Chain Restaurants: Where It All Began
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AP
Carvel's Original Store Closing
After opening its doors 72 years ago, Carvel closed its original location in Hartsdale, New York on Sunday. Tom Carvel's chain became famous for its soft-serve swirls and ice cream cakes with such themes as Fudgie the Whale and Cookie Puss.
Read More on Carvel's Closing
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Click through our gallery as we take a tour of some of America's other successful restaurant chains and see where they began.
Next Up: Subway's Surprising StartMore Popular Features:
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Subway Restaurants
Subway
Original Location: Bridgeport, Ct.
Fun Fact: As you can see, what we know as "Subway" today was originally named Pete's Super Submarines (top photo). The name was eventually changed to Subway. Part of the reason was that when dropping the "Super" for a radio ad, the shortened version sounded too much like "Pizza Marines," and resulted in a number of customers calling to ask what types of pizza they served. The bottom photo is another early location in the Bridgeport area. This is one of the very first times that the name "Subway" was used.
Next: Kentucky Fried ChickenMore Popular Features:
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Danny La, Getty Images
Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC)
Original Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Fun Facts: Although Harland Sanders opened his first restaurant, Sanders Court & Cafe in Corbin, Kentucky, the first actual KFC franchise was opened by Pete Harman in Salt Lake City in 1952. A handshake agreement stipulated a payment of a nickel to Sanders for each chicken sold. By 1964, there were more than 600 franchised outlets in the U.S., Canada and England. Today there are more than 11,000 restaurants around the world.
Next: McDonald'sMore Popular Features:
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AP
McDonald's
Original Location: Des Plaines, Ill.
Fun Facts: Ray Kroc opened the first McDonald's franchise in 1955. Today it's no longer a functioning restaurant, the Des Plaines building is now a museum. But don't despair -- there are still more than 30,000 other McD's restaurants serving 52 million people in more than 100 countries.
Next: Burger KingMore Popular Features:
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Courtesy of Burger King Corp.
Burger King
Original Location: Miami, Fla.
Fun Facts: In 1954, the first Burger King hamburger stand opened in Miami, Fla. Burgers and shakes were 18 cents each. The Whopper would be added in 1957 and sell for 37 cents. The 10,000th BK opened in Sydney, Australia in 1998 and today there are more than 11,200 worldwide. The largest BK is not in America, but in Budapest.
Next: Chipotle Mexican GrillMore Popular Features:
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Getty Images
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Original Location: Denver, Co. (Chicago, Ill. location is pictured)
Fun Facts: After a year of planning during which Steve Ells arranged an $80,000 loan and persuaded his father to invest an additional $85,000, the then 27-year-old Ells returned to the Denver area, where he had lived during his junior/senior high years, to open the first Chipotle Mexican Grill. By 1997, the total number of restaurants was up to 14. In 1999, McDonald's purchased majority control of the company and by 2003, the store count had reached 300. Today, there are more than 670.
Next: Starbucks CoffeeMore Popular Features:
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Starbucks Coffee Company
Starbucks Coffee
Original Location: Seattle, Wash.
Fun Facts: In 1971, Starbucks opened its first store in Seattle's Pike Place Market. In 1984, Howard Schultz convinced the founders of Starbucks to test the coffeehouse concept in downtown Seattle, similar to the popular espresso bars in Milan. By 1987, there were 17 stores. That number had jumped to 1,412 by 1997 and by the end of fiscal 2007, that total was up to 15,756.
Next: Dairy QueenMore Popular Features:
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American Dairy Queen Corp.
Dairy Queen
Original Location: Joliet, Ill.
Fun Facts: The Dairy Queen story began in 1938 with a 10 cent sale of a then unnamed product. A father and son had been experimenting with a soft frozen dairy product for some time. In 1940, the first Dairy Queen opened in Joliet, Ill. By 1941 there were less than 10 Dairy Queen stores, it grew to 1,446 in 1950 and today there are more than 5,900 restaurants.
