These fast food chains were around during the early to mid 1970s.

How many of you remember these places?

The Red Barn:basically a burger,fries and milkshake type of resturant.Went out of business by 1977.(Although a lot of the former Red Barn outlets still have their barn shape.)
The Millionare Drive In:drive in resturant chain where a giant neon chef stood out front of each outlet,with a tall glass of root beer in one hand,and a large hamburger in the other.Went out of business in 1976.
A&W Drive In:these outlets were actual drive in resturants.Not like some of the A&W resturants we have today(not including the mall outlets).I'm not sure exactly when the original A&W outlets went out of business.I believe they were gone by the early 1980s.

We had an A&W here into the 90s. That was so awesome...I miss it. I mean, they have one in its place that's an A&W/LJS, and the root beer is the same...but it's just too...modern or something.

Red Barn--Best hamburgers! They had one in Sunnyvale, CA (CA Bay Area) on the corner of El Camino and Mary. I used to go there a lot in 1970.

A&W--Another fantastic place; best fries, best onion rings, but the Root Beer Floats--unbelievable.

A&W is not the same. Those mall /outlet ones are pathetic. How could they be allowed to use the name and sell crap?

I seen an A&W before, but I never got to eat in there. :(

The last "authentic" A&W in California closed last year.

I personally never been to one.

I worked in a A & W a loooong time ago. I remember a customer got rude and belligerent and I dropped his ice cream on the floor and then put it in his float. I was young back then so please don't crucify me. ;)

I worked in a A & W a loooong time ago. I remember a customer got rude and belligerent and I dropped his ice cream on the floor and then put it in his float. I was young back then so please don't crucify me. ;)
Of course not. Kudos to you! BTW, did you drop it on accident or on purpose?:lol:

Of course not. Kudos to you! BTW, did you drop it on accident or on purpose?:lol:


On purpose of course. :lol:

On purpose of course. :lol:
"Oops, damn, oh well..." :rofl: DOUBLE KUDOS!

A&W was a favorite. Sitting there in your car on a nice night drinking a frosty rootbeer. Yummy!

There have never been any A&W's on Long Island, as long as I've been alive. When I think of an A&W restaurant and/or drive-in, I think of it as something that only exists on the west coast, having seen a couple in some movies, and hearing Jello Biafra refer to one in the Dead Kennedys song "Saturday Night Holocaust." Otherwise, A&W means nothing but root beer and cream soda to me.


There was a Bick's fast food restaurant in Coram when I was about seven-eight years old. It opened up in 1972, and folded around late-1973 or early-1974. A bank was built in it's place, which was pretty big for Coram at the time. Years later I brought it up in a conversation, and somebody told me they were mostly in California.

Off topic, but you live in Coram? Wow, we're not too far away from each other :lol:



There have never been any A&W's on Long Island, as long as I've been alive. Whe I think of an A&W restaurant and/or drive-in, I think of it as something that only exists on the west coast, having seen a couple in some movies, and hearing Jello Biafra refer to one in the Dead Kennedys song "Saturday Night Holocaust."


There was a Bick's fast food restaurant in Coram when I was about seven-eight years old. It opened up in 1972, and folded around late-1973 or early-1974. A bank was built in it's place, which was pretty big for Coram at the time. Years later I brought it up in a conversation, and somebody told me they were mostly in California.

Off topic, but you live in Coram? Wow, we're not too far away from each other :lol:


No, I used to live in Medford.

how many remember GINOS? Or MISTER EDS*? These were both hamburger places. (probably not many remember them; as I think they were just here in the east)

*I always wondered what ever happened to the horse that played Mr. Ed on TV. Now I know!!:lol: :lol:

I worked in a A & W a loooong time ago. I remember a customer got rude and belligerent and I dropped his ice cream on the floor and then put it in his float. I was young back then so please don't crucify me. ;)
good for you:happyface

Red Barn--Best hamburgers! They had one in Sunnyvale, CA (CA Bay Area) on the corner of El Camino and Mary. I used to go there a lot in 1970.

A&W--Another fantastic place; best fries, best onion rings, but the Root Beer Floats--unbelievable.

