11 Closed Restaurant Chains We Miss and Wish Would Reopen
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Ever get the crushing realization that a favorite restaurant from your past is no longer around? BinWise reports that approximately 60% of restaurants fail within the first year of operation, and 80% fail within the first five years.
From many beloved restaurant chains that have come and gone, there are fond memories… and empty stomachs that yearn for those classic tastes. Here’s a trip down memory lane, recalling 11 restaurant chains we seriously miss and would like to see make a comeback.
Howard Johnson’s
Howard Johnson’s: the orange-roofed beacon of roadside dining. This chain, at its peak, had more than 1,000 locations for weary travelers who enjoyed eating some classic American fare – fried clams and ice cream.
The chain declined because it found it difficult to update its menu and keep up with newer chains. It closed the last location in 2022. But Howard Johnson symbolizes 20th-century Americana, and its fans wistfully wish for a return to glory days.
Chi-Chi’s
Who wouldn’t remember the festive Chi Chi’s, with those chimichangas you couldn’t stop eating? It used to be the life of the Mexican dining party at its height.
A hepatitis A outbreak in 2003, coupled with rapid expansion, sadly brought it to an end. Chi-Chi’s is gone, but its bottled salsa is still very much alive. Of course, true fans can’t help but miss the live mariachi bands and endless bowls of chips and salsa.
Beefsteak Charlie’s
Imagine unlimited salad, beer, and wine. Yes, please! During its heyday, Beefsteak Charlie’s was a craze because of its large offerings. However, the all-you-can-drink concept didn’t work out, and the company closed down in 2009.
While hangovers may have gone, the memories of fine feasts have not. It’s too bad that no other restaurant would take up where Beefsteak Charlie’s had left off.
Kenny Rogers Roasters
Chicken lovers, unite! The rotisserie chicken had been the specialty of this chain founded by country music legend Kenny Rogers. Its competition became intense and forced its closure in the U.S. by 2011.
While Kenny Rogers Roasters is still going strong overseas, American fans remember the savory flavor. Who knows? Perhaps one day, we will again see its triumphal return to the States.
Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour
Birthday celebrations and sweet-toothed adventurers alike knew they had to make a trip to Farrell’s. The old-timey ice cream parlor feels appealed to any age. After reaching 130 locations, Farrell’s declined by the late ’80s.
A few attempts at revival have arisen, but the magic of Farrell’s has not been completely restored. Hopefully, future generations will be able to know the whimsical charm.
Burger Chef
Burger Chef was, at one point, a formidable rival to McDonald’s, serving flame broiled burgers and creating meal combos that were ahead of their time. However, its own aggressive expansion would bring the company to its bloody demise in 1996.
Even in its absence, the brand has a place in burger aficionado’s hearts. Will Burger Chef rise from the dead and reclaim its fast food throne? We can dream!
Lum’s
In its humble beginning, Lum’s was just a hot dog stand in Florida, but it became famous for its beer-steamed hot dogs. By 1982, it had expanded to over 400 locations before filing for bankruptcy. Few Lum’s stalwarts remained, and most of its restaurants went the way of the skater.
According to the Omaha World-Herald, the last holdout in Bellevue, Nebraska, closed its doors in 2017. Lum’s is long gone now, but its somewhat bizarre offerings still live in the memories of people who ever enjoyed them. Maybe someday, a new generation will discover beer-steamed dogs.
Victoria Station
The novelty of dining in a railroad car was captured by the imaginations of many thanks to Victoria Station, a chain that offered such a thing. The bankruptcy resulted from financial difficulties, but nostalgia for this one-of-a-kind concept lives on.
People still reflect on the good old days: former employees and former customers alike. Could Victoria Station come back and have its railway charm come back to life? We certainly hope so.
Red Barn
Unique among the fast food architecture was Red Barn with its red barn architecture. While growing to over 400 locations, it had to shut down because of competition from larger chains.
But people love this quaint chain — and miss their Barnbuster burgers and Big Barney fish sandwiches. At some point, maybe Red Barn will be reborn and charm a new generation of diners.
Old Country Buffet
Don’t we all like a good, hearty buffet? It had fried chicken, mac and cheese, and endless soft-serve ice cream — everything you would want out of a buffet. Unfortunately, though this growth was rapid, the chain ran into financial troubles and ultimately filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2016.
While Old Country Buffet is no more, there are still those thrilled for the foodie comfort of having such a wide list of options. We’ll maybe see it make a triumphant return someday.
Minnie Pearl’s Fried Chicken
The Southern-themed fast food chain Minnie Pearl’s Chicken was launched in the 1960s and was based on the popular Grand Ole Opry comedian Minnie Pearl. The restaurant’s plan was to compete with Kentucky Fried Chicken by offering fried chicken and classic Southern sides in a homespun, country-type charm.
Although named after its famous namesake, the chain was mishandled by management, and bad location planning forced it into financial ruin. It would expand to over 500 locations at its peak but would slide into obscurity by the early 1970s. Today, it has been remade as an old-world piece of Americana and a daring — yet ultimately unsuccessful — rival to the fried chicken heavyweights.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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