Next time you have a craving for Mexican food or Tex-Mex, we challenge you to try out a new Mexican chain restaurant with friends or family (see also 17 American BBQ Chain Restaurants You Need To Visit). Many were not surprised when the metromedia filed for bankruptcy in 2008. Posted on March 19, 2016. A revived Naugles has been in Fountain Valley, California, Long Island and NYC Places that are no more/Facebook, still exist in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, animatronic hillbilly bear named Billy Bob greeted kids. 14. At its height in 1984, there were 102 Pup 'N' Taco locations across California and New Mexico. 30 Defunct Restaurant Chains From the Past - MoneyWise Anyone who lived in middle America and grew up in the '80s likely knows the odd name G.D. Ritzy's. By 1984, there were 60 locations. 11. I wish it was still here. "Man, I miss him. 26 Bloomington-Normal restaurants from years past - The Pantagraph From authentic Mexican food to Mexican-American fusions like Tex-Mex and West-Mex, theres so much variety in these top 16 restaurants. Second-place Starbucks managed a mere $19.66 billion, just over half the McDonalds number, but still not bad. Next week, the 10th of 20 stands in the Valley will be opened. The channel started in the mid-1950s in Miami but became a phenomenon at the national level, with more than 400 restaurants in the 1970s at theHeight of his success. 22. And some fan favoriteslike Burger Chef, G.D. Ritzy's, and Howard Johnson'sfell by the wayside. Not only do Baja Freshs dishes taste well, fresh theyre also packed with all the authentic flavors of Mexican cuisine. 8 of America's Most Beloved Mexican Chains | FSR magazine Bennigan's was fast becoming one of the most successful mid-range casual dining chains in America. From their salsas, which range from classic salsa verde to the sweet and delicious mango salsa, to their delicious tacos, quesadillas and fajitas, a lack of flavor is never a problem at Baja Fresh. Sambo is closed in the middle of the decade. Bombay Bicycle Club. Brigham's - a Boston-area ice cream parlor and restaurant chain that closed in 2013 [2] Britling Cafeterias. Sambo's shut down by the middle of the decade. The sale put Walgreen's "completely out of the food business," The New York Times reported. 15 classical American desserts that deserve a return, The Hardee Marketing Officer announced in 2007, 19 old joyful toys that will bring you back to your childhood. 17 Failed Fast Food Restaurants From the 1980s - Eat This Not That There are also salads on Moes menu if youre in the mood for something light and healthy which, in addition to the customizability of the menu, means that Moes is the perfect Mexican restaurant for everyone regardless of tastes or preferences. Casa Gallardo went up against two other chains, Southern California-based El Torito and Minnesota's Chi-Chi's, during the late 1970s and early 1980s in the fight for America's Mexican-food obsession. At the beginning of the decade, Gino's discontinued that trademark burger and other fan favorites in an effort to revamp the restaurant. Originally part of the Pillsbury Corp., the restaurant was founded in 1976. Because Mexican food is so beloved throughout the United States, there are many chain restaurants that either specialize in or exclusively serve Mexican food. While not for everyone, Mexican chain restaurant dining is a popular dining destinations for families all across . It continued to grow throughout the '60s and '70s. Pappasito's Cantina is considered one of the best Mexican restaurant chains in the U.S., and it is easy to see why. But according toThe Washington PostHolmes "knew little about cash flows", despite the great marketing of the restaurant. See more ideas about denver history, denver, childhood memories. Two Baltimore Colts professional football players helped to create Gino's Hamburgers back in 1957. Your ultimate restaurant and supermarket survival guide is here! Does this list bring back any memories? We will not challenge yourself to have elapsed youFairy Failed Restaurants Failed. I only ate there once but I really liked it. single What the Torchys menu styles as Damn Good Tacos are the specialty, with more than a dozen varieties available. In 1981. Sadly, to the dismay of fans across the country, Burger Chef failed to keep up and was ultimately sold to the owner of Hardee's in the early '80s. Fast . Children of the 1980s certainly remember savoring their last spoonful of HoJos ice cream. In 1982, they sold the bulk of their restaurants to Marriott. Chi-Chi's Inc., owned by Prandium Inc., is a chain of 130 Mexican full-service restaurants that can be found in Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Pears, popular with college students in the 1980s and '90s. Qdoba first opened under the name Zuma Fresh Mexican Grill in 1995, which then changed to Z-Teca and became Qdoba in 1999. Del Taco is headquartered in Lake Forest California, and is led by CEO John D. Cappasola Jr. So, if youre an ethically-conscious fan of Mexican cuisine, you should definitely check out Chipotle if you havent already! Bennigan's got its start in Atlanta in 1976, but by the early '80s, they were everywhere. Vintage Taco Bell restaurants & see what the Mexican fast-food chain In 2003, after it had grown to 85 locations in 16 states, Qdoba was acquired by Jack in the Box, which ran it until it was sold to a private equity firm in 2018. Foodio / Shutterstock. The Mexican Restaurants of New York City - ArcGIS StoryMaps With increased competition and not enough to distinguish Bennigan's from the likes of Chili's and T.G.I. to promote fast food franchises serving pita sandwiches. Theres no doubt that we love our Mexican food. Howard Johnson's. There is one Howard Johnson's restaurant left in the country, in New York's Lake George. 