Original Locations Of Famous Fast Food Brands
Iconic American fast-food chains gained popularity due to their convenience and affordability. However, their original locations have seen varied fates. While some remain intact, others have given way to parking lots and interstates as these global chains took time to establish themselves. Keep reading to learn more.
The First In-And-Out Burger Was Built In Baldwin Park, California
In 1948, Harry and Esther Snyder established the first In-N-Out Burger in Baldwin Park, California, pioneering the state's first drive-thru hamburger stand. The original location at the intersection of Interstate 10 and Francisquito Avenue was eventually demolished for the construction of the interstate.
Currently, their grandchild, Lynsi Snyder, serves as the company president. Unlike most fast-food chains, In-N-Out remains unfranchised and private. Lynsi intends to pass on ownership to her children in the future.
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Dunkin' Donuts Got A Name Change In 1950 And 2019
In 1948, William Rosenberg opened a coffee and donuts shop in Quincy, Massachusetts, which he later renamed Dunkin' Donuts in 1950. The franchise model began in 1955, with his son Robert becoming the CEO at the young age of 25. In 1963, the company celebrated the opening of its 100th restaurant.
In 1990, Dunkin' Donuts was acquired by Allied Lyons, the holding company of Baskin-Robbins. Then, in 2019, the company underwent a rebranding, changing its name to Dunkin' and shifting its focus towards being a "beverage-led company."
The Original Dairy Queen In Joliet, Illinois Is A City Landmark
In 1938, John Fremont "J.F." McCullough and his son Alex developed the soft-serve formula. They joined forces with their friend Sherb Noble and opened the first Dairy Queen restaurant in Joliet, Illinois, in 1940. Within a few hours, they sold over 1,600 servings of ice cream. While the original restaurant ceased operations in the 1950s, the building still stands as a city-designated landmark at 501 N Chicago St.
Since 1940, Dairy Queen has been franchised, and Texas boasts the highest number of Dairy Queen restaurants in any state. The first Canadian store was established in Estevan, Saskatchewan, in 1953.
The Cheesecake Factory Started With One Woman
Evelyn Overton decided to start her own business after receiving compliments about the cheesecake she made for her husband's employer back in 1949.
She sold her cakes for years and started a wholesale bakery in Los Angeles. After her son started a small restaurant in Beverly Hills, California in 1978, they added a menu of just cheesecakes, the first unofficial Cheesecake Factory.
Chipotle Started With The Goal Of Selling 107 Burritos Every Day
Chipotle Mexican Grill founder Steve Ellis opened his restaurant in Denver, Colorado, in 1993 at 1644 East Evans Avenue.
Ellis' father gave him an $85,000 loan, and they figured out he would need to sell 107 burritos daily to make a profit. One month later, he was selling over 1,000 a day.
Baskin-Robbins Was The Result Of Merging Two Ice Cream Parlors
Baskin-Robbins was formed in Glendale, California after brother-in-laws Burt Baskin and Irv Robbins decided to merge their separate ice cream parlors.
When the two fully merged, they then had a total of 31 flavors, which was unheard of at the time. The company was acquired by United Brands Company in 1967 and eventually went public in 1972.
The Pizza Hut Was A Convenient Name
Brothers Dan and Frank Carney opened the first Pizza Hut in their hometown, Wichita, Kansas, in 1958. They used the word "hut" in the name because it could easily fit on their sign.
Chicago architect George Lindstrom designed the iconic Pizza Hut buildings we know today back in 1963. PepsiCo bought the business in 1977.
McDonald's In San Bernardino, California, Started Out As A Carhop
Richard and Maurice McDonald founded the first McDonald's in San Bernardino, California in 1940 and called it McDonald's Bar-B-Q. It was a carhop drive-in for eight years before the siblings decided to focus on burgers and french fries. They then renamed it to simply McDonald's.
