DEFUNCT Fast Food Restaurants from the past - Life in America

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#recollectionroad #nostalgia #fastfood

[@talfacprez]

Of all the fast food burger places that have disappeared Burger Chef is still one one I miss the most.

[@davidconley3610]

I remember when Burger Chef had their bar where you could put your own toppings on. Man their burgers were good!!

[@meauxjeaux431]

YES !!!!

[@trevorbarnhill697]

Sadly, I never got to eat at a Burger Chef.

[@jdmak5385]

I worked at the Burger Chef located at 5 Mile Road & Merriman Road in Livonia, MI.

[@jamesdennis2058]

Did you know that the Funmeal was invented by Burger Chef several years before the Happy Meal was introduced. When McDonald’s brought out the Happy Meal, Burger Chef sued them but lost the lawsuit.

[@GODDESS1966]

1 not mentioned here is Arthur Treacher Fish and Chips. I'm a 56-year-old Jersey girl and we've had all of the fast food restaurants that you can name just about now we're about down to Mc Donalds, Burger King, Wendy's, etc...I miss the old days with so much variety, and options. Screw it, I just miss the old days period!

[@brianstratton8767]

Yeah, my one sister briefly did hard time@ AT in Depew, NY ( Buffalo area) quite a stinky uniform to wash:/ I'm currently in Garfield Heights, Ohio ( Cleveland area) & AT here closed last year. M/b one more around here but unsure..

[@GODDESS1966]

@@brianstratton8767 Interesting didn't know there were any Arthur Treacher's even open as recently as the 2000s. Thought they were just an east coast franchise.

[@carolhensley]

Me too 😂

[@GODDESS1966]

@Pa Gall Ha-ha 🤣I take it you're a Jersey boy?

[@lornemarmet5898]

My favorite part of this video is seeing all the old cars.

[@brodriguez11000]

...and prices.

[@Gunner192]

I couldn't help but notice the 72 Chevy Caprice (6:00 minute mark) in the Wetsons parking lot.

[@Cmon-Man]

I always look at cars in these type vids. I like the, I think 66 bug with the stripes at 0:53

[@alcamerc9923]

I hate these videos I mean I don’t hate the amount of work these people put into them, I hate them because they give nostalgia, they bring me back to a time in my life when happiness meant the simple life of a hamburger, my friends, my expectations. These videos are a great source of memories of what this country was, what it represented, and what it represented was the challenge knowing that with a lot of sweat you’d realize your dreams. Great videos.

[@warrenj3204]

Simple thinking. People strive as much now as they did then. Today, however, it’s much more difficult to realize one’s dreams via “a lot of sweat”.

[@zimfan101]

And then those dreams would die in bankruptcy. Pretty much the theme of this video!

[@kim-jong-poon]

Nostalgia is a strange feeling. It's like a happiness and sorrow all rolled into one.

[@unclefester4626]

There seemed like more optimism back then....at least for me there was. It amazes me that McNastys is the dominant fast food/burger chain today. People make strange choices....

[@barbarasteed3966]

I do agree ..those times we never see again..but did see ..did have that time..and nobody can take it from us..

[@tomklock568]

Thanks for another sad blast form the past...sad to see all these "failures" that were once important to people.

[@bonwatcher]

Kenny Roger's Roasters will never be forgotten, but mostly because there's a whole Seinfeld episode based on the restaurant. Like Kramer and Newman, I also thought that chicken was really good. 🤤😂

[@jamesellis4664]

I liked Kenny Rogers also, chicken was good and the sides too. Dont know why they went under.

[@xXxSkyViperxXx]

Kenny Roger's Roasters is still alive in the Philippines. as someone from the philippines, this is the first time i heard that it wasn't doing well in other countries...

[@artiek1177]

I used to like their chicken and their corn bread was so good!

[@joebarr725]

Jerry to Newman: "You wouldn't eat broccoli if it was deep-fried in chocolate sauce".

[@mbd501]

I used to like Kenny's. It was similar to Boston Market, another one you don't see much anymore. They both specialized in rotisserie chicken.

