As I recall they weren’t great but were at least a step up from Folks.
[/Quote]
Black Eyed Pea (no ‘s’) are pretty common here in the Houston area.
> [@](#):
>
> Also, we used to have a restaurant chain here that had all of their buildings designed to look like railroad boxcars. They were called (something) Station, I think. Anyone remember those?
Ah, yes, Victoria Station. Not just designed to look that way, BTW; they were actual, out-of-service vintage railroad cars, trucked onto the site. They must have gotten a sweet deal from several railroads for all their castoffs.
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### Author:  [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2006, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/142 "2006-12-06T20:32:27Z")
[QUOTE=Cemetery Savior]
I used to beg my parents to take me to \*\*Dog -n- Suds \*\* in Fox Lake, IL. Miss that place…kinda like an A&W, drive-up only.
[/quote]
There used to be a drive-in chain in Columbia, SC (and possibly elsewhere, but that’s where I saw them) called Frank 'N Steins; a hot-dog and beer restaurant.
> [@](#):
>
> I think the Bennigan’s off-brand \*\*Steak and Ale \*\* is dead around here, not sure about other areas.
There’s a Steak and Ale about a mile from my office but I haven’t eaten there in a long time. Haven’t seen a Bennigans in years though.
> [@Wee Bairn](#):
>
> I can find no trace of it on the web, but I could have sworn there was definitely a late 1970’s burger chain called Judy’s that was a direct ripoff of Wendy’s back when Wendy’s first got huge- they had the same interior design, same square burgers, same plastic beaded curtains, everything except I think the main color was light blue.
I remember those. I had no luck with Google on them either. IIRC they did eventually change their name to “Judys, Judys, Judys” to distance themselves from Wendy’s but they vanished anyway.
> [@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?
That was it, thanks. Never ate there but I always remember passing the building.
> [@Grossbottom](#):
>
> 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!
I love Bojangles! We have two relatively near my house. Love their dirty rice.
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### Author:  [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2006, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/143 "2006-12-06T20:34:58Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Is Friendly’s still around in the East?
As I noted above, there are plenty in New England – Massachusetts, NH, and Connecticut have them.
**Dippin’ Donuts** only had two or so. The one in Southbridge showed up in **Zippy the Pinhead** three times (it looks like he copied it from a photo – it looks identical down to the cracks in the asphalt). They’re closed now, replaced by the ubiquitous Dunkin’ Donutas. There’s still a Dippin’ Donuts elsewhere in Western Mass, but it might not be a related store.
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### Author:  [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2006, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/144 "2006-12-06T20:43:14Z")
I was going to post about [Shakey’s Pizza](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakey's_Pizza) but it turns out that there are a few still operating in the US.
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### Author:  [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2006, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/145 "2006-12-06T20:52:30Z")
[QUOTE=acsenray]
Does anyone remember … **Godfather’s** pizza… ?
[/QUOTE]
I remember Godfather’s! We used to order out from them all the time when I was a kid.
And another pizza joint that I was surprised is still in business (I just looked it up) is Mr. Gatti’s. It looks like they are going by “Gatti’s” now, and they still have franchises open in several states, especially Texas.
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### Author:  [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2006, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/146 "2006-12-06T20:52:38Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn]
I can find no trace of it on the web, but I could have sworn there was definitely a late 1970’s burger chain called Judy’s that was a direct ripoff of Wendy’s back when Wendy’s first got huge- they had the same interior design, same square burgers, same plastic beaded curtains, everything except I think the main color was light blue.
[/QUOTE]
There was one in Mountain Home, Arkansas called “Andy’s” - same thing, except Andy looked like young Mr. Burns, with the curls and all.
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### Author:  [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2006, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/147 "2006-12-06T20:57:47Z")
This was probably a very small local chain, but anyone from the St. Louis area remember The Parkmore? It had at least two locations, both with carhops and a bustling car cruising crowd (think Mel’s in American Grafitti). It was THE hangout after highschool games, both inside and out. Mostly upscale coffee-shop menu, but large burgers and high-class shakes (made with real food, not imitation).
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### Author:  [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2006, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/148 "2006-12-06T21:02:52Z")
[QUOTE=Musicat]
This was probably a very small local chain, but anyone from the St. Louis area remember The Parkmore? It had at least two locations, both with carhops and a bustling car cruising crowd (think Mel’s in American Grafitti). It was THE hangout after highschool games, both inside and out. Mostly upscale coffee-shop menu, but large burgers and high-class shakes (made with real food, not imitation).
[/QUOTE]
Big Bend and Clayton Road, baby!
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2006, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/149 "2006-12-06T21:03:48Z")
[QUOTE=UncleRojelio]
I was going to post about [Shakey’s Pizza](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakey's_Pizza) but it turns out that there are a few still operating in the US.
[/QUOTE]
There’s one in Redlands, about 10 miles from where I sit. I used to stop there for lunch once or twice a week during the summer, but it looks like that will stop soon too:
_The Springfield, Illinois Shakey’s, formerly known as “The Largest Shakey’s in The Country”, recently ended its franchise agreement upon the announcement that Shakey’s will be converting all buffets to sit-down restaurants._
The buffett was the only thing Shakey’s had going for it.
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### Author:  [@Iggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggins)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2006, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/150 "2006-12-06T21:04:58Z")
[QUOTE=Airman Doors, USAF]
[Hot 'n Now](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_'n_Now) was pretty good food for the price, which was next to nothing even in the mid-90s.