Next: HootersMore Popular Features:
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AP
Hooters
Original Location: Clearwater, Fla. (not pictured)
Fun Facts: Currently there are over 440 Hooters, but it all began with just one. The first opened in 1983 in Clearwater, Fla. There are actually no franchise opportunities left in the U.S. Every region has been sold and franchisees are not allowed to sub-franchise. The chain acknowledges that many consider "Hooters" a slang term for a portion of the female anatomy. Hooters does have an owl inside its logo and uses an owl theme sufficiently to allow debate to occur over the meaning's intent. The chain says it enjoys and benefits from this debate.
Next: White CastleMore Popular Features:
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AP
White Castle
Original Location: Wichita, Kansas (not pictured)
Fun Facts: In 1921, with $700 of borrrowed money, the first White Castle opened, offering hamburgers at the price of $.05 a piece. In 1949, five holes were added to the burger to help the patties cook faster and more evenly -- and eliminated the need to flip them. White Castle does not franchise in the U.S. All 380 stores are company owned and operated.
Next: Steak N ShakeMore Popular Features:
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Hulton Archive / Getty Images
Steak n Shake
Original Location: Normal, Ill. (Springfield, Mo. location pictured)
Fun Facts: Founded in 1934 by Gus Belt, Gus realized his restaurant needed to be different. So he would wait for the busiest time in his counter-only restaurant, wheel in a barrel of steaks and grind the steaks into burgers right in front of his guests. Demand became greater and greater and soon Gus expanded to Galesburg in 1939. He also sold his first franchise in the late 1930s. Today Steak n Shake operates over 490 restaurants.
Next: Wendy'sMore Popular Features:
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AP
Wendy's
Original Location: Columbus, Ohio
Fun Facts: Dave Thomas opened the first Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers restaurant in 1969. The second Wendy's featured the first modern-day pick-up window. In 1972, the first franchise sold and was located in Indianapolis, Ind. Thomas who had long been the company's pitchman, died in 2002. In 2007, Wendy's was forced to close the location that started it all due to sagging sales, but there are more than 6,600 remaining.
Next: Bob EvansMore Popular Features:
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Terry Gilliam, AP
Bob Evans
Original Location: Gallipolis, Ohio (not pictured)
Fun Facts: In 1948, Bob Evans opened a 12-seat, 24-hour restaurant. Because it was located next to a truck depot, Bob called it the Terminal Steak House, later changing the name to Bob Evans Steak House. His wife baked the pies and it was best known for its breakfasts, especially among truckers. By 1983, they had 100 resturants. Today the company owns and operates nearly 600 restaurants in an 18-state area.
Next: Taco BellMore Popular Features:
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AP
Taco Bell
Original Location: Downey, Calif. (not pictured)
Fun Facts: Between 1954 and 1955, Glen Bell built three Taco Tia stands in San Bernadino, Redlands and Riverside, Calif. When Glen's partner was not in favor of expanding Taco Tia, Glen sold him his interest and began El Tacos which eventually had 100 units. He then sold those to his partners and built the first Taco Bell in 1962. In 1975, Bell sold his 868 units to PepsiCo, Inc. There are now more than 5,800 in the U.S. alone.
Next: Applebee'sMore Popular Features:
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AP
Applebee's
Original Location: Atlanta, Ga. (not pictured)
Fun Facts: Applebee's was founded by Bill and T. J. Palmer. Their first restaurant, T. J. Applebee's Edibles & Elixirs opened in November 1980. In 1982, they opened their second in Atlanta. After some changing of hands, in 1988 the chain was renamed Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar. In 1988, there were 54 restaurants. Today it's the largest casual-dining concept in the world with 1,976 restaurants.
Next: Baja FreshMore Popular Features:
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AP
Baja Fresh
Original Location: Newbury Park, Calif. (not pictured)
Fun Facts: Baja Fresh was founded in 1990 by James Magglos and his wife Linda, who had no experience in the restaurant business. But James always dreamed of one day running a restaurant. He also loved Mexican food. The couple took out a third mortgage on their home and found an affordable location in Newbury Park. The quick-service restaurant was an immediate success. By the end of 2002, the Baja Fresh chain numbered 210 units, today there are nearly 300.
Next: California Pizza KitchenMore Popular Features:
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Getty Images
California Pizza Kitchen
Original Location: Beverly Hills, Calif.
