Heres another flashback from the disco era. When Marriott acquired the company in 1979 There arent many fast-food chains that offer fried okra! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Fast food chains began to spring up all over the country, offering convenient and affordable meals for busy families on the go. 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. Californians also have a passion for their own products. Wendy's founder Dave Thomas introduced the first drive-thru window in November 1970, meaning that Wendy's basically revolutionized fast food that year. 1970s: Wendy's Shutterstock 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. Burger King has also begun focusing its advertisements on showcasing its food's high-quality ingredients with no preservatives added, namely through one infamous commercial that shows a Whopper decomposing over time. Find out more here. Texas company snaps up Krystal fast-food chain. Popular items like the Beef n Cheddar, curly fries and their signature Horsey Sauce didnt join the menu until the 1970s. In conclusion, the fast food industry has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the 1940s. And while not the first fast-food chain in America, White Castle can fairly claim to be the original American burger joint. 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. Glen Bell opened his first Taco Bell restaurant in Downey, California, the same site as the oldest McDonald's in the country. Although younger generations may know of Howard Johnson's thanks to Mad Men, '70s kids will remember actually visiting the orange-roofed restaurant chain. Wooden soldiers stand guard outdoors with the Next Door sign featuring a giant-sized toy soldier. Perhaps the most popular hamburger is the patty with an option of cheese melted on top, and a thick glop of Thousand Island (or Russian) dressing on a sesame-seed bun, with pickles and catsup on the side. It was Italy where it all began. Remembering the old Next Door Restaurant chain from the '70s, See these 40 vintage diners from the '40s (and try the blue-plate special!). According to the KFC website, it started "in a Kentucky gas station way back in 1930 when Harland Sanders first started cooking for hungry travelers." Additionally, according to the Starbuck website, 1991 was the year that the coffee chain expanded its headquarters, signaling that the establishment truly had seen a ton of growth. Wilbur Hardee opened the first Hardees in 1960. The Oldest Fast-Food Chains in AmericaRevealed! var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); In 1955 and 1954, respectively, McDonalds and Burger King launched their franchised food businesses. According to a previous article by Business Insider, customers will have pickup options like lockers and even be able to have their orders delivered to their car via conveyor belts. The newly designed locations will place a bigger emphasis on curbside pickup and drive-thru orders, as well as offer more outdoor dining options. It's been called the "most valuable" fast-foodrestaurant chain and thebiggest quick-service restaurantin the world. White Castle is now regarded as the first fast-food hamburger chain. This increased popularity was due not only to the chain's global reach, but to the new products it rolled out in the 2000s, including its Premium chicken sandwiches, Snack Wraps, and the introduction of the McDouble on the Dollar Menu. The Most Popular Fast Food Chains in Every Decade. Sambos Restaurants: The diner chains story and how it got that controversial name. RELATED:The Best and Worst Menu Items at Little Caesars. WebAug 28, 2022 - Vintage 1970s & 80s USA Mall Stores Some Defunct The County Seat Aladdin's Castle Walden Book Florisheim Shoes Contempo Casuals Wicks n' Sticks Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor Mervyn's Fast Food Restaurant Chains Arcade Orange Yellow Brown McDonalds Taco Bell Sambo's Dairy Queen Orange Julius Burger King Shakey's Pizza Parlor While some chains have managed to stand the test of time and remain popular favorites (such as McDonalds), others have come and gone relatively quickly (such as Burger Kings short-lived attempt at selling pizzas). The first fast food chain was White Castle, which was founded in 1921. Aside from one location in Nebraska that closed in 2017, all other Lum's had closed by 1983. These days, top chains are doing everything possible to stay current and keep their customers coming back. Today, there are more than 12,400 Dunkin' restaurants worldwide. It was unique thanks to its square hamburger patties and the introduction of a salad bar in 1979. McDonald's and Burger King aren't the oldest, believe it or not. Or should we say a 'dog.' restaurants Produced by Will Reid and Michael Simon Johnson. In fact, it wasn't until 1960, when KFC already had 200 locations, that the fast food chain really started to gain traction. These establishments were designed to serve food quickly and efficiently, and they became extremely popular with Americans who were on the go. Orders are placed by individual red telephones and food is served from a central counter. 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. To set Hardees apart from McDonalds, the Hardees buildings were designed in a hexagonal shape with a pointed roof. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider There's probably not a person out there who hasn't had, or at least heard of, Chipotle. The company soon became known for its Whopper sandwich, which remains one of its most popular menu items today. But before they stopped being so popular in the 1980s, Burger Chef was all anyone wanted, and according to TIME,the restaurant, which was even featured in the hit TV show Mad Men, hit its peak in 1971 when it had 1,200 locations. Where did your grandparents go for a meal when they were short on cash? That's the dream. if( navigator.sendBeacon ) { Krystal today operates around 300 restaurants across 10 states and has 3,500 employees, bringing SPB's total workforce to 18,500. (Businessman Ray Kroc would grow the chain into a powerhouse starting in the 1950s.) According to Fast Food: Roadside Restaurants in the Automobile Age, Burger King launched its infamous "Battle of the Burgers" ad campaign in the early 1980s, and it definitely worked. You can also get our free newsletter, follow us on Facebook & Pinterest. Original music by Elisheba Ittoop and Dan Powell. if( 'moc.sihttae.www' !== location.hostname.split('').reverse().join('') ) { It was renamed Dominos Pizza in 1965, shortly after franchised pizza restaurants began to open. How Fast Food Has Changed Since You Were Seriously, fast food is a beloved part of American culture, and different chains offer many different cuisines, with there being something for everyone. Starbucks just can't stop, and it definitely didn't in 1990. Arthur Treachers Fish & Chips fast food restaurants were based on the English tradition of serving fried fish together with crispy potatoes. single a Burger King. } Erica is a cleaning and home dcor expert. Americana describes the Next Door Restaurant interior with red patent leather-like booths, bright blue carpeting with flecks of red, dark pecan paneling, and distinctive Revolutionary War-era wall hangings. Today, there are dozens of major fast food chains operating all over the world. Little Caesars pizzeria started with a blind date between Mike Ilitch and Marian Bayoff, who hit it off and were married in months. 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 navigator.sendBeacon('https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', payload); Believe it or not, Taco Bell started as a hot dog stand! One of the most popular fast food chains in the late 1960s and 1970s was one you might not have even heard of before.