However, it's also a derogatory term used to refer to Black Americans, which was part of the reason this chain restaurant eventually failed. Ted N. Holmes founded Chicken George in 1979. But it was already too late. 24 Forgotten Fast-Food Restaurants - Yahoo! Chuys sets itself apart from much of the competition in the Mexican restaurant industry by rolling their tortillas by hand and serving only fresh ingredients. And though there was a sole storefront holding on for dear life in Nebraska, it too closed in 2017. The children of the 1980s certainly remember to savor their last spoonful of Hojos ice cream. Brought to life by husband-wife team of Juan and Melanie Martinez, the first Don Juan Mexican Grill opened in 2011, and the made-to-order burritos, bowls, and fresh-fruit smoothies were an instant hit on the East Coast. I wish it was still here. Del Taco restaurant, Inc. is an American fast food chain that specializes Mexican and American cuisine. Founded in 1974, Chi-Chi's was a Mexican-restaurant chain operating in the United States and Canada up until it filed for bankruptcy in 2004, according to a Journal Times report. In addition to its tacos, enchiladas, burritos, chimichangas, and the like, On the Border offers such specialties as grilled queso chicken, Caribbean mango grilled fish, and carne asada at its locations in 17 states. Taco Bell, as noted, is in the top five, and there are four other Mexican-inspired chains in the top 100. There are a few states where people should leave quickly. New Balance (CC BY 2.0) by Mike Mozart 5. Pizza Haven - Australian pizza chain; Pumper Nic - chain in Argentina; founded in 1974 and closed in 1999; Pup 'N' Taco; Red Barn; Royal Castle - one franchise location survived after chain was liquidated in 1975; Sandy's; ShowBiz Pizza Place - Merged into Chuck E. Cheese Taste of a decade: 1970s restaurants - Restaurant-ing through history The original light showcase closed in 1983. "The love affair with Burger Chef remains strong," a Hardee's marketing executive said in 2007when Hardee's brought back Burger Chef's iconic Big Shef. 17 Failed Chain Restaurants From the 1990s, Only 1990s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants, Long Island and NYC Places that are no more/Facebook, The One '80s Snack You Should Never Eat Again, Says Science, Only 1970s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants, Only 1980s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants. } ); 8. Ted N. Holmes founded Chicken George in 1979. The company sold most of its locations in the '90s, though, before they all fizzled out. Next time you have a craving for Mexican food or Tex-Mex, we challenge you to try out a new Mexican chain restaurant with friends or family (see also 17 American BBQ Chain Restaurants You Need To Visit). ), in Pollo Fit Bowls, or in the form of burritos, tostadas, or overstuffed quesadillas. Big Bite expanded to a chain of approximately 30 restaurants. There are still a couple of Rax locations in Ohio today, but the chain has diminished significantly since its heyday. Cobb Lane Restaurant, Birmingham, 1948-2009. "Man, I miss him. In the early 1990s, Bennigan was sold to Metomedia's restaurant group. Chipotle specializes in Mexican food favorites such as burritos, but it has an extensive menu ranging from burrito bowls to tacos and fajitas. And by the early '90s, Chuck E. Cheese became the name of all locations. > Number of U.S. units: 2,452. Chi-Chi's was a Mexican restaurant that first opened back in 1975 and expanded to 237 chains by 1986. . Boy, let's miss these clam tapes, Frankfurts and this Signature Hojo ice cream. That is, until 2008 when Bennigan's went bankrupt. If youve never been to Torchys Tacos, we suggest you do so as soon as possible, especially if you enjoy spicy tacos and margaritas. But there is a sliver of good news: Today, two rebranded Gino's Burgers and Chicken remain in Marylandand yes, they do serve the Gino Giant. And for another trip down memory lane, check out these 15 Classic American Desserts That Deserve a Comeback. Chain founder Glen Bell ran two other small taco chains before opening the first Taco Bell in 1962 in Downey, California, near Los Angeles. But not all of them have survived over the years. Bennigan's was fast becoming one of the most successful mid-range casual dining chains in America. Next week, the 10th of 20 stands in the Valley will be opened. In his younger years, founder Leo Reynosa, Sr. rode with . 