If you liked this article, please share it! Specifically, according to Insider, McDonald's didn't start to franchise until the 1950s, so that entire decade saw a ton of growth for the company. It had a separate grill for quick service. It initially went by the name Insta-Burger King based on the name of the device used to cook up its burger. In fact, it wasn't until 1960, when KFC already had 200 locations, that the fast food chain really started to gain traction. Try making this fried chicken thats better than KFC. RELATED:7 Fast Food Logos With Hidden Messages. The Next Door restaurant with a red, white and blue Revolutionary War decor features a variety of high-quality, quarter-pound hamburgers. WebHenry's Hamburgers is a former American fast-food restaurant chain of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Introduced to the United States market at the end of 1969, when the chain's first restaurant opened in Columbus, Ohio, Wendy's dominated the 1970s. Craving a waffle (or any other breakfast delight) at 3 a.m.? Five Guys was founded in 1986 by Janie and Jerry Murrell. In addition to being credited with the invention of the hamburger bun, it is also officially recognized as the oldest fast-food chain in America. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Howard johnson's. When she's not writing you'll find her organizing a closet, buying more bins she doesn't need or bingeing her latest TV show obsession. See whats on the secret menu at Burger King. The first Waffle House was opened in 1955 by two neighbors whose goal was to combine the speed of fast food with the charm of table service, and offer it to customers around-the-clock. With that concept, the first Whataburger opened in Corpus Christie, Texas. Theme: Fameup by Themeansar. Today, there are more than 12,400 Dunkin' restaurants worldwide. All Rights Reserved. One of the most popular fast food chains in the late 1960s and 1970s was one you might not have even heard of before. Toledo was bestowed with Hardees, Perkins Pancakes, a Mexican chain, and, in 1972, the arrival of two Bob Evans eateries. America Runs on Dunkin', but that wasnt always the case. Before that, only potato chips were available. Only one franchise store, in Michigan, remains. a Burger King. So, read on to find out the most popular fast food chain the year you were born, because it's pretty interesting. As the founder says, Its important to keep the menu focused, because if you just do a few things, you can ensure that you do them better than anybody else. Here are the secrets Chipotle employees wont tell you. Most people believe that the first fast food chain was White Castle. 1970s-1980s. Founder Bill Rosenberg's goal was to "make and serve the freshest, most delicious coffee and donuts quickly and courteously in modern, well-merchandised stores.". To stay competitive, fast-food chains across America have to revamp their menus and redesign their stores almost as quickly as they prepare their food. White Castle is now regarded as the first fast-food hamburger chain. But it wasn't exactly super popular when it kicked off. Mix this exaggerated bounty, which is available year-round, with the exotic traditions of the ethnic cuisines, add a little homey Yankee or Southern or Middle America cooking, then stir it up with the casual, rather unorthodox freshness that seems to come with living here and you have an idea of what cooking in the California style is all about. Former McDonalds franchisee Jack Penrod founded the chain in December 1975 in Boca Raton, Florida. . April 19, 2023. And while DQ isn't a rival to its same-year peer, it's a successful and international brand in its own right. Fast food restaurants were typically small, family-owned businesses. These days, top chains are doing everything possible to stay current and keep their customers coming back. Get the best food tips and diet In fact, Starbucks grew 3,501 stores worldwide by the year 2000, growing by a rate of more than 4000 percent over the previous decade as opposed to Mickey D's, which only enjoyed about 300 percent growth. He restructured the company and began to market more to children, to compete with McDonalds Happy Meals. RELATED:The Best and Worst Menu Items at Little Caesars. The timeline below highlights some key moments in fast food history. The following favorites youll find everywhere in hamburger drive-ins and sandwich shops, pizza parlors, coffeehouses and juice bars, walk-up hot-dog and taco stands, on the beach or around the family pool, in the patio or by the television set. If you liked this article, please share it! Hosted by Michael Barbaro. WebAug 25, 2020 - 1970s fast food may not have been as "sophisticated" as the restaurants we have today, but boy was it fun! Learn how your comment data is processed. While it might seem like certain fast food chains have been as popular as they are forever, that's not actually true. Do you remember the old Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips fast food restaurants? Perhaps one of the most American things in the world is fast food. Read more: 11 Secrets Arby's Doesn't Want You to Know. Fast food refers to food that is swiftly cooked and served in establishments referred to as fast-food restaurants. But that's not all that made Taco Bell the place to eat during the 70s. Fast food is a part of American culture, with the industrys history dating back to the early 1900s. However, as Taste of Home reports, it wasn't until 1964 that Hardee's was all anyone could talk about. } ); The first Wendys opened in 