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.
Black Eyed Pea (no ‘s’) are pretty common here in the Houston area.
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.
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.
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.
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.
That was it, thanks. Never ate there but I always remember passing the building.
I love Bojangles! We have two relatively near my house. Love their dirty rice.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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…
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