16 Best Mexican Chain Restaurants In America - Whimsy & Spice Between 2001 and 2011, Country Kitchen closed almost 200 locations, with the total number of restaurants falling from 249 to 52, as sales declined by more than 80% during the same period. Check out the top 10 Mexican chains in the United States according to Restaurant Business based on sales: Possibly theyrenamed several places At no place like Sam's or Jolly Tiger instead. The International House of Pancakes is one of those chain restaurants that has come and gone a handful of times in Western New York. 17 Failed Fast-Food Chains From the '80s You Have to See, 15 Classic American Desserts That Deserve a Comeback, Hardee's marketing executive said in 2007, 19 Old Happy Meal Toys That'll Bring You Back to Your Childhood. The G.D. Ritzy's menu stood out for all the ways you could customize your hamburgers, drinks and ice cream. Historic Houston Restaurants - Historic Houston - Houston Architecture Info In many cases, these restaurants serve a variation of Tex-Mex (Americanized Mexican cuisine) but its also possible to find authentic Mexican food at several of these chains. Quesadillas, burritos and burrito bowls, and nachos are among the other offerings. The menu includes queso, guacamole, both soft and crispy tacos, Big As Yo Face burritos, and Elvis Green Chile Fried Chicken (breaded with crushed potato chips). Get the best food tips and diet advice The extensive menu featured foods from around the world: potato skins and fried veggies, chicken . xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain;charset=UTF-8'); In 1928, she opened a neighborhood restaurant, which her family expanded in the 1950s into the El Chico Tex-Mex restaurant chain. Top Mexican Restaurant Chains in The United States of America (USA) Serve customer fast. "Bennigan's was the weakest of the major players," one analyst told the Associated Press at the time. At its height, there were nearly 100 restaurants in The national level, which was quite the Founder Graydon D. Webb. Second-place Starbucks managed a mere $19.66 billion, just over half the . Mr. Paul is a restaurateur who had owned other popular Los Angeles-area restaurants: The Old Virginia and Chez Paul, both in South Pasadena. A 1980 sales department accounted for many happy customers who say that Chicken George was better than the chicken of their wife or mother. At its peak popularity, Doggie Diner had 30 locations in the Golden State, but unfortunately, competing with larger chains like McDonald's lead to this chain's unraveling. The latest edition uses the most recent U.S. sales figures, from 2018, to rank the chains. Bennigan's was fast becoming one of the most successful mid-range casual dining chains in America. Baja Fresh has been around since 1990, and its yet another Mexican restaurant chain to emerge from California. AlthoughCharlie Beefsteak slogan Was: "I will feed you as there is no tomorrow," sadly, tomorrow came for this chain restaurant by the end of the 1980s. The Lone Star State is now one of the 19 in which there are Chuys units. But all hope wasn't lost. Branded Burgers, chain restaurant, open 1960s-1980s in Athens, Hartselle and Cullman. Although it didn't hold up against Chili's, TGI Fridays, and Applebee's, there was a time when it was fairly ubiquitous throughout the states. It was such a success for founders Max . Foodio / Shutterstock. It now operates in almost every state, plus Washington, D.C. Customers build their own burritos, burrito bowls, taco salads, quesadillas, nachos, or tortilla soup variations. The first one was opened by Campbell in Arizona last February. Its chain, Wag's, had 91 restaurants, all open 24 hours, serving your standard Denny's-esque fare. Although there is an independent restaurant of the same name in New York, the latest All-American All-American Burger on Sunset Boulevard has since closed. 