Maybe it depends on the A&W. Ordered a burger from the one in Milwaukee a few years back and it was nasty/greasy.

Red Barn--I think there are still a few hanging around.

There are still carhop A&Ws around here.
Red Barns were around here until the mid 80s also.

Dont forget Burger Chef.

There are still carhop A&Ws around here.
Red Barns were around here until the mid 80s also.

Dont forget Burger Chef.

I remember Burger Chef!: burgers were cooked on a conveyor belt.
had the charbroiled taste, like BK.

When I lived in North Carolina, I remember Hardee's hamburgers--used to go to the Hardee's on Yadkin Rd., just outside Fort Bragg!

I remember Burger Chef!: burgers were cooked on a conveyor belt.
had the charbroiled taste, like BK.

When I lived in North Carolina, I remember Hardee's hamburgers--used to go to the Hardee's on Yadkin Rd., just outside Fort Bragg!
Hardee's is the equivelant of Carl's Jr. isn't it?

Hardee's is the equivelant of Carl's Jr. isn't it?

It is now, since 1997.

It is now, since 1997.
Oh ok. Learn something new.

Oh ok. Learn something new.

In 1954, Frank and Donald Thomas patented the Flame Broiler and started one of their own restaurants in Indianapolis, Indiana. It was under another name, but in 1956, they changed the name to Burger Chef. In the late-1950s, they created the first "value combos" as a burger, fries, and soft drink were 45¢ (50¢ with a milkshake). Burger Chef was enormously popular and spread across both West Coast and East Coast, eventually becoming second only to McDonald's in terms of number of locations. They offered a signature double burger called the Big Shef (the company quirkily spelled their burgers with an "S"), and later pioneered the "works bar", where customers could dress their burgers exactly as they wanted.
Burger Chef Logo

In 1968, the chain was purchased by the General Foods Corporation, who continued its rapid expansion. By 1970, they had nearly 2,400 locations and re-designed the buildings and logos. However, the corporation soon proved unable (or unwilling) to support the company's growth.

In 1982, General Foods sold Burger Chef to the Canadian company Imasco. Many locations were converted into Hardee's restaurants, except for ones that were located near existing Hardee's. The franchisees of those locations were allowed extra time to convert to other brands; one Burger Chef in Cookeville, Tennessee, through the courts, was able to keep its original name until 1996, when it finally changed its name to Pleasers. Several Burger Chefs in southern Indiana had converted to the Pleasers name after the initial buyout, but the Pleasers in Cookeville only remained open until 2002. Many locations located in Louisiana became the fast-food restaurant chain called Mr. Cook, but this chain died off by the late-1990s. Financial troubles caused the chain to close many of the restaurants from 1993 to 1997. In 1996 and 1997, CKE Restaurants bought out the remaining Burger Chef stores in the United States and converted them into Carl's Jr. or Hardee's.

In 1954, Frank and Donald Thomas patented the Flame Broiler and started one of their own restaurants in Indianapolis, Indiana. It was under another name, but in 1956, they changed the name to Burger Chef. In the late-1950s, they created the first "value combos" as a burger, fries, and soft drink were 45¢ (50¢ with a milkshake). Burger Chef was enormously popular and spread across both West Coast and East Coast, eventually becoming second only to McDonald's in terms of number of locations. They offered a signature double burger called the Big Shef (the company quirkily spelled their burgers with an "S"), and later pioneered the "works bar", where customers could dress their burgers exactly as they wanted.
Burger Chef Logo

In 1968, the chain was purchased by the General Foods Corporation, who continued its rapid expansion. By 1970, they had nearly 2,400 locations and re-designed the buildings and logos. However, the corporation soon proved unable (or unwilling) to support the company's growth.

