Uncovering the Birthplaces of 30 Iconic Food Chains

Curious about where your go-to fast food chains first started? You're in the right place.

1. McDonald’s // 1398 North E Street, San Bernardino, California

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, they 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 office and an informal McDonald’s Museum. The oldest still-operating McDonald’s is located in Downey, California.

2. Pizza Hut // 503 South Bluff St, Wichita, Kansas

In 1958, brothers Dan and Frank Carney launched the first Pizza Hut in their hometown of Wichita, Kansas. While they were set on including “Pizza” in the name, they chose “Hut” after realizing the building’s sign could only accommodate eight letters. In 1986, the original structure was relocated to Wichita State University, the Carney brothers' alma mater, where it now operates as a museum.

3. T.G.I. Friday’s // 1152 1st Avenue, New York, New York

Seeking a spot to socialize and connect with eligible women in his Manhattan area, Alan Stillman took the bold step of creating a bar and restaurant. When it debuted in 1965, the concept of “singles bars” was virtually unheard of. T.G.I. Friday’s is also recognized as one of the pioneers in introducing “ladies night” as a promotional strategy. The original location shut its doors in 1994.

4. Waffle House // 2719 East College Avenue, Decatur, Georgia

In 1955, Joe Rogers Sr. and Tom Forkner launched the first Waffle House. Today, the site has been transformed into the Waffle House Museum, offering visitors a chance to explore memorabilia and experience a replica of the original diner.

5. Dunkin’ Donuts // 543 Southern Artery, Quincy, Massachusetts

Long before Dunkin’ became a household name, it started as a modest donut shop on Southern Artery in Quincy, Massachusetts. Established in 1948 as Open Kettle, it rebranded to Kettle Donuts a year later, and finally became Dunkin’ Donuts in 1950. (In 2018, it was shortened to just Dunkin'.) Despite numerous renovations, the building retains its original charm.

6. Starbucks // 2000 Western Avenue, Seattle, Washington

The first Starbucks store started selling coffee beans and equipment from its 2000 Western Avenue location in 1971. However, by 1976, the building faced demolition, prompting a move. In 1977, they opened the iconic “1st and Pike” cafe near Pike Place Market, marking the beginning of their caffeinated legacy.

7. Chipotle Mexican Grill // 1644 E Evans Avenue, Denver, Colorado

When Steve Ells launched the first Chipotle Mexican Grill near the University of Denver, he and his father estimated they needed to sell 107 burritos daily to break even. Within a month, the store was selling more than 10 times that number. The original location, updated in 2017, still serves Chipotle burritos today.

8. Nathan’s Famous // 1310 Surf Avenue, Brooklyn, New York

Starting as a Coney Island hot dog stand in 1916, Nathan’s Famous has grown into a global food chain. Founded by Polish immigrant Nathan Handwerker with a $300 loan, the stand initially served hot dogs made using his wife Ida’s recipe. Despite its expansion, the Surf Avenue location has retained much of its original look.

9. Wendy’s // 257 E. Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio

While Wendy’s shut down its first restaurant in 2007, its legacy continues at their flagship store in Dublin, Ohio, which features a “community room” filled with historical artifacts and memorabilia. Historians like Yelp user Jeffrey H. lamented the closure, describing it as “one of America’s darkest moments.”

10. Hooters // 2800 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd, Clearwater, Florida

In 1983, six businessmen revolutionized the chain restaurant industry by launching Hooters, a “delightfully tacky, yet unrefined” eatery. Known as the “Hooters Six,” these founders ensured customers would no longer have to order from servers in conventional attire. Despite undergoing significant renovations, the original Hooters continues to serve wings with its signature charm.

11. Blimpie // 110 Washington St, Hoboken, New Jersey

In 1964, three high school friends established the first Blimpie sandwich shop in Hoboken, New Jersey. Founder Tony Conza coined the name after browsing the dictionary for a fresh alternative to sub or hoagie, landing on blimp. As reported by The New York Times, he added an 'ie' to create the iconic name. Sadly, the original location has since closed.

