navigator.sendBeacon('https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', payload); There are now a few Naugles 2.0 locations across California. Big brothers in the '90s really were just like Buzz from Home Alone. Since 2006, we've watched Guy Fieri travel coast to coast visiting some of the country's greatest establishments for Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. In the early 1990s, the . Heather DeLuca Updated: December 20, 2022. By the early 1970s, financial issues forced them to sell to Hardee's. If not, then you probably recall South Park's legendary take on the Mexican-themed restaurant chain. See if you can remember these totally or nearly defunct chain restaurants from decades ago. Far from it. Steak, steak and more steak were served up hot and juicy at Steak and Ale, a chain of chuck houses that operated out of Texas. It was reported closed in 2014. If you put Canadian in the name of your restaurant, then the most sensible place to locate your franchises is in New York City and South Florida, right? Open since 2018, this bright neighborhood spot that quickly became an essential in the area for pica-pica, shared Filipino plates. This birthday star won two Emmys for her role as Lilith Sternin on "Cheers . Fehn's opened in Dayton as Fehn's 1891 House in 2004 and closed 10 years later. "I remember the great pizza deals the Mariners had on the back of their tickets," one man wrote. The last Howard Johnsons closed last year. After much success, the company took their stock public, but after an investigation by the Security Exchange Commission and inquiries with their books, the chain closed up shop in 1968. Due to fickle consumer trends and high rent, many beloved restaurants have been forced to call it quits over the yearssome even after decades of success. With prices like that, what child of any era wouldn't have loved Little Tavern? If you were a Mets fan in the 1980s, chances are you were incredibly confused by the ubiquitous Howard Johnsons chain. The chains upsetting and racist name caused protests and lawsuits across the US at its 1,117 stores. Once a chain, now a singular outpost, Chicago-based Henrys Hamburgers was the go-to spot for burgers and fries (even outdoing Micky Ds!) Two brothers, Clifford and Stuart Pearlman, launched Lum's, which specialized in "beer-steamed" hot dogs, in Florida in 1971. Become a Delish Unlimited member to read and save unlimited articles. In 1969, it was acquired by a Nashville Company, Performance Systems, but it didn't know quite how to run a restaurant business. But competition grew fierce in the casual-dining chain arena. Compaq. Thus, he made a deal with cartoonist Hanna-Barbara for the use of a certain smarter than average bear and set about franchising the chicken operation throughout South Carolina. Little Tavern was a chain of charming, cottage-style restaurants that felt like a home away from home for many children of the '90s in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. area. Get the best food tips and diet advice every single day, Now, you'll have the best and latest food and healthy eating news right in your inboxevery Its giant dachshund with wide eyes is a local icon although the diner is long gone. And RIP to . At its height, there were more than 100 locations across the country. High-profile fans were said to include even Sylvester Stallone. Unfortunately, though, that wasnt the reality for Doggie Diner. Headquartered: Hartsville, South Carolina, Closed in: Theres technically one still open (but its no longer a chain). 19 Begging Your Parents for a Nickelodeon Radio Amazon 6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e. Around 1990 most of the outposts turned into Dairy Queens and the chain phased out shortly thereafter. It should come as no surprise that the red barn was painted red and shaped like a barn. LUANNE M. FERRIS/DG Show More . Initially, the chain and its 15 cent hamburgers were a massive success. MaggieMoo's opened in Kansas City in 1989. At its height, there were 230 White Towers, but the chain died after legal action from White Castle forced them to make significant changes. The chain offered lean beef, high fiber buns, and low-fat cheese. Sadly, many of these 1990s chain restaurants have gone the way of the Discman and Tamagotchis: forgotten and discarded. Delish editors handpick every product we feature. 90s food was a time for exploration. Sadly, the chain padlocked the doors of all its restaurants last October, as the business was unable to make things work in the new world ruled by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Favorite. All Rights Reserved. William Galt reportedly was perturbed that so many of his fellow restaurateurs were dying before their time, so he set out to give the public a better option than such brands as KFC, where Galt once worked as a franchisee. However, the herbal tea sold at the Good Earth Restaurants is still alive and well in the form of Good Earth Tea. But the brand changed hands yet again, and Koo Koo Roos final feathers were plucked in 2014. Starting with a small shop in Indiana in 1954, Burger Chef eventually grew to over 1,000 locations and rivaled fast food giant McDonald's. Kenny Rogers Roasters was another celebrity-backed chain restaurant, but this one was all about country music and homestyle chicken. WebThe Top Restaurants in the US by cuisine or features - Restaurants.com Top best restaurants Top Restaurants for Business Meetings in New York City From Michelin-starred restaurants to great budget options, New York City is considered one of the top culinary hotspots in the country, where you can find a bit of everything. Though they did have a few locations, the restaurant chain's life was short. With help from his family, Wetanson opened the first Wetson's in 1959. . 