Extinct Chain Restaurants We Desperately Miss
A restaurant closing can feel like a small cultural loss. During the late 20th century, several restaurant brands built enormous followings with bold menus, themed dining rooms, and clever marketing. Many expanded across the country before shifting tastes, competition, or financial problems ended their run. Some of them left such an impression that diners still bring them up decades later.
Burger Chef
Image via Wikimedia Commons/John Margolies
Burger Chef launched in 1954 and exploded during the 1960s and 1970s, eventually operating more than 1,000 restaurants. The chain introduced several ideas that later became standard. One example was the “Funmeal,” a kid’s meal with a toy, released years before McDonald’s launched the Happy Meal. Another innovation was the “Triple Treat,” a hamburger, fries, and milkshake combo that sold for about 45 cents in the 1950s. After a gradual decline through the 1980s, the brand disappeared in 1996 when remaining locations converted to Hardee’s.
Howard Johnson’s
Mid-century road trips often included a stop at Howard Johnson’s. The brand expanded rapidly during the 1950s and 1960s, eventually running more than 1,000 restaurants across the United States. The menu included fried clam strips, frankfurters, chicken pot pies, and an unusual lineup of 28 ice cream flavors. Many restaurants were located beside the company’s motor lodges. The final Howard Johnson’s restaurant closed in Lake George, New York, in 2022.
Don Pablo’s
Image via Yelp/Alan B.
Don Pablo’s started in Lubbock, Texas, in 1985 and quickly gained fans with fresh tortillas, salsa, and sizzling fajitas. By the 1990s, the Tex-Mex chain had expanded to around 120 locations, which made it the second-largest Mexican restaurant chain in the United States behind Chi-Chi’s. The dining rooms were just as distinct as the menu. High ceilings, brick walls, indoor fountains, and string lights gave the restaurants a festive look. Despite its popularity, financial problems led to bankruptcy filings in the 2000s, and the last Don Pablo’s closed in 2019.
Pup ’N’ Taco
Pup ’N’ Taco built its reputation on an unusual mix of tacos, hot dogs, and pastrami sandwiches. The chain opened in Pasadena, California, in 1965 and spread across Southern California with nearly 100 drive-in locations. It’s taco dogs topped with frankfurters, taco meat, and pico de gallo, which summed up the brand’s playful menu. Taco Bell purchased most Pup ’N’ Taco locations in 1984 to gain access to their real estate, and the chain disappeared soon after.
Old Country Buffet
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Snade6
Buffets thrived during the 1980s and 1990s, and Old Country Buffet became one of the largest. Diners liked the simple formula of large dining rooms and endless plates of comfort food. The concept struggled once food delivery and takeout gained popularity. The COVID-19 pandemic created another challenge since shared buffets suddenly raised health concerns. Corporate owner Fresh Acquisitions closed Old Country Buffet and several sister chains during the early 2020s.
ShowBiz Pizza Place
Pizza arcades were the scene of many childhood birthdays in the 1980s. ShowBiz Pizza Place opened in 1980 and featured animatronic entertainment known as The Rock-afire Explosion. Kids played arcade games while the robotic band performed on stage. Their competition with Chuck E. Cheese led to a merger in the mid-1980s. Over time, the ShowBiz name disappeared as locations converted to Chuck E. Cheese restaurants. The animatronic band later gained cult status.