In 1982, General Foods sold Burger Chef to the Canadian company Imasco. Many locations were converted into Hardee's restaurants, except for ones that were located near existing Hardee's. The franchisees of those locations were allowed extra time to convert to other brands; one Burger Chef in Cookeville, Tennessee, through the courts, was able to keep its original name until 1996, when it finally changed its name to Pleasers. Several Burger Chefs in southern Indiana had converted to the Pleasers name after the initial buyout, but the Pleasers in Cookeville only remained open until 2002. Many locations located in Louisiana became the fast-food restaurant chain called Mr. Cook, but this chain died off by the late-1990s. Financial troubles caused the chain to close many of the restaurants from 1993 to 1997. In 1996 and 1997, CKE Restaurants bought out the remaining Burger Chef stores in the United States and converted them into Carl's Jr. or Hardee's.
:wave: Thanx for that info. I always wondered the story behind those two places. I had heard some time back abt those two places being the same, just different names.

We have one A&W fast food joint, but it's not a drive-through. And, it's also paired up with another fast food place. Weird.

There used to be an A&W here combined with Amigos but 3 years ago they got rid of that place. I used to Love A&W it was the fast food where I would order hotdogs and there rootbeer floats were the best. But does any one remember the fast food joint Hardees there is one town in my state that has one.

In 2003 I drove past an A&W drive-in in Union City, Ohio (on the Indiana state line opposite Union City, Indiana). I am pretty sure it was on OH 47 on the eastern outskirts. I wonder if it's still there today.

I worked in a A & W a loooong time ago. I remember a customer got rude and belligerent and I dropped his ice cream on the floor and then put it in his float. I was young back then so please don't crucify me. ;)


WAS THAT YOU???? :)

In Pittsburgh there were Winkys and Sandy"s, the latter was absorbed by Hardee"s.

how about HOLLY FARMS? big fried chicken chain for years
and

TWITTY BURGERS, owned by conway twitty, big chain in TN and the carolinas for years---
and
PAPPY PARKERS FRIED CHICKEN
another long lost chain

Does anybody remember Borden Burger? It was run in the 70;s by Borden Foods, but I don't think they lasted long.

I don't think it was fast food but anybody remember the Kenny Rogers Roasters restaurant chain?

I wonder if Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips are still around. I remember the fake newspaper they served your stuff in.

Arthur Treachers still exists around here.

I don't think it was fast food but anybody remember the Kenny Rogers Roasters restaurant chain?

I certainly do! I miss that place dearly!

Unfortunately according to www.nathansfamous.com (http://www.nathansfamous.com/) (the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog company bought the restaurant brand, or at least the rights to it) there is only one remaining restaurant here in the States, in Ontario, California, at Ontario Mills Mall. The site lists ten foreign countries in which KRR operates. (To get there, click on the KRR logo at the bottom of the screen.)

I wonder if Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips are still around. I remember the fake newspaper they served your stuff in.

I've seen a few of them around central Ohio, including Lancaster along Memorial Drive/former US 33.

Amazingly, both Kenny Rogers Roasters and Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips are under the same corporate umbrella.

Hardee's is the equivelant of Carl's Jr. isn't it?

Yes, Carl's Jr. Restaurants are in the Western U.S., Hardee's are in the Midwest and East Coasts.

I certainly do! I miss that place dearly!

There was a Kenny Roger's Roaster in Lakewood, California and was in business for a few years. I ate there once or twice and their chicken was quite good, had a nice roasted flavor. Sadly, the place was closed a couple of years ago.

I wonder if Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips are still around. I remember the fake newspaper they served your stuff.

Yes they're still around, but there are no AT's in California (I could be wrong), though. They have a website found here (http://www.arthurtreachers.com/). Still advertise on television now and then.

Yes they're [Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips] still around, but there are no AT's in California (I could be wrong), though. They have a website found here (http://www.arthurtreachers.com/). Still advertise on television now and then.

I guess I was wrong; Arthur Treacher's has new ownership now!

I learn something new every day!

how many remember GINOS? Or MISTER EDS*? These were both hamburger places. (probably not many remember them; as I think they were just here in the east)

*I always wondered what ever happened to the horse that played Mr. Ed on TV. Now I know!!:lol: :lol:

I remember Gino's. I remember on on route 1/9 in Elizabeth or Newark back in the 70's.

how about HOLLY FARMS? big fried chicken chain for years
and
PAPPY PARKERS FRIED CHICKEN
another long lost chain



1.) Holly Farms was a leading chicken processor probably in Arkansas or another chicken producing state. They were never a fried chicken chain. Tyson Foods acquired the Holly Farms brand several years ago. I used to buy the chicken (Holly Farms) a few years ago.