The original location was on 1398 North E Street in San Bernardino, but it's no longer in operation. The building is currently used as the headquarters of Juan Pollo Restaurants, and it houses a McDonald's Museum. If you want to see the oldest operating McDonald's, visit the one in Downey, California
Chick-Fil-A Got Its Start With A Restaurant Called 'The Dwarf Grill' Located In Hapeville, Georgia
S. Truett Cathy opened a restaurant called The Dwarf Grill in 1946, in Hapeville, Georgia, that would later become one of the most popular fast food joints in America. Hapeville is a suburb of Atlanta and the Grill was located near the Ford Motor Company Atlanta Assembly Plant. Many of the plant's employees ate there for lunch. It wasn't until 1961 that Cathy found a deep fryer that cooked chicken in the same amount of time that a burger could be prepared. He then trademarked the name Chick-fil-A, Inc." and the restaurant's name was changed to The Dwarf House, which still stands today.
The chain was a staple of food courts in southern malls until expanding to stand-alone franchises country-wide. Chick-Fil-A is the title sponsor of the Peach Bowl and has roughly 2,000 locations as of 2016.
The Original Location Of Nathan's Famous In Brooklyn, New York, Hosts An Annual Hot Dot Eating Competition
Jewish immigrant Nathan Handwerker and his wife Ida started a hotdog stand in Coney Island in 1916. Ida was responsible for the hotdog recipe, while her grandmother created the secret spice recipe. The couple used their live savings, which was $300, to start their business.
The Handwerkers charged just five cents for the hotdog, half the price of their competition. There are now over 40,000 restaurants around the nation. The original restaurant is still in tact, and it's the location of the annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, which has turned Joey "Jaws" Chestnut into a famous competitive eater.
The Founder Of Subway Gave Up His Dreams Of Becoming A Doctor
Aspiring physician Fred DeLuca of Bridgeport, Conn. borrowed $1,000 from Dr. Peter Buck in 1965 to start a sub shop and pay for college tuition. Pete's Super Submarines was shortened to Subway in 1968, and four more shops were launched.
DeLuca gave up his dreams of becoming a doctor to focus on his successful sandwich business.
The First Blimpie In Hoboken, New Jersey, Is Still In Operation
Three old high school pals opened up the first Blimpie sandwich shop in Hoboken, New Jersey, in 1964. Co-founder Tony Caza is responsible for the name after searching for similar words to "sub" and "hoagie." He thought "blimp" was pretty close and added the "ie" for more pizazz.
The restaurant was an instant hit. The three men sold the first franchise sold to a friend in western New York for merely $600 in 1964. The first Blimpie in Hoboken is still in operation at 110 Washington St.
Rubio's Coastal Grill Is San Diego Born And Raised
Formerly known Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill, the cuisine is described as "Fresh or New Mex" for its twist on traditional Mexican food, specializing in fish tacos. This comes as no surprise, as founder Ralph Rubio attended San Diego State where he was introduced to fish tacos in Baja California on spring break.
This inspired him to open up his own restaurant in San Diego with his first location being on Mission Bay Drive in the Pacific Beach area. Today, its headquarters are in Carlsbad, California, and as of 2013 has more than 200 restaurants in neighboring states as well as Florida.
Popeyes Had A Rocky Start
The beloved chicken spot now known as Popeyes originally opened as "Chicken on the Run" in 1972 in Arabi, Louisiana. Founder Al Copeland intended to compete with Kentucky Fried Chicken, but the restaurant failed just months after opening.
Copeland re-opened the restaurant as Popeye's Mighty Good Chicken and began franchising in 1975.
Jack In The Box First "Popped" Up In San Diego In 1951
The Jack in the Box website's history page says, "Equipped with an intercom system and drive-thru window, the tiny restaurant served up hamburgers to passing motorists for just 18 cents, while a large jack-in-the-box clown kept watch from the roof." Robert O. Peterson, a California businessman, opened the very first Jack in the Box in San Diego in 1951. The restaurant also sold a shrimp-and-fries meal for 59 cents!
Jack-in-the-Box has been expanding nationwide ever since, at least within a few hundred miles of its flagship location.
Hunt Brothers Pizza Was Decades In The Making
Although Hunt Brothers Pizza first opened in 1991 in Nashville Tennessee, its inception can be traced back decades. It originated from four brothers, Jim, Don, Lonnie, and Charlie Hunt in 1962. They started a wholesale pizza route that they called Pepe's Pizza.
They would distribute pre-baked pizza crusts and other pizza items to restaurants, bowling alleys, drive-in theaters, or just about any place that sold pizza. Although it took some years, by 1994 the company had over 750 locations. They then began opening up pizza shops in convenience stores for people who wanted something to eat on the go.
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