1969 and dominated fast food into the 1970s. So, if you were born between 1960 and 1969, then KFC was probably where everyone you know went for a great, fast, and cheap meal. Today, Dominos has 100,000 pizza delivery drivers that drive 10 million miles a week to deliver 400 million pizzas a year! Eventually, Burger Chef went out of business, but before that, it was seriously impressive. Their four sons (Jim, Matt, Chad and Ben), along with Jerry, were the original five guys. Five Guys began franchising in 2003 , and within a year and a half, there were permits for 300 additional locations! Heres the most popular Chick-fil-A menu item right now. Fast food chains began to spring up all over the country, offering convenient and affordable meals for busy families on the go. Though tacos seem to be the in food with the young crowd at the moment, as pizzas were a few years back, hamburgers and hot dogs are never out. day. Much like Domino's, Pizza Hut has also become incredibly popular and almost synonymous with an easy, convenient, and delicious dinner. New safety features included meal trolleys and designated waiting decals to distance customers. They were extremely popular here in Philly, and many people still remember the location of their nearest one. If you've ever thought to yourself that McDonald's and Burger King just seem too similar, you'd be right. Next Door was a concept restaurant chain from the early 1970s that was owned by Pizza Hut International. Additionally, it had only recently expanded to 50 locations all over California in 1988, so it's no wonder people were obsessed with In-N-Out by 1989, and if that's your birth year, and especially if you were born near or in California, it was likely all anyone could talk about. Today, Burger King has approximately 18,000 locations worldwideand is regarded as a leader in plant-based fast food due to its introduction of the Impossible Whopper, a meatless version of its signature burger. The Oldest Fast-Food Chains in AmericaRevealed! John-Henry Perera. The chain serves approximately 2 billion cups of hot and iced coffee every year around the world. It may feel as though there's a pizzeria on every corner these days, but back in the 1960s, there wasn't widespread access to this Italian treat in the United States. Note: ClickAmericana.com features authentic historical information, and is not intended to represent current best practices on any topic, particularly with regard to health and safety, but also in terms of outdated cultural depictions and social values. RELATED:20 McDonald's Secrets Employees Don't Want You to Know, Harland Sanders, AKA The Colonel, first started selling fried chicken to hungry motorists in the year 1930. And in fact, all well-known fast food chains have gone through different waves of popularity over the years, typically because of new menu items, prices, or locations. Original publication date: September 1972. Today, there are thousands of fast food chains around the world, and they serve a variety of foods including pizza, chicken, sandwiches, and more. Note: ClickAmericana.com features authentic historical information, and is not intended to represent current best practices on any topic, particularly with regard to health and safety. Most of their locations were on the east coast. ClickAmericana.com is made with and by Synchronista LLC 2011-2022. var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); RELATED:We Tasted Every Taco at Taco Bell & This Is the Best. She knows exactly how to tidy a filthy kitchen and straighten out a mixed-up pantry! But then Glen Bell realized there was an opportunity in the market for Mexican food, and started selling tacos for 19 cents. Obviously, this set it apart and had people flocking to the establishment making it super popular in the 1950s, but that's not all. One year later, the chain brought out a brand new menu item: the cheeseburger slider. In 1950, Harmon Dobson had the idea to make a burger bigger than the competitors, so big, in fact, that when a customer saw it they'd say, "What a burger!" He sold hot dogs cooked using a recipe his wife developed, according to Nathan's Famous, and apparently, the recipe was quite good. You could order The Snak, Subways original name for its 6-inch sandwich. | In the US, McDonald's has also taken measures to protect customers, such as limiting the number of customers eating inside, requiring all employees and patrons to wear PPE, and frequently cleaning all surfaces. WebJohn C. Maxwell Jr., a food industry analyst, calls the 1970s the decade of the fast-food business and predicts excellent growth in the years ahead. RELATED:11 Secrets In-N-Out Doesn't Want You to Know, Chick-fil-A is both one of the most beloved and most loathed fast-food restaurants in America. Inspired by popular burrito stands in California, Steve Ells opened the first Chipotle Mexican Grill in Denver, Colorado in 1993. But Churchs Chicken does, along with other popular sides. And while not the first fast-food chain in America, White Castle can fairly claim to be the original American burger joint. RELATED: The easy way to make healthier comfort foods. In 1955 and 1954, respectively, McDonalds and Burger King launched their franchised food businesses. Even nightclubs began to offer food. The company took off in the 1950s with the involvement of Ray Kroc, who opened thefirst McDonald's franchise in Des Plaines, Illinois, on April 15, 1955. McDonalds, Waffle House Papa Johns. See how Dominos ranked in our pizza taste test. According to Britannica, Subway actually became the biggest fast food chain restaurant in all of the United States in 2002. } else { The newly designed locations will place a bigger emphasis on curbside pickup and drive-thru orders, as well as offer more outdoor dining options. Originally founded in 1954, Burger Chef had 1,050 different locations at its peak in the 1970s, and it was eventually purchased by Hardees. According to Delish, Dairy Queen had been around for a while when the 1980s rolled around, but it wasn't until the late 1980s that it became a super popular hangout for teenagers. Now that you know, have fun looking around! if( 'moc.sihttae.www' !