I’ve seen a Kenny Rogers Roasters, it was not far from where I used to live. Always wondered about it, but I never did go there. Lots of Little Caesers around too, I had some just last week!
Some that I miss?
Bonanza. I loved this restaurant as a kid, we’d go in and place our orders then find a seat and get our drinks and hit the salad bar. That was the best part! I think what drove them under was hygiene issues with the salad bar though…
I also remember Bullwinkles, which comes up in a search but only in the States. I loved that as a kid, going to play the games and watching the fountain show. The locaion I remember is now a Part’s Source.
Has anyone else ever seen a Sizzlin’ Quick? There were a couple of them in the Houston area a decade ago, but I’m not sure if they’re still in business. The extremely cheap hamburgers were pretty good.
Although mention has been made of Poppin’ Fresh/Bakers Square, there was also a chain called House of Pies. When I was a kid, we ate at the Elmhurst (IL) location on the first night of a family trip to Yellowstone.
The Lafayette area is home to two of the sixteen remaining Dog n Suds locations. The first new Dog n Suds to appear in years was the West Lafayette store, which the owner of the Lafayette stand opened a couple of years ago. More info here.
Anyone remember Saxon’s Sandwich Shoppe? There was one in North Olmsted, Ohio (Cleveland suburb where I grew up), and I remember a Life magazine photo which featured a Saxon’s (among many other chains) – the story was about the urban/suburban sprawl in the Phoenix area. In contrast to burger joints, the sandwiches were served cold. I had a ham and cheese the one time I was there, and to say it was “nothing special” would be too laudatory.
While the Baltimore Colts’ Gino Marchetti lent his name to the already-discussed Gino’s, former Cleveland Browns Dick and Ed Modzelewski had a chain called the Beef Corral in northeast Ohio. The commercials had a jingle that concluded: “Let’s hurry on down to Beef Corral/For beef … with a Western FLA-vor!”
I could be wrong about the hygiene thing… last time I ate at a Bonanza I was 10 or so I think, not at an age where I paid much attention to the news and that sort of thing.
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:
Just out of curiosity, I did a Google search for Chicken Delight and found out they’re still around. Most locations are in Canada with only a small handful in the U.S. (mainly New Jersey).
Not defunct, but changed too much to be considered the same: Togo’s, the quintessential college sandwich shop, and Oscar’s, the classic San Diego drive-in.
Numero Uno joints still exist in the Valley. Heck, we even got one up here in the AV! We have an H.Salt as well, it’s right next to the Panda Express I went to tonight as a matter of fact.
And our Shakey’s is still going strong, still dark, still picnic tables, and still nasty pizza. Or at least it was until a few years ago, last time I went.
Not all H&Hs were automats. There was one near the movie theater near where I grew up, which was 40 years ago. BTW, there is a book about them, by one of the family, I got my wife for Christmas last year. link
I know someone who had a gay black friend who was very explicitly told by a Cracker Barrel manager that he was “not their type” of employee. He told all his friends, “I guess I’m just not cracker enough for Cracker Barrel.”
Ray,
I saw a Cassano’s in Hannibal, MO, and across the river in Quincy, IL. The one in Hannibal was still in business last time I drove through town in May. Hannibal’s a nice little town. Notice I’ve not said anything about Cassano’s; Thumper’s mother said, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” Wise advice.
Someone mentioned Maid Rite. There’s one in Quincy, IL in the outlot of the Staples. It may have been going out of business last summer. I remember trying to eat one of those things like a hamburger and wearing most of the filling on my shirt!