2.) Pappy Parker's Fried Chicken was a popular menu item at many Bob's Big Boy restaurant locations in Southern California for many years. Never a chicken restaurant chain.

There are still some Big Boy restaurants in California (although many once existed) and or now taken over by other restaurant chains such as Carrow's as one example.

Big Boy restaurants:
http://www.bigboy.com

There's a Bob's Big Boy restaurant in Burbank, California now declared a national, historical landmark and does have a fried chicken dinner but no longer calls it the "Pappy Parker Fried Chicken" but the restaurant's site says it uses the famous Pappy Parker secret recipe for its fried chicken dinners.

Bob's Big Boy, Burbank, CA
http://www.bobs.net


Bob's indeed had great steaks and great fried chicken dinners at that time.

Kenny Rogers Roasters update! Kenny Rogers Roasters update!

I heard from a very reliable source that the brand exists at the Mall of America in Minnesota and at the airport in Orlando despite the website only listing the Ontario Mills Mall in California!

Irene, A&W foods still taste the same way they always did, here in Canada...I DO miss the car hops though!

Red Barn- VERY worst fast food I EVER ate, the burger was dry as beach sand, the fries tasted like burnt cardboard and the hot chocolate tasted like dirt...no WONDER they were in and out of Canada in less than 2 years!

Arthur Treacher's in Canada was bought out, got rid of the Hush puppies and was gone in about 3 more years ( Too bad, I really loved the hush puppies; i used to save them for last as a kind of desert )

http://www.roadsidephotos.com/sd/1880-1.jpg

The Red Barn:basically a burger,fries and milkshake type of resturant.Went out of business by 1977.(Although a lot of the former Red Barn outlets still have their barn shape.)

Red Barn (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Barn) also had chicken on the menu.

They still have Dog N Suds in Indiana :)

Sisters Chicken... anyone know if they are still around?

does anyone remember hardees when the buildings were completely orange? they had orange plastic all around the roof and stuff.

In Pittsburgh there were Winkys and Sandy"s, the latter was absorbed by Hardee"s.I remember Winkys. I always ordered the "Big Wink" ..

Most of those restaurant chains were big before my time, but there is an A&W in Ravenna, OH near to where my dad works.

We used to have a Sisters Chicken in Mentor, OH, but it closed in 1995. I think the whole chain went under, if I'm not mistaken.

There are several Arthur Treacher's in northeast Ohio. I also live near a Hardee's, which is the eastern version of Carl's Jr., right down to the smiling star logo.

We used to have several Bob's Big Boys around here - I miss them!! :lol:

How about Weston's or Wesson's in NY in the late 1960s/ early 1970s. I was very young back then, but still remember their orange uniforms with the hats.

I remember A&W and Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips. There was an A&W in New Hampshire, on the way to the summer camp where my family would go in every year. We usually stopped there before heading home.

We had an Arthur Treacher's in Stamford. We went there one July 4th before going to the fireworks.

There are actually a couple A&W's around here with carhops. Ravenna being one, there is one in Boardman.

I worked in a A & W a loooong time ago. I remember a customer got rude and belligerent and I dropped his ice cream on the floor and then put it in his float. I was young back then so please don't crucify me. ;)
I would do the same thing...or at least spit in it.

In California there used to be a place called Pup n Taco, and Pioneer Chicken that no longer exist. And does anyone remember Farrell's, you would go there celebrate your birthday and the entire staff would embarass you by singing to you.

I would do the same thing...or at least spit in it.
*Note to self: Don't eat at fast-food joints in Louisiana *

*Note to self: Don't eat at fast-food joints in Louisiana *
:lol:
Better yet, I'd be rude right back. Or yell.
I don't care if I'd get fired

...take this job and shove it...

There are actually a couple A&W's around here with carhops. Ravenna being one, there is one in Boardman.

Four years ago east of Union City, Ohio (on the Indiana border), on OH 47 was a retro A&W stand that had drive-in service. I don't know if it still exists, unfortunately.