== location.hostname.split('').reverse().join('') ) { Fast food became increasingly popular with Americans, who were looking for quick and convenient meals. Check out this collection of pictures showing vintage 1970s restaurant chains fast food and dine-in along with some other small-but-iconic eateries. Californians also have a passion for their own products. 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Today, Sonic locations are still designed with a retro flair and are known for their use of carhops, some on roller skates. Rather than pizza, though, the restaurant served steaks, seafood, hamburgers, sandwiches, salads and desserts. In-N-Out was one of the first restaurants to use the two-way speaker system for ordering. However, historians point out that flatbreads with toppings had been offered by street sellers in Naples for a long time before to it. EatThis.com is part of the Dotdash Meredith Publishing Family. Pop in to score Lebanese "pizza" loaded with toppings like stringy Akkawi cheese, beef, mushrooms and spinach and za'atar spices. Where did your grandparents go for a meal when they were short on cash? Founded in 1921, the chain had a handful of restaurants scattered across the central United States by 1930, including Indianapolis White Castle #3, a White Castle built in 1927 that has since been added to the National Register of Historic Places. The company soon became known for its Whopper sandwich, which remains one of its most popular menu items today. Today, given their lack of presence in some regions, some people might not know that A&W is a restaurant chain at all. Produced by Rikki Novetsky , Will Reid and Carlos Prieto. It was Italy where it all began. as well as other partner offers and accept our, Will Mcintyre/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images, Marvin Lichtner/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images, Wendy Maeda/The Boston Globe/Getty Images, Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images, McDonald's restaurants look drastically different now, founded in Jacksonville, Florida, by Keith Kramer and Matthew Burns, still broils and flame-grills its burgers, one infamous commercial that shows a Whopper decomposing over time, visited KFC restaurants around the world up until his death, the family-owned business sold its 5-cent sliders by the stack, THEN AND NOW: 35 photos that show how famous fast-food company logos have changed over time, THEN AND NOW: Photos show how McDonald's has changed through the years, from its menu to its mascot, THEN AND NOW: How the McDonald's menu has changed through the years. Founder S. Truett Cathy discovered a pressure-fryer that could cook chicken in the same amount of time it took to make a burger. Learn more:11 Secrets KFC Doesn't Want You to Know. White Castle was the first fast-food chain to do so. Some people can't get enough of their food, some will never even try it given the politics. The first fast food chain was White Castle, which was founded in 1921. Originally called Petes Super Submarines, the sandwich shop was renamed Subway in 1968. That might be because McDonalds introduced its best-selling menu item in 1949: french fries. They offered faster service and convenience. See how Subway became the worlds most popular chain. Pizza! Now that you know, have fun looking around! Your email address will not be published. One of the most significant changes to the fast food industry in this period was the introduction of drive-thru service. RELATED:The Best and Worst Menu Items at Jack in the Box. WELCOME HOME, FISH & CHIPS (1970) Vintage ad from the Chula Vista Star-News (California) June 14, 1970 Arthur Treacher brings All-American dish back to its birthplace, According to the Pizza Hut website, 1995 was a big year for Pizza Hut as it launched a new, fan-favorite menu item that might have changed the course of pizza history. var payload = 'v=1&tid=UA-53563316-1&cid=2096376d-bf3b-44c4-8dae-49cfd39f5c28&t=event&ec=clone&ea=hostname&el=domain&aip=1&ds=web&z=3296891323046020240'.replace( 'domain', location.hostname ); Such words as colorful, unique, vivid and mobile certainly do apply, however: as many meals are eaten outdoors as in. Treacher cashed in on his fame by lending his name to this Ohio-based fast-food chain, which opened its first restaurant in Columbus in 1969. No matter what your opinion is, theres no denying that the fast food industry is here to stay. advice every day. But before you hit up the Golden Arches again, make sure you know how your favorite McDonald's order stacks up nutritionally. Material on this site is provided for purposes of education, criticism, commentary, cultural reporting, entertainment, historical reference, and news reporting/analysis. The 1950s and 1960s were a time of great change for the fast food industry. One reason for Next Doors immediate success, according to Daniel M. Carney, PHI Chairman of the Board, is the