1. In fact, one has been refurbished, relocated to the Outer Sunset neighborhood of San Francisco, and become an official city landmark. Nautica was immensely popular throughout the '90s, but was sold in 2003 to VF Corporation, who also owns North Face, Vans, and several other brands. It may have replaced a Swingle. The casual dining steak house, founded in 1966, was one of the first restaurants to conceptualize the steak and salad bar combination. Though the chain was popular enough to make it onto Seinfeld in the first place, ultimately, Kenny Rogers Roasters went bankrupt in 1998. The late country star Kenny Rogers got into the fast-food biz in 1991 with this Southern-fried restaurant, but by 1998, the chain declared bankruptcy and was subsequently reorganized by buyer Nathans Famous, makers of those hot dogs. Burger King bought all the Carrols restaurants by the mid-1970s. 18 Blockbuster Restaurant Chains From the '90s That Are Gone or Hard to Find, 15 Classic American Desserts That Deserve a Comeback. Despite such gimmicks, by 2008, it was game over for Steak and Ale. The small chain was known for its Club Burger (a precursor to the Big Mac) and its Looney Tunes drinking glasses that were part of a standard order with a large drink. Located on Seventh Avenue, The Stage was one of the most popular delis in New York City after being founded in 1937 and was known for having a menu full of Broadway-inspired dishes. College students and late-night drunk eats? Headquartered: Los Angeles, California; Houston, Texas. Contact Vickki Dozier at (517) 267-1342 or [email protected]. Chicago is famous for its hamburgers, be it at the original Billy Goat Tavern or Edzos Burger Shop. Despite its iconic status, the beloved California burger chain went under in the 2000s. There were 10 locations at its height, but come 1974, the chain succumbed to the competition (otherwise known as McDonalds and Burger King). The first Bud's in Lake Worth was at 928 N. Dixie Highway. Mamma Desta (1978-1983) 4840 Georgia Ave., NW. } But for '90s kids, Bob's Big Boy had a very different significance. Rather, Doggie Diner was actually where many hungry Bay Area residents dined for the better part of 40 years, mostly in San Francisco and neighboring Oakland. I was born in the Spring of 1990, during a time when technology was steadily growing and about to change the world in ways nobody could have expected or foreseen, before our thin and efficient iPhones were in the making. There is one restaurant remaining in Benton Harbor, Michigan. And if you want to host a '90s party today, you can still pick some up at Walmart. But, once McDonalds and Burger King made their way down to Argentina, Pumper Nic lost business, ended up in a lawsuit about their logo with Burger King and inevitably closed in 1974. Googie's was one of the Upper East Side's best causal Italian spots and has been missed dearly since it closed in 2008. This Mexican restaurant chain first opened in Minnesota in the 1970s, but at its peak in the mid-1990s, it had 210 locations nationwide. If this sounds eerily familiar, its because White Tower came along only five years after the very similar and also Midwest-based, White Castle. Sounds like a solid business plan. Best '90s Stores - Clothing, Book, and Movie Stores That Closed. The chain folded sometime within the decade. After the regional chain was bought out in the 1980s, things took a turn. And by the mid-1990s, Little Tavern suffered financial issues and these local favorites started closing one by one. Here are 12 things from the '90s that don't exist today even if we kind of wish they still did. The company prospered from sales to CB radio enthusiasts in the 1970s, and introduced a successful personal computer, the TRS-80. In what is now regarded as a cautionary tale of slapping a famous name on a restaurant and calling it quite, Minnie Pearl's Chicken, named after the country singer Pearl, once had almost 500 locations in business. End of story. It was originally marketed as a take-out joint, but later had some seating. In the 1980s and 1990s, brothers Richard and Larry D'Amico were instrumental in creating a new era in Twin Cities area dining, with their Primavera, D'Amico Cucina, Campiello, Cafe Lurcat and this. Olga's Diner, Marlton There's little argument that Olga's Diner was South Jersey's best-known diner for decades. To read and save unlimited articles, sign up to become a Delish member. (194?