Fun Facts: In 1985, attorneys Rick Rosenfield and Larry Flax traded in the courtroom for the dining room. Having always wanted to get into the restaurant business, they opened a restaurant to serve hearth-baked pizzas. Now, 23 years later, there are 210 CPKs in 29 states and seven foreign countries.
Next: Chick-fil-AMore Popular Features:
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Chick-Fil-A
Chick-fil-A
Original Location: Atlanta, Ga. (not pictured)
Fun Facts: After inventing the Original Chicken Sandwich in 1964, Truett Cathy opened the first Chick-fil-A in Atlanta's Greenbriar Mall in 1967. The first free-standing location wouldn't open until 1986. By 2001, it had opened its 1,000th restaurant. Today there are more than 1,380 restaurants in the chain.
Next: Culver'sMore Popular Features:
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Howard Bleier, AFP / Getty Images
Culver's
Original Location: Sauk City, Wis. (not pictured)
Fun Facts: The Culver family operated several restaurants throughout the Sauk Prairie area, but their dream came true in 1984, when they re-opened a former A&W root beer stand and christened it "Culver's Frozen Custard and ButterBurgers." Today they own six more Culver's and oversee more than 370 franchised restaurants in 17 states.
Next: Domino's PizzaMore Popular Features:
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Time Life Picture / Getty Images
Domino's Pizza
Original Location: Ypsilanti, Mich.
Fun Facts: In 1960, the Monaghan brothers, Tom and James, borrowed $500 to buy "DomiNick's." In 1961, James traded his half of the business to Tom for a VW Bettle. In 1965, Tom Monaghan, now sole owner, renamed it Domino's Pizza, Inc. In 1967, the first franchise opens in Ypsilanti. In 1978, the 200th store opened and today there are more than 8,000 stores.
Next: Dunkin' DonutsMore Popular Features:
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Matt Rourke, AP
Dunkin' Donuts
Original Location: Quincy, Mass. (not pictured)
Fun Facts: In 1950, William Rosenberg founded Dunkin' Donuts. By 1954, Mr. Rosenberg had opened a total of five Dunkin' Donuts shops, and had been featured as a young entrepreneur in national publications such as 'The Saturday Evening Post' and 'Coronet' magazine. At the end of 2007, there were 7,988 Dunkin' Donuts stores worldwide
Next: Hardee'sMore Popular Features:
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Erik S. Lesser, Getty Images
Hardee's
Original Location: Greenville, N.C. (not pictured)
Fun Facts: In 1960, Wilbur Hardee opened a drive-in, on the busy corner of 14th and Charles Streets in what was then a popular cruising district near the East Carolina University campus in Greenville, N.C. The very first Hardee's had no tables, no waiters and only a few items on the menu. But, the drive-thru restaurant was an immediate success. Five months later he had his first franchisee and over the years the burger chain has spread throughout the Midwestern and Southeastern U.S. When Hardee died in June 2008, there were over 1,900 Hardee's.
Next: IHOPMore Popular Features:
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AP
IHOP
Original Location: Toluca Lake, Calif. (not pictured)
Fun Facts: Founders Al and Jerry Lapin opened the first International House of Pancakes in the Los Angeles suburb of Toluca Lake, Calif. In 1960, the company began to expand through franchising. This year, IHOP celebrates its 50th anniversary with over 1,300 locations coast to coast.
Next: Jack in the BoxMore Popular Features:
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Christian Petersen, Getty Images
Jack in the Box
Original Location: San Diego, Calif.
Fun Facts: In 1951, a businessman named Robert O. Peterson opened the first Jack in the Box restaurant in San Diego. 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. Today there are more than 2,100 restaurants in 18 states.
Next: Jamba JuiceMore Popular Features:
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AP
Jamba Juice
Original Location: San Luis Obispo, Calif. (not pictured)
Fun Facts: In 1990, Juice Club opened in San Luis Obispo. In 1995, the name changed to Jamba Juice. By 1996, 30 stores were in operation throughout California. Today, there are over 700.
Next: Krispy KremeMore Popular Features:
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David Rogowski, AOL
Krispy Kreme
Original Location: Winston-Salem, N.C.