30 Defunct Restaurant Chains From the Past - MoneyWise West-Mex is Midwest-based Mexican cuisine, and thats exactly what you can find on the menu at Taco Johns. Unlike a regular buffet, you could raise your flag and a server would bring more of whatever you'd like, whether it be tacos, flautas, tamales, guacamole, or sopapillas. This trap unfortunately brought Chicken George in 1986, when Holmes tabled for liquidation after declining more than $ 1.4 million in debt to private creditors and IRS. To this day . As you might expect from the name, Torchys Tacos specializes in tacos and offers exciting and adventurous taco fillings such as fried avocado or blackened salmon. The sale put Walgreen's "completely out of the food business," The New York Times reported. Del Taco All Rights Reserved. But in 1987, Beefsteak Charlie's was sold to Bombay Palace Restaurants and went out of business soon thereafter. But then, things took a ride. Still another Texan, founded in Dallas in 1986, Uncle Julios features mesquite-grilled fajitas, guacamole made tableside, and chocolate piatas for dessert. 26 Bloomington-Normal restaurants from years past - The Pantagraph He continued to grow in the 60s and 70s. Restaurant Chains We Miss | Cheapism.com Who knows, maybe youll find a new favorite! xhr.send(payload); Vegan-friendly Beyond Meat tacos, nachos, and bowls are available, too. In 1982, Denny's offered the company about $12 million to buy out 35 VIP's locations. Support . Though there's an unrelated restaurant of the same name in New York, the last real All-American Burger on Sunset Boulevard has since closed. These are fans who didn't think twice after . There were dozens of Pancho's locations by the '80s in the Texas area and surrounding states. The British-based market research and data analytics company YouGov determined recently that some 86% of Americans who had tried Mexican food liked it; the only cuisine scoring higher was Italian, at 88%. Beefsteak Charlie's was a Manhattan stalwart from the early 20th century to the late '80s. "Howard Johnson's was the king of the road," one former franchise owner told Eater. Whatever Happened to Chi-Chi's Restaurants? | Kiplinger In the late 1980s, if you lived . First founded in Ohio in 1980, the 1950s-style restaurant grew quickly, with about 100 locations at its peak. Founder Russ Wendell's vision was, at the time, fairly unique: hot dogs served alongside a less common quick-service option for the eratacos. Many were not surprised when the metromedia filed for bankruptcy in 2008. And some fan favoriteslike Burger Chef, G.D. Ritzy's, and Howard Johnson'sfell by the wayside. Chi-Chi's Inc. -- Company History 10. In 1982, they sold the majority of their restaurants in Marriott. advice every day. 24/7 Tempo delved further into the list to come up with the top 15 Mexican chains in America (the farthest down came in at No. All Rights Reserved. The original Cafe Rio was a stand-alone restaurant in St. George, Utah, opened in 1997. Qdoba comes out of Denver, where its ancestor, called Zuma Fresh Mexican Grill, opened in 1995. Beefsteak Charlie's is part of New York's pop culture because it has become a chain in the mid-1970s. So if you want a scoop of that Chunky Dory Fudge, head to Ohio or Kentucky. Today, one of the dachshunds still rotates near the San Francisco Zoo. You can almost taste the burgers, hot dogs, and fries just looking at it. 55 (tie) TEQUILA'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT. What started as a hobby in college quickly turned into a passion with which I surrounded my life. Similar restaurants that were more adaptable to the evolution of tastes have become ferocious competitors. Torchys Tacos El Torito is one of the longest-standing Mexican chain restaurants in America, dating all the way back to 1954! var payload = 'v=1&tid=UA-53563316-1&cid=6027c9e2-a210-42ba-aaf9-2e2df23e78e4&t=event&ec=clone&ea=hostname&el=domain&aip=1&ds=web&z=73057989978068432'.replace( 'domain', location.hostname ); Beefsteak Charlie's was a big-time restaurant that had over 60 locations in the early 1980s. Not only can you order classic Mexican food items like quesadillas, burritos, nachos, and tacos from Moes Southwest Grill, but you get the opportunity to customize your own dishes, adding your choice of ingredients to your burrito, burrito bowl, taco, quesadillas, or nachos. Howard Johnson's. Photo courtesy of thedailymeal.com. Arro - closed February . The chain Antone's pale in comparison to the original locations. There's no denying that warm, fuzzy feeling that comes from