Buzz
Have you ever been curious about where your go-to fast food restaurants first began? Your answer awaits.
1. McDonald’s (1398 North E Street, San Bernardino, California)
Juan Pollo
In 1940, Maurice and Richard McDonald relocated their father’s food stand, “The Airdrome,” from Monrovia to San Bernardino, rebranding it as “McDonald’s Bar-B-Q.” Initially a carhop drive-in, the brothers revamped the business in 1948 to specialize in burgers and fries, renaming it “McDonald’s.” Though the North E Street location no longer operates as a McDonald’s, Juan Pollo Restaurants now uses the site as their corporate headquarters and an unofficial McDonald’s Museum. The oldest still-operating McDonald’s is located in Downey, California.
2. Pizza Hut (503 South Bluff St, Wichita, Kansas)
Wikimedia Commons
The inaugural Pizza Hut was established in 1958 by brothers Dan and Frank Carney in their hometown of Wichita, Kansas. While they were certain about including “Pizza” in the name, they settled on “Hut” after realizing the building’s sign could only accommodate nine letters and the structure resembled a hut. In 1986, the original building was relocated to Wichita State University—the Carney brothers' alma mater—where it now serves as a meeting space for the International Business Student Association.
3. T.G.I. Friday’s (1152 1st Ave, New York, New York)
Edible Geography
Seeking a spot to socialize and connect with eligible women in his Manhattan neighborhood, Alan Stillman took the bold step of creating a bar and restaurant. When it debuted in 1965, “singles bars” were virtually unheard of. T.G.I. Friday’s is also recognized as one of the pioneers of “ladies night” promotions. The original T.G.I. Friday’s shut its doors in 1994 and has since been transformed into the Baker Street Pub & Grill.
4. Waffle House (2719 East College Avenue, Decatur, Georgia)
Atlanta Time Machine
Joe Rogers Sr. and Tom Forkner launched the first
5. Dunkin’ Donuts (543 Southern Artery, Quincy, Massachusetts)
Wikimedia Commons
Long before Dunkin’ became a nationwide staple, it started as a modest donut shop on Southern Artery—yes, named after the heart—in Quincy, Massachusetts. Established in 1948 as Open Kettle, it rebranded to Kettle Donuts a year later, and finally became Dunkin’ Donuts in 1950. Though the building has undergone renovations, it retains its original charm.
6. Starbucks (2000 Western Ave, Seattle, Washington)
Wikimedia Commons
The first Starbucks store opened in 1971 at 2000 Western Ave, selling coffee beans and equipment. However, by 1976, the building faced demolition, forcing them to relocate. In 1977, they launched the “1st and Pike” cafe at the entrance of the historic Pike Place Market, marking the beginning of their caffeinated legacy.
7. Chipotle Mexican Grill (1644 E Evans Ave, Denver, Colorado)
Wikimedia Commons
Founder Steve Ells established the first Chipotle Mexican Grill near the University of Denver, initially aiming to sell 107 burritos daily to break even. Within a month, the store was selling over ten times that number. Today, you can still enjoy a burrito from its original location.
8. Nathan’s Famous (1310 Surf Ave, Brooklyn, New York)
Wikimedia Commons
What started as a humble hot dog stand on Coney Island in 1916 still stands today. Polish immigrant Nathan Handwerker invested his life savings of $300 to sell hot dogs using his wife Ida’s recipe, catering to hungry Brooklynites. Over time, Nathan’s Famous grew into a national chain with over 40,000 locations. Yet, the Surf Avenue stand has retained much of its original appearance—unlike many competitors in Nathan’s annual Hot Dog Eating Contest, held at the same spot.
9. Wendy’s (257 E Broad St, Columbus, Ohio)
Fensterbme/Wikimedia Commons
Although Wendy’s shut down its original restaurant in 2007, its legacy continues at their flagship store in Dublin, Ohio, which features a “community room” filled with company history and memorabilia. Historians like Yelp user Jeffrey H. lamented the closure, describing the day as “one of America’s darkest.”
10. Hooters (2800 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd, Clearwater, Florida)
Original Hooters
In 1983, six businessmen came together and revolutionized the chain restaurant industry by launching a “delightfully tacky, yet unrefined” eatery named Hooters. Known as the “Hooters Six,” these founders ensured that patrons would no longer have to order food and drinks from servers in conventional attire. Despite undergoing extensive remodeling, the original location still offers their iconic hospitality, wings, and that unmistakable weird uncle smell.
11. Blimpie (110 Washington St, Hoboken, New Jersey)
Hoboken Sandwich
In 1964, three high school friends launched the first Blimpie sandwich shop in Hoboken, New Jersey. Tony Conza, one of the founders, coined the name after searching the dictionary for a term to replace sub or hoagie, eventually landing on “blimp” and adding “ie” to make it sandwich-like. The original Blimpie is still operating, so stop by—and, please, avoid mentioning Jared at all costs.
12. Taco Bell (7112 Firestone Blvd, Downey, California)
Downey Daily
The original Taco Bell building now houses an unrelated Mexican takeout spot, but if you’re craving Taco Bell specifically, there’s one conveniently located across the street. It’s a rare opportunity to savor a Fourth Meal while soaking in a bit of history.
13. Burger King (7146 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville, Florida)
Originally named Insta-Burger, the first Burger King was established by Keith J. Kramer and his wife’s uncle-in-law Matthew Burns in Jacksonville, Florida. Using their “Insta-Broilers”—ovens that could cook 400 burgers an hour—they expanded into multiple locations and franchised the concept. In 1959, Kramer and Burns sold the business to franchisees James McLamore and David R. Edgerton, who rebranded it as Burger King. Today, the original site is occupied by Stan’s Sandwich.
14. Sbarro’s (1701 65th St, Brooklyn, New York)
It’s hard to picture a Sbarro’s not nestled near a Spencer’s Gifts, but the chain started as a salumeria (Italian grocery store) in Brooklyn’s Bensonhurst neighborhood in 1956. Founded by Gennaro and “Mama” Carmela after they immigrated from Naples, the original Sbarro’s is now a Japanese restaurant. You can still test the saying that there’s no such thing as bad pizza at the Kings Plaza Shopping Center, where they launched their first mall location in 1970.
15. White Castle (NW corner of First and Main St, Wichita, Kansas)
Wichita Photos
The site of the first White Castle, established in 1921, is now a multi-level parking garage. The nearest location to enjoy their iconic sliders is in St. Louis. Despite this, White Castle hasn’t forgotten its roots: in 2011, the company marked its 90th anniversary by returning to Wichita for a single day, hosting a burger fundraiser for the Kansas Food Bank.