-2016) Rapp's Restaurant / 602 W. Northwest Hwy. Fashion Cafe in New York City gathered iconic models together, like Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Elle MacPherson, and Claudia Schiffer to endorse it. Heap Big Beef was one of the first "Wild West" themed restaurants, but it also had a Native American theme that people today would see as culturally insensitive. According to the New York Times, America's passion for the sugary, carbonated beverage soared from the '60s to the '90s before beginning a steep downward trend in the aughts.By 2015, soda consumption had taken a nosedive to the tune of a 25 percent . (At least KFC actually, ya know, started in Kentucky.). The company, famous for its warm croissants, had 93 stores in its peak, but eventually closed down in 2000. The franchise left the States in 2004, but still operates in Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait. First opened: 1961. So, if Planet Hollywood, The Official All-Star Cafe, or Kenny Rogers Roasters had a special place in your heart, it's time to pour one out for your favorite failed restaurant chains of the 1990s. However, after years of decline, White Towers fortress collapsed in 2004. Many contenders attempted to answer this very question at one of the over 100 outposts of the Arizona-based chain Eatza Pizza. The following year, Planet Hollywood filed for bankruptcyand The Official All-Star Cafe went down with it. But after being bought and sold on repeat, the chain eventually closed in 1988. For more From the Archives, visit our Web page here. After rising in popularity for several decades, Michigan like nearly every place in America saw the homogenization of chain restaurants by the turn of the millennium. reply. Dees Drive-In catered to University of Utah students back in the 1920s and then expanded. The #dreamteam went on to found 359 locations. Today, theres only one Morrisons left in Mobile, thus disqualifying it as being called a chain any longer far removed from the empire it once was. In addition to ethnic foods of all types, the U.S. has a history of self-founded restaurants. If youve ever road-tripped across America, odds are high that youve pulled over at a roadside Dennys. So if you could get your hands on a biscuit, fried chicken, and mashed potatoes, you considered yourself lucky. Last Call! "Never Come Back To My Restaurant": Chef Bans Rude Restaurant Patrons And Gives $1,350 Bill To 22 Y.O. A former employee of Mr. Fables still owns the brands copyright, but so far, it remains in stasis. It sounds like a place where you might take Fido for a filet and maybe a martini. Hot dogs steamed in beer? But in the 1970s, they ended up selling all of their locations to Hardees. If you were lucky enough to adventure into a Rainforest Cafe, which first opened at the Mall of America in Minnesota in 1994, then you know all about its glory. What's Your State's Favorite Super Bowl Dip? And for more throwbacks, don't miss these 25 Great Foods from the 1980s That Will Remind You of Simpler Times. Lauren Gray is a New York-based writer, editor, and consultant. Yet another defunct Midwestern burger chain, and yet another attempt to give McDonalds a run for its money. If you were lucky enough to still have a Roy Rogers near you in the 1990s, chances are high you were a serious devotee. Howard Johnson's. There is one Howard Johnson's restaurant left in the country, in New York's Lake George. The company soon fell into controversy when opponents argued its name was a reference to a derogatory term for African Americans. Founded in 1930, the Cloud Club offered more than just food. Located at 2 Archibald St., Spiak's had been a corner bar, lunch counter and restaurant for 90 years, according to past news articles. It was a time of Beanie Babies and Blockbuster, of Saved by the Bell and slap bracelets. Planet Hollywoods popped up everywhere. Ma'am Sir 4330 W Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90029 East side Filipino restaurant Ma'am Sir closed its doors at the end of August. Like all the other themed restaurants you've read about here, Rainforest Cafe struggled to maintain its luster. But now, only nine locations remain. Sam's Red Hots / 2345 W. Armitage Ave. Chicago, IL. Think: tacos, hamburgers, hot dogs and pastrami sandwiches. Founded in 1978, there were more than 100 locations by 1985 but by 1987, it had sold 90 percent of its restaurants to Hardee's after ceasing to franchise in 1986 and filing for bankruptcy. BEST WINES FOR VALENTINE'S DAY Stir up romance with a bottle. Hot Shoppes; Little Tavern Burgers; Dino's Italian Restaurant; Eddie Leonard's Sandwich Shop; Port of Italy Restaurant; Kenny Rogers Chicken; Burger Chef; The Red Barn; Arthur Treacher's Fish-n-Chips; and too many more to list, but all of these are waaay better than Radio Shack went bankrupt twice, in 2015, and most recently on March 8th, 2017. It was as fancy of a place a child growing up in. Copyright 2023 PopCulture.com. we miss them all. Kids from the 1990s who grew up near a major city had the glory of experiencing ESPN Zone, yet another themed entertainment restaurant that cropped up in 1998. 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