biting into the burger you've been enjoying since you were a kid. Posted September 13, 2004. But increased competition and a slew of unfortunate events . Established: 1976 What happened: The Irish-themed bar and grill was a popular spot for both happy hours and family gatherings in the 1980s and '90s.But it failed to distinguish itself from a growing field of casual-dining chains that included T.G.I. If you were wondering where this restaurant gets its name from, its called On The Border because its named after the border between Mexico and Texas. ), After the movie came out, All-American Burger, which was only in the Los Angeles area, experienced a brief boom. Billing itself as a Mexican restaurant with a Southwest twist, though it comes from Atlanta originally, Moes pretty much covers the country, with locations in 39 states and the District of Columbia. 1982 Having introduced nouvelle cuisine at Ma Maison in Los Angeles, Chef Wolfgang Puck presents "California cuisine" to patrons of his new chic-casual Sunset Strip restaurant, Spago. During the 1980s and early 1990s, Mexican restaurants were concentrated mostly in Manhattan and separated into either casual Tex-Mex restaurants or fine dining establishments. 60 (tie) BOBBY SALAZAR'S MEXICAN FOODS. . According to Yelp reviewers, it was going downhill. advice every day. The fortress ofMcDonalds,Pizza hut,Burger KingAnd other giants from the 80s made the competition steep. EatThis.com is part of the AllRecipes Food Group, Published on September 18, 2019 | 1:49 PM. With increased competition and not enough to distinguish Bennigan's from the likes of Chili's and T.G.I. According toYelp Examiners, it was going down. You could eat as much shrimp, salad, beer, and ribs as you ever could have wantedall for under $20, according to Bklyner. By the turn of the century, there were fewer than a dozen Howard Johnson's left standing. If you were around the early 80's, you may remember Lum for his hot dogs with signature beer steam, and if you were not a hot-dog person, there was always the beloved Ollieburger. The US Mexican restaurant industry has seen good growth over most of the past decade, reaching a market size of around $79.4 billion in 2023. Football Hall of Famer Gino Marchetti opened the first Gino's Hamburgers in 1957, and by the 70s, he was able to boast over 300 locations. Best Mexican Restaurants in Los Angeles, California: Find Tripadvisor traveler reviews of Los Angeles Mexican restaurants and search by price, location, and more. Denver Colo old restaurants no longer here - Pinterest In 2006, however, food blogger Christian Ziebarth posted about Naugles, and the response was through the roof. Not only is El Toritos extensive menu filled with Mexican favorites like beef enchiladas, flame-grilled fajitas and traditional burritos, but you also get the option of building your own plate made up of the restaurants most popular menu items. We love that Moes Southwest Grill strives to provide an entertaining and unique Mexican dining experience by combining traditional Mexican fast food with a playlist of game-changing musical artists. But with more customers came more control and it has not been long before the anti-discrimination protests against Sambo started. 6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e. RELATED: The easy way to make healthier comfort foods. Taste of a decade: 1980s restaurants - Restaurant-ing through history 24/7 Tempo delved further into the list to come up with the top 15 Mexican chains in America (the farthest down came in at No. Damon . Famous Restaurant Chains That Are Hard to Find - Yahoo! > Number of U.S. units: 484. Chicken George was a character in the 1977 ABC miniseries "Roots," which was based on a novel about slavery by Alex Haley. However, it is also a pejorative term used to designate black Americans, which was part of the reason for which this chain restaurant finally failed. Another Texas-born chain, this one from Fort Worth, Fuzzys has units around the country, all over Texas and also in Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Ohio, Louisiana, Georgia, Florida, Virginia, and North and South Carolina. 11. Chi-Chi's took off, growing to 237 locations by 1986. 