7. All the Roy Rogers locations were sold off in the '90s. By the end of this article, you should know of a few new Mexican chain restaurants to try (see also 23 Most Popular Chain Restaurants In The United States)! In 1979, McDonald's launched his good meal. Ralph Rubio can make a fair claim to having introduced Baja-style fish tacos to America and his fresh Mex chain, based in San Diego, certainly popularized them. > Number of U.S. units: 100. > Number of U.S. units: 484. Sold anything but some of their locations, Only the children of the 1990s will remember these restaurants, Long Island and News sites that are no longer / Facebook, The 80's snack that you should never eat again, says science, Only the children of the 1970s will remember these restaurants, Only the children of the 1980s will remember these restaurants, 40 habits to reduce your risk of dementia after 40, The FDA says "Do not get" COVID vaccine if you have this condition. EatThis.com is part of the AllRecipes Food Group, Published on September 18, 2019 | 1:49 PM. The Mexican seafood restaurant closed because of high rent costs. But with more customers came more scrutiny, and it wasn't long before anti-discrimination protests against Sambo's began. 15. According toEaterFor the height of his popularity in the 1960s, Howard Johnson served "more meals outside the home than any American entity, with the exception of the US military.". > Number of U.S. units: 2,452. That's what Bennigan's, an Irish-themed bar and grill, offered in the 1980s. Still another Texan, founded in Dallas in 1986, Uncle Julios features mesquite-grilled fajitas, guacamole made tableside, and chocolate piatas for dessert. The menu at Del Taco goes to show that Mexican chain restaurants in the U.S. are capable of delivering both authentic Mexican food as well as American variations. "Howard Johnson's was the king of the road," one former franchise owner told Eater. This trap unfortunately brought Chicken George in 1986, when Holmes tabled for liquidation after declining more than $ 1.4 million in debt to private creditors and IRS. DEL TACO. Any classic Mexican fast food you can think of, you can order at Taco Bueno. West-Mex is Midwest-based Mexican cuisine, and thats exactly what you can find on the menu at Taco Johns. During its first 20 years of activity, the chain plunged its claims on 19 states, serving its famous burgers and fries in about 400 restaurants. 20 extinct Twin Cities restaurants that we still miss - Star Tribune At the turn of the century, there was less than a dozen the left position of Howard Johnson. California has the most with 822. There were 60 locations in the New York metropolitan area by 1984. We won't fault you for getting misty-eyed over these failed fast-food chain restaurants from the 1980s. By 1982 or 1983. This fast food chain was founded by Ed Hackbarth and David Jameson in Barstow, California on September 16, 1964. ), Once the film came out, All American Burger, which was only in the Los Angeles area, has seen a brief boom. If you love tacos as much as we do, this is one Mexican restaurant experience you wont want to miss out on! Quesadillas, burritos and burrito bowls, and nachos are among the other offerings. Taco Bell Mr. Davis was a primary investor in Big Bite. First founded in Ohio in 1980, the 1950s-style restaurant grew quickly, with about 100 locations at its peak. 1 of 3. But it was already too late. In 1983. he was elected to Big Bite's board of directors. Perkins logo, 1960. Unlike many of the Mexican fast food chains in America, this one actually originated from Mexico, in Sinaloa. Dam it was good Mexican food. Classic Restaurants Chains That No Longer Exist or Are Barely Surviving > Number of U.S. units: 63. The Earles were on the cusp of the growing appetite for Mexican food, and it was prepared with care and flavor in both locations. First opened a half-century ago in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and still based there, Taco Johns calls its fare West-Mex. Now operating in 22 states, the chain offers some unusual additions to the usual Mexican chain menu for instance, a meat and potato burrito, stuffed grilled tacos, and flauta-like Mexi Rolls, served with a choice of dipping sauces. The original Pioneer Chicken opened in 1961 next to a Pioneer Market, a grocery store chain in Los Angeles. As you might expect from the name, Torchys Tacos specializes in tacos and offers exciting and adventurous taco fillings such as fried avocado or blackened salmon. But in 1987, Beefsteak Charlie's was sold to Bombay Palace Restaurants and went out of business soon thereafter. Not only can you order classic Mexican food items like quesadillas, burritos, nachos, and tacos from Moes Southwest Grill, but you get the opportunity to customize your own dishes, adding your choice of ingredients to your burrito, burrito bowl, taco, quesadillas, or nachos. > Number of U.S. units: 148. But as any child of the '70s or '80s knows, Walgreen's once had full-on restaurants, too. > U.S. sales: $214 million (est.) Restaurant Chains We Miss | Cheapism.com A Brief History of Great Shuttered Restaurants of L.A. (PHOTOS) If youve never been to Torchys Tacos, we suggest you do so as soon as possible, especially if you enjoy spicy tacos and margaritas. During the 1990s and 2000s, a wider availability of Mexican food at different price points--low, medium, and high--spread beyond Manhattan to Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. But the chain got an extra boost in the 1980s, thanks to its spokesman,O.J. Over the course of its first 20 years of business, the chain staked its claim on 19 states, serving its famous burgers and fried chicken in roughly 400 restaurants. Mexican cuisine is the full package: flavorsome, filling and exciting without being overly complicated.