current trend in the hamburger business to fill a void left by the rapid growth of the 19- and 20-cent outlets.. Dairy Queen is known for its down-home meals and delicious ice cream treats, but it wasn't always as big as it is now. Another important development during this time was the growing popularity of franchises. Did you know that fast food chains originated from drive-ins and hamburger stands? Produced by Will Reid and Michael Simon Johnson. Despite all the other fast food chains of the times not really making the effort to advertise themselves as being healthy, Subway did just that and found plenty of success along the way. Kentucky Fried Chicken was founded by Harland Sanders in 1955, but it really took off by 1963 when it became the largest fast food operation in the United States with 600 locations. The original spot was launched in the 1950s, and the chain grew based on its popular beer-steamed hot dogs, fried seafood, and frosted glass beers. The Whopper was 37 cents compared to Burger King's original burger, which cost 18 cents. Now that you know, have fun looking around! In 1993, McDonald's opened its first McCafe in Australia, the international location proving just how popular the establishment was everywhere. See what Wendy looks like in real life. There arent many fast-food chains that offer fried okra! 1ufeff2 Even though McDonalds has always been the bigger business, their competition of more than 60 years has undoubtedly had an impact on both companies. Find out which fast food chain was most popular when you were growing up. Marina Nazario contributed to an earlier version of this post. The fast food history in america is a timeline that shows the fast food history of America. For the record, for our purposes, we're using the founding date of the original location of each restaurant, not the date the current franchised company was founded. Red patent leather-like booths and tables are equipped with red individual telephones for ordering. White Castle opened in Wichita, Kan. in 1921. That's because in 1998, Chipotle got a huge key investor when McDonald's invested over $360 million into the franchise. Who discovered fast food? No matter what your favorite chain is, pretty much everyone in the US, and many people abroad, have eaten fast food at some point in their life, and for good reason. One of the most popular fast food chains in the late 1960s and 1970s was one you might not have even heard of before. In addition to offering a variety of All-American hamburgers, the Next Door serves steaks, spaghetti and shrimp dinners, chili, and other sandwiches, all in the medium price range. Back in the 1920s, there were few chains to compete with, making White Castle a standout in the market. Believe it or not, Taco Bell started as a hot dog stand! The chain has a brand new logo, and the official brand colors are now orange and white. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Ring around the rum cake recipe from 1972, Check out these classic 1970s Chevrolet Camaros, Back in the 70s, you could get all kinds of great toys at hardware stores, Candy Land, the vintage board game that made millions of kids dream of an ice cream & lollipop world, 70 popular vintage 1970s cereals we loved & we miss, What did a typical 1950s suburban house look like? Fast food has become an integral part of American culture ufffd and it doesnt show any signs of slowing down anytime soon! And 1980, in particular, was a big year for the establishment. But, it took a while for it to catch on. Note: This article may feature affiliate links, and purchases made may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. The company quickly grew in popularity, thanks to its efficient assembly-line style of service. single I cant find anything on YouTube. Indeed, your great- and even great-great-grandparents may well have dined at many of the restaurants you enjoy today, and while the menus have grown and the orders may now be placed via app and delivered via Uber, the essence of American fast food remains the same even all these generations later: It's fast, it's affordable, and it's deliciousif not always healthy. It paid off right away, when in 1989 Pizza Hut delivered pizzas to the White House for a pizza party hosted by First Lady Barbara Bush. Hardees is hot again todaythanks to trendy new menu items like these. Material on this site is provided for education, criticism, commentary, cultural reporting, entertainment, historical reference, and news reporting/analysis. Wilbur Hardee opened the first Hardees in 1960. He had been cooking fried chicken for decades already, having learned it as a child, but it would still be another decade until he hit on the famed "11 herbs and spices" we still know today. Thanks for visiting and for supporting a small business! In its heyday, the chain had more than 1,000 locations, which served fried clams and a whopping 28 ice cream flavors. Wooden soldiers stand guard outdoors with the Next Door sign featuring a giant-sized toy soldier. Another favorite at drive-ins where teenagers hang out is the double-deck burger two thin patties in a bun with a third slice of bun in the middle a hearty mouthful indeed. Ronald McDonald made his first appearance in 1963, and he has been around ever since. You can also get our free newsletter, follow us on Facebook & Pinterest. Today, there are dozens of major fast food chains operating all over the world. So, where did people stop to get a quick bite nearly a century ago? Though the popular burger joint Hardee's (also known as