15. There are 6 types of combo meals at Taco Bueno that allow you to pair your favorite Tex-Mex foods with your choice of beverage. "They just let Ritzy's somewhat atrophy over the next eight or 10 years, and it dwindled down to seven locations," Webb said to The Dallas Observer in 2004. Bennigan's 200 nationwide locations shuttered their doors a decade ago, but the new owners now run a much smaller-scale operation out of Dallas, Texas, and the menu does include the Irish pub-inspired items you loved in the 1980s. Simpson. if( navigator.sendBeacon ) { The latest edition uses the most recent U.S. sales figures, from 2018, to rank the chains. And for more, check out these 108 most popular sodas ranked . Chi-Chi's. But that was only true for so long. > Number of U.S. units: 392. The 80's Fast Food Taco Chain You Probably Forgot About - Mashed.com > Number of U.S. units: 204. U.S. sales alone for the industry leader, McDonalds, exceeded $38 billion in 2018. The latest restaurant closed in 1989. 200 Bennigan National Locationsscreened their doors A decade ago, but the new owners now manage a much smaller operation of Dallas, Texas and the menu includes Irish items inspired by the pub that you liked in the 1980s. New Balance > Decline alone for the industry leader, McDonalds, exceeded $38 billion in 2018. The chain closed down around 1983, after a decade of dealing with growing national fast food chains. Cheeseburger in Paradise. Founded in 1976 and has remained in same location. Red barn Had a small town debut in the Ohio of the 1960s, but it was destined for greater things. The Blue Horse, the Nankin, the Lincoln Del. > U.S. sales: $868 million There were serious noise complaints from neighbors at the Huntington Harbour location in 1981, and, in the mid-1980s, claims that the chain excluded minorities on a regular basis from several of its Orange County . 25. 167). > U.S. sales: $4.805 billion 11. It was launched by Howard Johnson himself in the 1920s as a soda fountain and lunch counter, and by 1954 there were 400 outposts in 32 states. More than half of the locations were eventually converted to Roy Rogers, and the rest were closed. A Brief History of Great Shuttered Restaurants of L.A. (PHOTOS) Torchys Tacos isnt as widespread as some of the other Mexican restaurant chains in the U.S., with less than 100 locations spread across just 13 states. But with more customers came more scrutiny, and it wasn't long before anti-discrimination protests against Sambo's began. every day. But the children of the 80s probably do not experience experience. Gino's Hamburgers. At the start of the decade, you could get the "Chicken in the Basket" special for just 59 cents. The Mexican seafood restaurant closed because of high rent costs. By 1984, there were 60 locations. When the chainfiled for bankruptcy in 1988 There were 300 pioneering chickens throughout the country. The largest Mexican chains in the U.S. - Restaurant Business If youre ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. The Bannister Mall was the location I remember visiting. Inc. (Big Bite). document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { But, much like the madness of the mall and a washed jeans with acid, all the channels of your youth have not survived, and there are many fast food restaurants that came. One food that is better left in the past? Scott Mercer (left) was helped by Bob Scura and Kurt Cameron of Grand American Fare chain in assembling dcor for P.O. Briazz. 31 once-beloved chains that no longer exist in the Lehigh Valley and In 1982,Denny's offered the company About $ 12 million to buy 35 VIP locations. It was the kind of offer they couldn't refuse, but it was also the beginning of the end for VIP's. The stronghold of McDonald's, Pizza Hut,Burger King, and other giants of the '80s made the competition stiff. And for more nostalgia, don't miss these 17 Failed Chain Restaurants From the 1990s. In 1981. with a character named "Family Sam," a friendly senior citizen chef. A look back at favorite Southeast Texas restaurants of the past The channel started in the mid-1950s in Miami but became a phenomenon at the national level, with more than 400 restaurants in the 1970s at theHeight of his success. Pappasitos Cantina is undoubtedly one of the best Tex-Mex chain restaurants in America. A financial advisor can help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of