Buzz
Few things are as aggravating as craving a dish from a restaurant that closed its doors years ago. The memory of a unique burger or a special pizza sauce can linger in your mind far longer than the restaurant itself.
The chains listed below, now mostly gone, ranged from regional favorites to those with a few surviving locations. What unites them is the nostalgia they evoke for countless people. Which of these chains stirs up cherished food memories for you?
1. LUM'S
Lum’s began as a humble hot dog stand in Miami Beach, Florida, in 1956, eventually growing into a family-friendly restaurant. Their standout dish was always their beer-steamed hot dogs. In 1971, Lum’s acquired Oliver Gleichenhaus’s renowned Ollieburger recipe for $1 million, a burger crafted over 37 years with a secret blend of herbs and spices. Although Lum’s closed in 1983, a few Ollie’s Trolley outlets remain, still serving the iconic Ollieburgers and their signature spicy fries.
2. MOUNTAIN JACK’S STEAKHOUSE
Mountain Jack's offered a premium steakhouse experience, featuring a unique table-side salad bar with individual lazy Susans. Their prime rib, slow-roasted and coated with a crispy herb crust, was a crowd favorite. However, after its parent company, Paragon Steakhouse Restaurants, filed for bankruptcy in 2002, most Mountain Jack’s locations were closed by 2008.
3. RED BARN
Red Barn debuted in Ohio in 1961 and grew to nearly 400 barn-shaped restaurants across 22 states and parts of Canada within a decade. Their Big Barney double burger preceded the Big Mac by four years, and their quarter-pound Barnbuster was a hit. The chain pioneered the fast-food salad bar, but their fried chicken, served in barn-shaped boxes, was legendary. Breaded with a unique coating and fried in specialized pressure cookers, Red Barn’s chicken remains unmatched in flavor, as fans will attest.
4. SHAKEY’S PIZZA
Imagine this: Sacramento, 1954. Sherwood “Shakey” Johnson, nicknamed for his wartime nerve damage, teamed up with “Big” Ed Plummer to launch a unique pizza parlor. Their J Street location in East Sacramento offered only pizza, draft beer, and soft drinks. Johnson’s crispy thin-crust pizzas, paired with live ragtime and jazz performances, drew crowds within a week of opening.
Franchising began in 1957, and by 1974, Shakey’s had 500 locations across the U.S. After being sold in 1984 and again in 1989, the menu and recipes changed, leading to the closure of most U.S. stores, except for those in California.
5. BURGER CHEF
In 1971, Burger Chef nearly overtook McDonald’s as America’s top hamburger chain, boasting 1200 locations. Originally created to showcase a new flame broiler, the chain introduced the Big Shef and Super Shef burgers, along with the Fun Meal—a combo including a burger, fries, drink, dessert, and a toy. Burger Chef later sued McDonald’s in 1979 over the introduction of the Happy Meal.
In 1968, General Foods acquired the chain, introducing new items like the Top Shef (a bacon cheeseburger) and a chicken club sandwich. The Works Bar let customers customize plain burgers with their favorite toppings. However, in 1982, General Foods exited the burger business, selling the chain to Imasco Ltd., Hardee’s parent company. Many Burger Chef locations closed, and the remaining ones were rebranded as Hardee’s.
6. CHI-CHI’S
Chi-Chi’s offered Mexican-inspired dishes that, while not entirely authentic, were crowd-pleasers, especially when paired with oversized frozen margaritas. Their cheese-covered enchiladas, chimichangas, and signature fried ice cream were fan favorites. Financial struggles plagued the chain, and a 2003 hepatitis A outbreak, linked to imported scallions, infected over 600 customers in Pittsburgh. The $40 million in lawsuit settlements further crippled the chain, leading to its eventual closure in the U.S.
7. BILL KNAPP’S
Founded in 1948, Bill Knapp’s grew to over 60 locations across Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Florida. The chain emphasized fresh, scratch-made dishes, delivered daily in its own trucks. The menu focused on comfort foods like fried chicken, meatloaf, and steaks, ensuring loyal customers. Bill Knapp’s also had a renowned bakery, offering free chocolate cakes for birthdays and anniversaries, along with age-based discounts. The last restaurant closed in 2002, but many of its pastries, including the iconic chocolate cake, are now available at Awrey’s Bakeries.
8. FARRELL’S ICE CREAM PARLOUR
Farrell’s first opened in Portland, Oregon, in 1963, and by the 1970s, it had grown to around 130 locations nationwide. These 1900s-themed parlors served burgers and sandwiches but were best known for their extravagant ice cream creations, like The Zoo, delivered with fanfare on a stretcher accompanied by drums and sirens. Birthday celebrants received free sundaes, but parents faced a challenge navigating the candy and toy-filled store to reach the cashier. Declining sales in the late 1970s led to the closure of nearly all original locations by 1990.
9. HOWARD JOHNSON’S
For over 50 years, Howard Johnson’s iconic orange roofs were a staple along U.S. highways. The chain was renowned for its fried clams, served as strips rather than whole clams, and its butter-grilled hot dogs with butter-toasted buns. Their ice cream, with double the butterfat of regular brands and 28 flavors, was a universal favorite.
In 1982, Marriott Corporation acquired the chain, focusing on its prime real estate. They phased out corporate-owned restaurants, replacing them with motor lodges. Franchised locations struggled without corporate backing, and most closed by the early 2000s, with only a few lingering holdouts.
10. GINO’S HAMBURGERS
East Coast residents in the 1960s and 1970s fondly recall the sirloin burgers at Gino’s, a Baltimore-based chain started in 1957 by Baltimore Colts players, including Gino Marchetti. Their standout offerings included the Gino Giant, a “banquet on a bun,” and the Sirloiner, a quarter-pound sirloin patty, alongside freshly cut and cooked fries. At its peak, Gino’s expanded to over 350 locations, many of which also operated as Kentucky Fried Chicken carry-outs due to the owners’ Mid-Atlantic KFC franchise. Marriott acquired the brand in 1982, gradually converting remaining Gino’s outlets into Roy Rogers restaurants.
11. CHICKEN DELIGHT
Chicken Delight began in 1952 in Illinois when Al Tunick bought discounted deep-fryers from a closing restaurant. Experimenting with the fryers, he developed lightly breaded chicken pieces, a breakthrough since chicken was traditionally pan-fried or roasted, making it unsuitable for fast food. Deep-frying sealed in juices and cooked the chicken quickly, sparking a new franchise.
The chain offered carry-out and free delivery, and its slogan, “Don’t cook tonight, call Chicken Delight!” became a household phrase as more women joined the workforce. At its height, Chicken Delight had over 1000 U.S. locations and 50 in Canada. However, an antitrust suit between franchisees and corporate in 1971 caused significant revenue loss, and competition from Kentucky’s Colonel Sanders further hurt the chain. By 1979, the U.S. locations had closed, but Canadian stores, purchased by Otto Koch, continued operating into the 2000s.