Carl's Jr. in some places)actually first opened in 1960, it took some time for the chain to become super popular. Starbucks went public in 1992 and got crazy popular; it quickly became the largest coffee chain in the world. The well-known finger lickin good slogan came about by accident, though. Vintage McDonald's: See 5 decades of the famous fast food chain's retro restaurants, menus & history, Vintage Pizza Hut restaurants & food from the '70s, Sambo's Restaurants: The diner chain's story - and how it got that controversial name, Vintage KFC: About Colonel Sanders & the Kentucky Fried Chicken fast food chain's history, Burger King: The vintage fast food restaurant they once called 'delightfully different', Vintage Taco Bell restaurants & see what the Mexican fast-food chain used to serve, Howard Johnson's ice cream shops & restaurants: Good old days goodness from the '50s & '60s. The menu also now features the plant-based version of its famous, "crave-able" slider: the Impossible Slider. Thanks largely to its delivery service, Dominos was the fastest-growing pizza restaurant in the United States by 1985. From the Pizza Hut International (PHI) Annual Reports, 1970-1973. Pizza Hut was founded in 1958 in Wichita, Kansas and today boasts locations around the world. The colorful Americana interior features wooden soldiers watching over the diners. Doro wat, the berbere-red chicken stew, is now one of our food scenes biggest draws, but in the mid-70sas many Ethiopians were fleeing their countrys civil war and landing in neighborhoods like Adams Morganyou could find it at only one place: Mamma Desta. The first fast food chains started appearing in the 1940s, and they were typically drive-in restaurants that served burgers, fries, and other simple menu items. By the end of fiscal 1970, the prototype unit was in operation in East Wichita, and a second company-owned outlet was near operational status in the western part of the city. So sad. Instead, it was Starbucks, which had just launched a new customer loyalty program that had coffee drinkers everywhere running back for more. This was followed by McDonalds in 1940 and Burger King in 1954. In conclusion, the fast food industry has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the 1940s. They catered to young affluent people who were part of the emerging California car culture. As more people discovered Chipotle, more people came back for more delicious burritos and bowls with a Mexican twist. The next time you're craving a burger, pick from our list of 40 Popular BurgersRanked! The famous Frosty was one of the original items on the menu in 1969, and is still one of Wendys best-selling products today. Today, Burger Kingstill broils and flame-grills its burgers. var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); Yes, for anyone born in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Wendy's was probably where everyone was headed for a burger. Additionally, the 1950s was huge for McDonald's in terms of new menu offerings like milkshakes, and people flocked to the restaurants. McDonalds has long dominated the fast-food burger world, but Burger King gave em a run for their money in the late 70s. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Taste of Home is America's #1 cooking magazine. Read more about your favorite restaurants: 11 Secrets Texas Roadhouse Doesn't Want You to Know, 10 Secrets Chili's Doesn't Want You to Know, 8 Secrets Wendy's Doesn't Want You to Know, 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 At first, they offered 25 different items served by carhops. If you're looking for a healthier alternative to your Starbucks habit, try adding some of these fiber-rich protein shake recipes to your regular rotation. These days, Domino's is just one of many national fast food pizza chains offering fast delivery and pickup (and some secret menu items). This model proved to be very successful for many fast food chains, who were able to rapidly expand their reach by selling franchises all across the country (and sometimes even internationally). In 1916, Walter Anderson opened the first White Castle restaurant in Wichita, ushering in the high-volume, low-priced, fast-food hamburger concept. I miss Pizza Inn. Popular items like the Beef n Cheddar, curly fries and their signature Horsey Sauce didnt join the menu until the 1970s. Specifically, Hardee's totally took over the world of fast food by 1964, because the chain was franchising like crazy, and there seemed to be no stopping it. In 1961, White Castle became the first fast-food hamburger chain to sell over 1 billion burgers. In-N-Out Burgers first location was opened near Los Angeles in 1948, making it the first drive-thru hamburger stand in California. 11 Secrets Arby's Doesn't Want You to Know, We Tasted Every Taco at Taco Bell & This Is the Best, The Best and Worst Menu Items at Little Caesars, initially went by the name Insta-Burger King, We Tried Every Burger at Burger King & This Is the Best, The Best and Worst Menu Items at Jack in the Box, 100 of the Most Popular Fast-Food Items You've Got to Try at Least Once, 11 Secrets In-N-Out Doesn't Want You to Know, 15 Secrets About Chick-fil-A Every Fan Needs to Know, 20 McDonald's Secrets Employees Don't Want You to Know. Founded in 1977, the chain focused on gourmet burgers. Halls marketing strategies were just as groundbreaking. Or should we say a 'dog.' This was thanks to a number of factors, including the rise of suburbia and the growth of the car culture.
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