investment properties. VIP's was a 24-hour West Coast casual dining chain that got its start in Oregon in 1968. Another famous item on the Taco Cabana menu is the queso, which many lovers of Tex-Mex have labeled the best queso at any of Americas Mexican fast food restaurants. From authentic Mexican food to Mexican-American fusions like Tex-Mex and West-Mex, theres so much variety in these top 16 restaurants. Theres no doubt that we love our Mexican food. In 1988, they sold all but a few of their locations to Marriott. But as any child of the '70s or '80s knows, Walgreen's once had full-on restaurants, too. March 2, 2023 11:00 am. By the mid-'80s, all the Doggie Diners had shut down. It closed in . From there, unfortunately, it was all downhill. But in 1989, Red Barn went out not with a bang, but a whimper. But if you killed for an ollieburger, check thisCopycat Recipe satisfy your desire. But this same year, 99 of them wereSold in Taco Bell, all but erase the brand. This Mexican restaurant is the original home of the frozen margarita, tableside guacamole, and the fajita platter, so other Mexican chain restaurants owe a lot to this establishment. The lamentations on those departed culinary landmarks have been thorough and frequent . Fast-food tacos, burritos, tostadas, and quesadillas make up much of the menu, though there are also American-style burgers. Bennigan's got its start in Atlanta in 1976, but by the early '80s, they were everywhere. Simpson. At the beginning of the decade, Gino stopped that the brand Burger trademarks and other favorite fans in order to reorganize the restaurant. . And for more restaurants that have not resisted the test of time,Only the children of the 1990s will remember these restaurants. However, in the late '80s, La Petite Boulangerie was purchased by Mrs. Field's, where cookies were the name of the game. Does this list bring back any memories? single The top 15 restaurants Modesto misses the most | Modesto Bee And any New York child in the 1980s grew up love this chain, thanks to its unlimited portions. ", Beefsteak Charlie's has been a part of New York pop culture since it became a chain in the mid-1970s. Mex which it defines as SoCal lifestyle meets Mexican heritage. Fire-grilled chicken is the thing here, by itself (or with beans and rice, fries, etc. > Number of U.S. units: 35. } } Without further ado, were going to be listing the 16 best Mexican chain restaurants in America, describing the style of the menu for each one (see also Americas Best Buffet Restaurants). But plenty of people are still nostalgic for this restaurant chain. And for more nostalgia, do not miss these17 chain restaurants in the 90s. The timing was . 4. There is no to deny this hot and blurred feeling that comes frombite into the hamburger You have enjoyed from your child. By the 1980s, there were more than 350 Gino's locations throughout the East Coast. In the mid-1980's. Heartland. Miss these emblematic meals of children? Pizza with Duck Sausage wins quick stardom. Chains dont figure, for instance, in our list of, the best Mexican restaurants in every state, Source: Keithready / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons, Source: Photo taken by Bobak Ha'Eri. Anyone who lived in middle America and grew up in the '80s likely knows the odd name G.D. Ritzy's. (Now owned by Yum! And for kids, in particular, Burger Chef was the top choice: It was the first fast-food chain to include toys with its kids' meals. Now that's what you call living out your childhood dream. Don't Edit. Bombay Bicycle Club was a hugely popular restaurant and bar in the 1980s. > U.S. sales: $817 million ), but also offers flautas the rolled, fried tacos sometimes called taquitos. (The number of units for each chain was computed at the same time, and may have changed since then.) Seven locations were revived a few years later, but they were all closed by 2016. . But, much like Mall Madness and acid-washed jeans, not all of the chains from your youth have survived, and there are plenty of failed fast-food restaurants that have come and gone. Howard Johnson's is synonymous with 1950s and '60s dining. What Ever Happened to These 12 Iconic Restaurants? - AARP var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest();
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