[/QUOTE]
To hijack a bit - when Hot n’ Now went out of business, my friend and I thought of buying up all the empty locations, and turning them into drive up “adult” rental places. Wouldn’t even need to change the signs…
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### Author:  [@Iggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggins)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2006, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/151 "2006-12-06T21:20:33Z")
And… to contribute:
1. There is Godfather’s Pizza in the Northwest.
2. Pietro’s Pizza.
3. Grizzly Bear Pizza.
I seem to only remember pizza places… How strange!
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### Author:  [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2006, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/152 "2006-12-06T21:23:29Z")
[QUOTE=silenus]
The buffett was the only thing Shakey’s had going for it.
[/QUOTE]
The buffet was a late, last ditch addition to Shakeys. It came around when they switched their motif from “Dark, smokey beerhall with picnic tables” to “Bright, family dining at individual tables.”
When I was a kid you ordered your pizza at the window, got your drinks, and went back to your table until the analog electric sign flashed your number.
AND WE LIKED IT!
God, I miss that place.
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### Author:  [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2006, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/153 "2006-12-06T21:42:44Z")
[QUOTE=Hypno-Toad]
I believe that the **Horn and Hardart Automat** followed the trend of their competition and changed their name to **Hardees**.
[/QUOTE]
I doubt it. They are nothing alike, and the Horn and Hardarts in New York did not become Hardees - plus Hardees were co-existent with H&H. There were Hardee’s in Illinois in 1973, and the H&H on 42nd Street in New York (the first place I ate a restaurant meal by myself!) was still there around 1988 - and was rented out for a bar mitzvah at night.
Anyone remember Wetson’s hamburgers? There was one in Queens near where I grew up decades before McDonalds moved in. Chicken Delite was another one - they delivered chicken in the '60s. Their slogan was “Don’t cook tonight, call Chicken Delite.”
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### Author:  [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2006, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/154 "2006-12-06T21:52:36Z")
[QUOTE=Hypno-Toad]
The buffet was a late, last ditch addition to Shakeys. It came around when they switched their motif from “Dark, smokey beerhall with picnic tables” to “Bright, family dining at individual tables.”
When I was a kid you ordered your pizza at the window, got your drinks, and went back to your table until the analog electric sign flashed your number.
AND WE LIKED IT!
God, I miss that place.
[/QUOTE]
Exactamundo! They served fun at Shakey’s (also pizzaaaaaaa).
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### Author:  [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2006, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/155 "2006-12-06T22:08:06Z")
[QUOTE=Voyager]
Is Friendly’s still around in the East?
[/QUOTE]
Already covered. Posts 65, 72 (with website link), 79, 80, 91, and 130.
I can personally name locations for at least two Friendly’s (though I have no desire to eat at either). Main St in Bel Air, MD, and Rt 175 in Odenton, MD.
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### Author:  [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2006, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/156 "2006-12-06T22:12:18Z")
I don’t how far away from Colorado they ever made it, but I really miss Round-the-Corner Burgers. It was the first place I remember fancy burgers, like blue cheese or mushroom and stuff. They only burger options other than them were the McDonalds Wendys burgers, or the simple neighborhood diner burgers. They went out of business when places like Red Robin, or Chilis started making Gourmet burgers along with other complete menus.
But the coolest thing about Round the Corner, was that each booth and table had a red phone box, and you would call your order back to the kitchen, the most amazing thing ever as a kid.
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### Author:  [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2006, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/157 "2006-12-06T22:15:15Z")
**Wetson’s** in NY had the BEST fries!
**Chock Full O’ Nuts** (in the subway). Pretty good fries too.
**White Tower** (Inferior to White Castle)
**Chicken Delight** (“Don’t cook tonight… call Chicken Delight!”)
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### Author:  [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2006, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/158 "2006-12-06T22:39:05Z")
[QUOTE=Only Mostly Dead]
Already covered. Posts 65, 72 (with website link), 79, 80, 91, and 130.
I can personally name locations for at least two Friendly’s (though I have no desire to eat at either). Main St in Bel Air, MD, and Rt 175 in Odenton, MD.
[/QUOTE]
There’s one at York and Seminary in Lutherville, which has been there forever. The website also lists one at 8200 Perry Hall Boulevard in Nottingham, which would put it in White Marsh Mall, but I would have sworn that one was closed. I guess it’s still open.
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### Author:  [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2006, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/159 "2006-12-06T22:45:11Z")
[QUOTE=Cemetery Savior]
I used to beg my parents to take me to \*\*Dog -n- Suds \*\* in Fox Lake, IL. Miss that place…kinda like an A&W, drive-up only.-Cem
[/QUOTE]
There was a Dog -n- Suds in Des Plaines, IIRC ages ago.
At Wolf and Oakton was a place called Yankee Doodle’s, just across from the high school. Every day, there’d be an illicit pilgrimage across the street to eat at Doodle’s rather than the school cafeteria. The name lives on now as a small chain of sports bars, but the original was merely a burger joint.
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### Author:  [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2006, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunct-restaurant-chains/383004/160 "2006-12-07T02:15:30Z")
[QUOTE=Cemetery Savior]
I used to beg my parents to take me to \*\*Dog -n- Suds \*\* in Fox Lake, IL. Miss that place…kinda like an A&W, drive-up only.
-Cem
[/QUOTE]
There is still one on Route 12 in Richmond, IL, if you feel like taking a little drive this summer! 🙂
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