Fun Facts: Vern Rudoplh bought a secret yeast-raised doughnut recipe from a French chef from New Orleans, rented a building and began selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts in 1937 to local grocery stores. People soon began stopping by to ask if they could buy hot doughnuts, so he cut a hole in the wall and started selling Hot Original Glazed doughnuts directly to customers.
Next: Long John Silver'sMore Popular Features:
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Long John Silver's
Original Location: Lexington, Ky. (not pictured)
Fun Facts: Inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson's classic book 'Treasure Island,' the company was founded in 1969 and is the world's most popular quick-service seafood chain with more than 1,200 restaurants worldwide. The original spot for the chain was near the University of Kentucky. A McDonald's stands there now.
Next: Olive GardenMore Popular Features:
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Tom Strattman, AP
Olive Garden
Original Location: Orlando, Fla. (not pictured)
Fun Facts: Founded in 1982, Olive Garden was originally developed by General Mills, Inc., but in June 1995, General Mills spun off its restaurant division into Darden Restaurants. Olive Garden was recently in the news when it was announced that 'Playboy' was looking for the "Girls of Olive Garden" for a photo spread.
Next: Outback SteakhouseMore Popular Features:
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Marianna Day Massey, ZUMA Press
Outback Steakhouse
Original Location: Tampa, Fla. (not pictured)
Fun Facts: Outback Steakhouse was established in 1988 by founders Chris Sullivan, Robert D. Basham, Tim Gannon and Trudy Cooper. They were restaurant veterans from Steak & Ale and Bennigans before they chose to launch their own themed restaurant. They chose an Australian theme after the movie 'Crocodile Dundee' took America by storm the prior year.
Next: Pizza HutMore Popular Features:
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AP
Pizza Hut
Original Location: Wichita, Kansas
Fun Facts: On May 31, 1958, the first Pizza Hut restaurant opened in Wichita, Kansas, started by two college-aged brothers who borrowed $600 from their mother. The first franchise unit opened in 1959 in Topeka, Kansas. By 1966, there were 145 Pizza Huts. Today there are almost 6,200 restaurants in the U.S. and more than 4,000 in 100 other countries.
Next: El Pollo LocoMore Popular Features:
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El Pollo Loco
Original Location: Guasave, Mexico (not pictured)
Fun Facts: In 1975, in the small town of Guasave on Mexico's Pacific Coast, a roadside chicken stand named El Pollo Loco ("The Crazy Chicken") was established. By 1979, they could be found in a variety of Northern Mexico cities. In 1980, people lined up around the block as the first American El Pollo Loco opened in Los Angeles. Today there are more than 380 restaurants and the chain is expanding nationwide.
Next: QuiznosMore Popular Features:
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Quizno's
Quiznos
Original Location: Denver, Colo.
Fun Facts: In 1981, Quiznos opened its first store in Denver's Capitol Hill neighborhood. In 1987, Rick Schaden bought his first first franchise in Boulder. In 1991, he and his father bought the franchise operation. In 1996, the chain reached 100 restaurants. Just four years later, it reached 1,000. Today there are over 5,000 franchises.
Next: Red LobsterMore Popular Features:
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AP
Red Lobster
Original Location: Lakeland, Fla.
Fun Facts: Company founder Bill Darden opened his first restaurant, The Green Frog, at age 19. With a passion for seafood, it was only a matter of time before Bill and his team opened the first Red Lobster in Lakeland, Fla., in 1968. By the early 1970s, the company expanded throughout the Southeast. Today, there are more than 680 Red Lobster locations in the United States and Canada.
Next: T.G.I. Friday'sMore Popular Features:
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David Rogowski, AOL
T.G.I. Friday's
Original Location: New York City
Fun Facts: In 1965, Alan Stillman founded the first T.G.I. Friday's on Manhattan's upper East Side. Its first menu was a chalkboard. In 1970, the second location opened in Memphis, Tenn. There are currently 927 Friday's-branded restaurants. Friday's red and white stripes are one of the most recognized restaurant trademarks in the world, next to the Golden Arches
Next: Waffle HouseMore Popular Features:
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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Waffle House
Original Location: Avondale Estates, Ga. (not pictured)
Fun Facts: Though Waffle Houses have popped up everywhere around the country, they originally had a very slow start. After the first was established in 1955, it took six years to establish just three more. Under the guiding philosophy of "better before bigger," Waffle House restaurants eventually grew in both new and existing markets. Today there are more than 1,500. In addition, each restaurant is open 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year, inspiring urban myths such as "Waffle House doors have no locks."