12. Taco Bell // 7112 Firestone Boulevard, Downey, California

The first Taco Bell, known as “Numero Uno,” debuted in Downey, California, in 1962. After closing in 1986, the building was saved from demolition in 2015 and relocated to the company’s headquarters in Irvine.

13. Burger King // 7146 Beach Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida

As noted by food historian Andrew F. Smith, Matthew Burns and his stepson Keith G. Cramer launched the first Insta-Burger King in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1953. Inspired by McDonald’s success, they used an Insta-Broiler machine capable of producing 400 burgers hourly. Later, James McLamore and David R. Edgerton franchised the business, switched to flame broiling, and rebranded it as Burger King. Eventually, they assumed control of the national rights, expanding the chain nationwide, while the original location shut down.

14. Sbarro’s // 1701 65th Street, Brooklyn, New York

While Sbarro’s is now synonymous with mall food courts, it 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. For a taste of their legacy, visit the Kings Plaza Shopping Center, where their first mall location opened in 1970.

15. White Castle // 201 North Main Street, Wichita, Kansas

The inaugural White Castle launched in 1921 in Wichita, Kansas; the site now houses a bank, with the nearest slider spot several hours away. However, White Castle honored its roots: In 2011, the company marked its 90th anniversary by returning to Wichita for a day to cook burgers as a fundraiser for the Kansas Food Bank.

16. Sonic // 215 North Main Street, Stillwater, Oklahoma

When Troy Smith Sr. discovered his Top Hat Drive-In’s name was already trademarked, he and partner Charlie Pappe rebranded the Oklahoma chain as "Sonic Drive-In" in 1959, inspired by their slogan “Service With the Speed of Sound.” Though not the original Top Hat site (located in Shawnee), the first Sonic sign was installed at the Stillwater location, where it still stands today.

17. KFC // 3890 S. State Street, Salt Lake City, Utah

Harland Sanders started selling fried chicken from his service station in Corbin, Kentucky, in 1930. Its popularity led him to open a restaurant, where he perfected his recipes using herbs, spices, and innovative cooking techniques. He was later honored as a Kentucky Colonel (a non-military title). Kentucky Fried Chicken officially began in 1952, far from Kentucky. According to Deseret News, Sanders met Utah restaurateur Pete Harman at a convention and visited him in 1952. There, they struck a deal to sell Sanders’ fried chicken at Harman’s restaurant. While creating a sign to promote the new offering, Harman and sign writer Don Anderson coined the name Kentucky Fried Chicken. The original site was demolished in 2004 and reconstructed to include memorabilia and a statue of Sanders and Harman.

18. Panda Express // 3214 Glendale Galleria, Glendale, California

In 1973, Andrew Cherng and his father Ming Tsai Cherng, Chinese immigrants, launched the Panda Inn in Pasadena, California. After a decade of serving upscale meals, the Glendale Galleria management approached the Cherngs to create a fast-food version. They agreed, and now Panda Express is a staple of mall dining, complete with free samples of their signature dishes.

19. Subway // North End, Bridgeport, Connecticut

To fund his college education, 17-year-old Fred DeLuca secured a $1000 loan from Dr. Peter Buck and launched Pete’s Super Submarines in Bridgeport, Connecticut. A second location followed the next year, and by 1968, just three years after opening, they rebranded as Subway. Franchising began in 1974. Though DeLuca didn’t become a doctor, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Bridgeport in 2002. While the original Subway is gone, over 40,000 locations now serve their “Eat Fresh” offerings.

20. Little Caesars // 32594 Cherry Hill Road, Garden City, Michigan

Mike and Marian Ilitch started the first Little Caesars—originally named Little Caesar's Pizza Treat—in a Garden City, Michigan, strip mall in 1959. (Marian nicknamed Mike “Little Caesar.”) The first franchise opened in 1962, and the iconic "Pizza! Pizza!" slogan debuted in 1979. Sadly, the original location closed in 2018, ending its “Hot-N-Ready” pizza service.

