8 Iconic American Restaurant Chains That Went Out Of Business

[Baz]

Must have been all those cheapskate Porsche owners who didn't tip!

[wdfifteen]

I remember Burger Chef. I didn’t know they had closed down. No great losses here s far as I’m concerned. Was Arther Treachers Fish and Chips just a regional thing? Used to go there 30years ago.

[masraum]

I'm not surprised about the Kenny Rogers shutting down, and had forgotten about them. Boston beat them.

Wow, I remember Sambos and eating at Sambos when I was young.

I've never heard of Mr Donut, but I did grow up eating Dunkin Donuts.

I hadn't eaten at a Steak and Ale in a long time, and had no idea they were closed.

I was a little bummed when Bennigan's shutdown, and I'd have been completely happy for TGI Fridays and Applebees to have both shutdown and left Bennigans. I haven't been to either (Bennigans or Chilis) in a long time, but I could see heading to one in a pinch or while traveling or something like that.

One place that I miss is Shakey's Pizza. That was where we went for pizza when I was a kid. I have no idea if the pizza was any good.

[cstreit]

I really liked the deep fried Monte Cristo at Bennigans...

[ckelly78z]

-"Bob's Big Boy"...only 5 resturaunts remain.
-Most of the rootbeer stands that you drove into, and a car hop took your order...BK rrotbeer in Ohio.
-White Castle, good little burgers.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by masraum

One place that I miss is Shakey's Pizza.

Shakey's is still in business, but I haven't seen one in years. There was a Shakey's in Dayton back in the 60s. They advertised heavily on Top 40 radio. I still remember one of the jingles.

"Shakey's Pizza Parlor And Ye Public House
Is where you should be tonight.
Shakey's 21 different kinds of pizza and every one of them is alright!"

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by ckelly78z

-
-Most of the rootbeer stands that you drove into, and a car hop took your order...BK rrotbeer in Ohio.

We have a place called Swenson's in Akron that still has that model. Seven locations per the internet but not huge volume in the lots.

Not like the old days at Frische's Big Boy growing up in Toledo. So many cars it was like a social gathering.

[tabs]

Sizzler, Van De Kamps

[astrochex]

Bennigans is still around. Sadly the local staff is not nearly as attractive as those in the video.

[flatbutt]

HoJos is where we went back in the day.

HoJoLand.com

[Halm]

Clearly regional in scope, but S&W Cafeterias.

I remember often going to the original one at 100 Trade Street with Mom and her parents.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by masraum

One place that I miss is Shakey's Pizza. That was where we went for pizza when I was a kid. I have no idea if the pizza was any good.

We still have a few around (six in Orange County).
I used to like their bunch of lunch special:

Your local lunch time buffet
Pressed for time but looking to satisfy lunchtime cravings? Try the best deal in town - Shakey’s famous Bunch of Lunch. Have it all with unlimited pizza, chicken, Mojo®s, pasta, sides, salads and more for one low price! Available from 11am to 2pm at participating locations

[asphaltgambler]

There was a Shakey's Pizza joint near me that sadly went out about 20 years ago. It was the only place to get a pitcher of beer when I was under age. I also remember they would show silent movies from the 1920's constantly on a large white screen from a movie projector.

I thought their 'za was better then most every other place similar around me, seemed to always having a fair amount of people eating there. I miss it.

The last place we rented, had a glass shade suspended from the ceiling on a chain over the dinner table.....that looked exactly like the ones Shakey's used over their booth tables. To the point when anyone of age came over we asked if that lamp shade looked familiar........

It was so ugly it was cool and the running joke............

[Pazuzu]

I miss Steak and Ale, when I moved to Miami I was poor and didn't know anyone, there was a S&A next door so I spent lots of time there at the bar. Got lots of free food and comped drinks and even ended up banging one of the bartenders. Good times...

[scottmandue]

Sorry too busy to watch the video. but just from the comments:

We have a couple sizzlers, The Sambo's in Santa Barbra is still open (maybe the first?). The Bob's in Burbank is still open, we also have Shaky,s.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

I miss Steak and Ale, when I moved to Miami I was poor and didn't know anyone, there was a S&A next door so I spent lots of time there at the bar. Got lots of free food and comped drinks and even ended up banging one of the bartenders. Good times...

When I lived in Jax years ago, a couple of buddies (still are) worked at one and talked about their escapades. Somewhere in an inebriated bliss....I dubbed them "Ache and Stale" ...we both still remember and laugh. He regretted that it was long after he quit though...he SO wanted to roll the clock back to when he still worked there....and use it

[craigster59]

Farrell's Ice Cream Parlors. Used to love going there as a kid. There are a few around, one was in Santa Clarita but changed it's name.

They had a few terrible tragedies, planes crashing, out of control cars. Sad.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farrell%27s_Ice_Cream_Parlour

[GH85Carrera]

On cross country trips there used to by a Stucky's every few miles it seemed. They vanished long ago. They had a lot of candy so my brother and I always lobbied to stop at one. Dad almost never did. Maybe that is why they went out of business.

At Bennigan's they also had a dessert called "death by chocolate" that was a challenge to any true choch-a-holic. One of my friends loved that and was known to go in and order just a death by chocolate as his meal and eat it all himself. Usually a table of 4 to 6 each had a bite and left the rest.

[ltusler]

White Castle still going strong here in MN.

[drcoastline]

Originally Posted by ckelly78z

-"Bob's Big Boy"...only 5 resturaunts remain.
-Most of the rootbeer stands that you drove into, and a car hop took your order...BK rrotbeer in Ohio.
-White Castle, good little burgers.

Stewarts root beer here in NJ. Dwindled down to a dozen or so drive ins. Many properties still operate but do not use the Stewarts name but retain the colors. A few years back there was a resurgence and some new properties opened. They also now seem to franchise mobile vending carts for fairs and such. I make it a point to visit a few times a summer to hopefully keep the drive in a live.