Next: SonicMore Popular Features:
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SONIC
Sonic
Original Location: Shawnee, Okla.
Fun Facts: Not only did Sonic develop innovations in the drive-in concept, they are one of the few remaining drive-in chains left in America. Sonic's innovations surprisingly began with just a root beer stand: when one man figured a drive-in root beer stand next to his steakhouse could make him a little extra cash, he soon found out that the stand proved to be more profitable than his steakhouse. From this, Sonic was born in 1953.
Next: The Cheesecake FactoryMore Popular Features:
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The Cheesecake Factory
The Cheesecake Factory
Original Location: Beverly Hills, Calif.
Fun Facts: In 1971, with their children grown, Evelyn and Oscar Overton, now in the their early 50's, decided to move their cheesecake business to Los Angeles. With the last of their savings, they opened a 700 square foot store, "The Cheesecake Factory". In 1978, their son David founded The Cheesecake Factory restaurant in Beverly Hills, which made Evelyn's cheesecakes even more famous. The company currently operates 143 restaurants.
Next: BlimpieMore Popular Features:
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Blimpie
Blimpie
Original Location: Hoboken, NJ
Fun Facts: Three friends -- Tony Conza, Angelo Baldassre and Peter DeCarlo opened the original Blimpie in 1964. Hoboken was chosen as the location because people there loved trying new things. To help set them apart, they wanted to call their sandwiches something other than subs, or hoagies. They went through a dictionary and found the word "blimp" and a picture resembling the generous-size sandwiches they wanted to make. Today the company has nearly 1,600 franchises in the U.S.
More on AOL: Restaurant vs. GroceryMore Popular Features:
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More on WalletPop:
Retaurant Brands on Grocery Shelves
It's become more and more common to see restaurant-branded items on your grocery store shelves. But how do the supermarket versions compare to the "real deal" you get at the restaurant? We review 20 items and give our verdict.
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Recent Comments
hnnypooh 12:09:48 AM Oct 07 2008
You know... I use to love I Hop's black berry syrup...mmmm..mmmm.I got tired of going to Ihop because there was way too much stickiness on the tables... shame shame... get it together Ihop!
Dwironmaiden 10:17:26 PM Oct 06 2008
Applebies and I-hop are owned by the same company.
Telorvehc7 08:39:16 PM Oct 06 2008
i bought new underwear at costco yesterday... and a new jacket. but i didn't wear my new jacket today. my cars' in the shop: new power steering pump, alternator and coolant tube. i like pancakes... alot.
Telorvehc7 08:35:59 PM Oct 06 2008
maybe congress can bail out all of the failing ice cream shops...
Andshewasnot 06:32:08 PM Oct 06 2008
Oh man, this article has me craving Sonic. I'm going to call my husband and ask him to pick some up on his way home!
Luv2Dnce4 05:57:10 PM Oct 06 2008
Where was In 'N' Out? They may only be in 3 states, but they're still doing extremely well. It seems like visitors from outside of CA, NV, and AZ all make stopping at In 'N' Out part of their visit. And who can blame them? Founded the same year as McDonald's, who would you rather buy a burger from? In 'N' Out, all the way!
CEDeRosa 07:40:44 AM Jul 21 2008
I never found the answer to the AOL question. What restaurant chain owns "Applebees". Please tell me the answer or explain to me how to find out.Thank you.
Shockly Smiles 11:35:04 PM Jul 20 2008
I used to love Subways steak and cheese subs but they changed the meat. I'm sorry if some people need to watch thier diet but I have a high metabolism and I'm active. So why punish me Subway? This carbon copy trane of thought needs to hit the road. If one side's not doing it in thier own special way then the other side is doing it in thiers. Stop trying to paint everyone grey. Your public relations appathy is turning into a nightmare. Use your freedom of choice! (To all the slaves of the argument)- I'm gone now. Rant at me till the stroke kicks in.
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