21. Jamba // 17 Chorro Street, Suite C, San Luis Obispo, California

Jamba began as a college senior project called Juice Club in 1990 when Kirk Perron, with a loan from his mother, opened his first store in San Luis Obispo, California. Renamed Jamba Juice, the company acquired Zuka Juice, Inc. in 1999. (Since 2019, it operates simply as Jamba.) The original location remains open, offering smoothies and a slice of history in San Luis Obispo.

22. In-N-Out // Interstate 10 and Francisquito Avenue, Baldwin Park, California

The first In-N-Out launched in 1948 when Harry and Esther Snyder aimed to "provide customers with the freshest, highest quality food available, served with friendly service in a spotless environment." The original site was torn down to make way for Interstate 10, so fans of "animal style" burgers must visit other locations.

23. Tim Hortons // 65 Ottawa Street N., Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

The first Tim Hortons, initially named Tim Horton Donuts, was established in 1964. Horton, a Toronto Maple Leafs hockey player, was actively playing at the time. After internal disputes led to his original partner leaving, Ron Joyce, a former Hamilton police officer, became co-owner. (Joyce acquired full ownership after Horton’s death in 1974, purchasing the shares from Horton’s widow for $1 million CAD.) The name evolved from Tim Horton Donuts to "Tim Horton's" and later to "Tim Hortons" for consistency and compliance with Quebec’s language laws. The original location remains operational, and Ottawa Street N is now ceremonially named "Tim Hortons Way."

24. Five Guys // 3235 Columbia Pike, Arlington, Virginia

In 1986, Jerry and Janie Murrell, along with their four sons (and later a fifth), launched Five Guys. The couple had encouraged their sons to “start a business or go to college.” The first restaurant was in the Westmont Shopping Center, where they sourced rolls from Brenner’s Bakery. While Five Guys no longer operates in that location, they remain a staple in Northern Virginia, where the first five locations were established.

25. Dairy Queen // 501 N. Chicago Street, Joliet, Illinois

In 1938, John Fremont “Grandpa” McCullough and his son Alex tested a groundbreaking soft-serve ice cream recipe at their friend Sherb Noble's store. The experiment was a hit, with over 1600 servings sold in less than two hours. Two years later, Noble opened the first Dairy Queen in Joliet, Illinois.

26. Jack In The Box // 6270 El Cajon Boulevard, San Diego, California

Robert O. Peterson launched the first Jack in the Box in 1951, introducing a two-way intercom and pickup window to make fast food even quicker. The original site is now occupied by Platt College San Diego.

27. Benihana // 61 W. 56th Street, New York, New York

In 1964, 25-year-old Hiroaki “Rocky” Aoki used his earnings from driving an ice cream truck in Harlem to open the first Benihana. Initially skeptical, New Yorkers warmed up to the idea after positive reviews, embracing the concept of sharing a hot cooking surface with strangers while chefs prepared their meals. The original location, later called Benihana West, moved to 47 W. 56th Street in 1973 and remains there today.

28. Carrabba’s Italian Grill // 3115 Kirby Drive, Houston, Texas

Johnny Carrabba and his uncle Damian Mandola launched the first Carrabba’s Italian Grill in 1986. The restaurant’s success led to a second Houston location shortly after. By 1993, they partnered with Outback Steakhouse, Inc., which expanded the chain nationwide. The original and second locations remain under the Carrabba family’s ownership.

29. Chick-fil-A // 2841 Greenbriar Parkway SW, Atlanta, Georgia

The first Chick-fil-A debuted in Atlanta’s Greenbriar Mall in 1967, six years after S. Truett Cathy, the chain’s Chairman and CEO, began experimenting with boneless chicken breasts at his Dwarf House restaurant in Hapeville, Georgia. Initially calling it a “chicken steak” sandwich, Cathy changed the name to “fillet” and intentionally misspelled it for trademark purposes. Both the original Chick-fil-A and Dwarf House remain operational—except on Sundays.

30. Fuddruckers // 8602 Botts Lane, San Antonio, Texas

Philip J. Romano, the creator of Romano’s Macaroni Grill, established Fuddruckers in 1979 with the belief that “the world needed a better hamburger.” Originally named Freddie Fuddruckers, the restaurant opened in a converted bank and continues to serve customers today.