10 Defunct Fast-Food Restaurants That People Used To Love
There’s something timeless about fast food: the neon-lit parking lots, the scent of grilled burgers and deep-fried chicken, the thrill of unwrapping something hot and delicious. The experience is as satisfying today as it was 50 years ago.
Americans’ love affair with fast food began with White Castle, the first chain fast-food restaurant, founded in 1921 in Wichita, Kansas. Famous for its small “slider” burgers, standardized production, and spotless kitchens, White Castle created the template for fast food as we know it — and it’s still going strong today, with 345 locations across the U.S.
A few decades later, McDonald’s took the concept nationwide, opening its first franchised restaurant in 1955. Today, Mickey D’s operates more than 13,000 U.S. locations and 28,000 internationally, serving billions of burgers, fries, and shakes in more than 100 countries. Along the way, dozens of other fast-food chains emerged, but not all stood the test of time.
From burger empires to roast beef innovators and seafood specialists, here are 10 defunct fast-food restaurants that once ruled the roadsides and mall food courts before disappearing (or nearly so). How many of these vintage chains have you visited?
Burger Chef
At its peak in the 1970s, Burger Chef was one of America’s largest fast-food chains, boasting more than 1,200 locations across 38 states. Founded in 1958, it earned a loyal following for its flame-broiled burgers, creative advertising, and its Funmeal, a kids’ combo that debuted before McDonald’s introduced the Happy Meal.
The chain’s reputation took a hit after a tragic incident in 1978 in which four employees disappeared in an unsolved murder. This tragedy, combined with growing competition from Burger King and McDonald’s and some corporate missteps, caused the chain’s decline, and it was eventually sold to Hardee’s in 1982.
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Red Barn
With more than 3,000 locations across 19 states and several countries, Red Barn was once a major player in the fast-food landscape. Established in Ohio in 1961, this beloved dining spot was memorable for its barn-shaped buildings and its jingle, “When the hungries hit / Hit the Red Barn.” The chain pioneered salad bars and self-service beverage stations long before they became industry standards, and it introduced the cartoon characters Chicken Hungry, Big Fish Hungry, and Hamburger Hungry.
Despite it being one of the first chains to have a self-serve salad bar and introducing a double-decker burger (Big Barney) years before the McDonald’s Big Mac, corporate mergers and rising competition in the 1970s led to Red Barn’s bankruptcy in 1986.
Burger Queen/Druther’s
Burger Queen was founded in 1956 in Winter Haven, Florida — two years after Burger King’s debut — serving burgers, fries, milkshakes, and later, fried chicken, breakfast, and salad bar items. At its peak, the chain had more than 200 U.S. locations and a cartoon mascot, Queenie Bee, introduced in 1971.
But legal battles with Burger King and Dairy Queen complicated growth, and the chain rebranded as Druther’s in 1980 to better reflect its broader menu. After forming an equity partnership with Dairy Queen in the late 1980s, most Druther’s locations became Dairy Queen franchises, leaving only one independent Druther’s in Campbellsville, Kentucky.
Arthur Treacher’s Fish & Chips
Founded in 1969 in Columbus, Ohio, this restaurant was named after English actor Arthur Treacher and capitalized on the British pop culture craze with its fast-food take on fish and chips. At its height, the chain had 826 locations across the U.S., many featuring something that hadn’t been seen before in the fast-food world: a baked potato bar.
Unfortunately for the chain, the 1970s “Cod War” between the U.K. and Iceland sent fish prices soaring, while changing consumer tastes and declining interest in fried seafood further hurt profits. By the late 1980s, most locations had closed or been rebranded. Today, only three stand-alone Arthur Treacher’s restaurants remain.
Henry’s Hamburgers
Launched by Bresler’s Ice Cream Company in 1954 in Chicago, Henry’s Hamburgers once rivaled McDonald’s, with more than 200 locations across 35 states. Known for its “10 burgers for a dollar” deal, as well as 15-cent burgers, 10-cent fries, and colorful signage, it was a family favorite during the fast-food boom.
But inconsistent franchise oversight, failure to modernize for drive-thru trends, and declining sales doomed the brand by the mid-1970s. Today, a single Henry’s remains in Benton Harbor, Michigan — and has offered drive-thru service since 1988.
Rax Roast Beef
Founded in 1967 in Springfield, Ohio, Rax Roast Beef quickly became a formidable rival to Arby’s — expanding to more than 500 locations across 38 states by the mid-1980s. Known for its roast beef sandwiches and buffet-style salad bars, Rax aimed to elevate fast food with upscale decor and a diverse menu.
However, a misguided rebrand featuring the controversial “Mr. Delicious” mascot and an expanded menu that included pizza and Chinese food led to confusion and declining sales. Bankruptcy filings and ownership changes followed, and by the 1990s, most locations had closed. Today, only six Rax restaurants remain: one in Illinois, one in Kentucky, and four in Ohio.
Sandy’s
Sandy’s got its start in 1958 in Peoria, Illinois, when a group of local entrepreneurs were denied a McDonald’s franchise. With Scottish-themed branding, a tartan-clad mascot named Sandy, and signature items such as the “Big Scot” burger, the chain emphasized thrift, speed, and friendly service. At its height, Sandy’s boasted more than 240 locations across 20 states.
In 1972, the chain merged with Hardee’s, and by 1979, the Sandy’s name was phased out — though a few independent franchises carried the brand into the 1980s under names such as Zandy’s and Bucky’s.
Wetson’s
Wetson’s, founded in Levittown, New York, in 1959, grew into a regional hamburger chain with 72 locations at its peak in the 1960s and early 1970s. The brand was known for its budget pricing, the “Big W” signature sandwich, and clown mascots named Wetty and Sonny — plus slogans such as “Look for the Orange Circles.”
As national chains such as McDonald’s and Burger King expanded into the New York market, though, Wetson’s steadily lost ground. By the mid-1970s, it had merged with Nathan’s Famous — after which most Wetson’s locations were closed or rebranded.
D’Lites
Promising healthier fast-food options, D’Lites offered lower-calorie burgers, diet shakes, and other healthier takes on drive-thru favorites long before wellness culture went mainstream. After the first location opened in Norcross, Georgia, in 1978, the chain rode the early ’80s fitness craze to expand rapidly, reaching more than 100 locations across 19 states.
Overexpansion and high costs eventually led to bankruptcy in 1986. By 1987, most locations were either closed or acquired and converted into Hardee’s locations, as Hardee’s sought to grow quickly in the same regions. Short-lived though it was, D’Lites helped pioneer the idea that fast food could be healthier.
Pup ’n’ Taco
Founded in 1956 as a drive-in stand in Pasadena, California, Pup ’n’ Taco served an unusual but much-loved menu of hot dogs, tacos, burgers, pastrami sandwiches, and tostadas. The first fast-food restaurant officially named Pup ’n’ Taco opened in Pasadena in 1965, and at its peak the chain had 108 locations, mostly in Southern California and also in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
In 1984, Taco Bell (then part of PepsiCo) acquired 99 of the Pup ’n’ Taco locations, largely for their real estate, which effectively ended the chain. A few stores in New Mexico survived the deal under the name Pop ’n’ Taco, two of which lasted until 2013.