[@davidblain2714]

Damn- I'm 60yrs old .. Memories gone by......

[@gofishingwhenyoucan]

You got that right buddy 👍😎

[@gofishingwhenyoucan]

I wish it was still the 90s myself.

[@davidblain2714]

@@gofishingwhenyoucan I look in the mirror and say how did I get this old! Lol.. I'm still 30yrs old in heart!

[@davidblain2714]

@Marya Kamilla A good day is when everything doesn't hurt as much! Lol .. I'm there.......

[@housecat7219]

60 too...I blinked and went from 40 to 60. Blessings and health to all my fellow boomers 🥰

[@666toysoldier]

A schoolmate's father opened a Dog 'n Suds franchise in 1965. I worked there for 3 years while in high school. Coney dogs and burgers with "special sauce", and the best root beer and cole slaw.

[@389383]

Sounds like a dog grooming salon!

[@bigscarysteve]

We had a Dog 'n Suds in my town. I had no idea it was a franchise. I never ate there.

[@cynthiajohnston424]

We had a Dog 'n Suds in our small Illinois town - a great place located halfway between the local lake beach & our favorite swimming pool . Always popular w/ all ages . Another popular place was A & W - the famous root beer floats & coney dogs !

[@666toysoldier]

@@cynthiajohnston424 There was an A&W five miles down the road.

[@MichaelRBrown-lh6kn]

@@666toysoldier Dog n Suds still exist in a few places in the mid West. We had one in my hometown in Florida that I ate at as a kid. It was a drive-in like Sonic.

[@michaelczeredarczuk446]

I used to work at Gino's in Philadelphia during the summer of 1976, I was 16 years old. It was always busy. We also used to have to make these strange long rectangular hamburgers called Hero burgers, I think it was a tie in with the Bicentennial at the time. Also, they only let the girls work the counter and the guys work in the kitchen, they said the girls wouldn't steal the money. Only guys over 18 were allowed to make the Kentucky Fried Chicken because they used pressure cookers to make it. I usually worked the French fries and boxing up the chicken, I still remember how many pieces went into a 2 box, 3 box, thrift box (9), bucket (16) and barrel (20). My clothes smelled like French fry grease the whole summer.

[@donnakenny9345]

Everything you said is exactly what I was thinking! Those terrible red polyester uniforms just hung onto the grease smell. I was able to convince my boss to let me (a girl!) cook the chicken. I loved it.

[@johnclifford6404]

Gino's has actually had a re-boot. They have 2 locations - one in Towson, MD and one in Glen Burine, MD. The food is actually pretty good. Almost Five Guys level, but not as expensive.

[@5roundsrapid263]

Women never steal? Seriously?

[@timothycreamer8610]

Me and my brother used to eat at the Gino's in Arlington VA in the mid 70s....also Lum's and of course Ollie's Trolley.

[@timothycreamer8610]

Spelled Olleys ?

[@petuniasevan]

I so remember Pup 'n' Taco. Grew up in SoCal and cannot forget that, or the Alpha Beta grocery store, or the Zody's , May Co, and Clifton's Cafeteria in the Eastland Shopping Center in West Covina. That mall is still there but has NONE of the stores I remember, and they tore down its iconic tower-style signboard long ago. Dang it, I want that era back to relive.

[@vbee3571]

I still miss May Co. !! ☹️

[@389383]

Was that the one near the Tower Records store? If so I spent a lot of time at both!

[@debbieschultz9768]

I remember Alpha Beta. I also remember Bobs Big Boy.

[@MrMegaFredZeppelin]

Big Ben's Records was also at the Eastland Mall Shopping Center, it was along the freeway🎸Pup "n" Taco had great cherry slushes😋I miss Miller's Outpost ☹ROCK ON!!!!!!!🤘🏻🤙🏻✌🏻

[@petuniasevan]

​@@MrMegaFredZeppelin Also Long's Drugs and Thom McAn Shoes....Hanich's Music on the lower esplanade, and of course the Huddle House restaurant out front on the freeway side.

[@bigtalk2598]

You forgot Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips. Huge overlook. Had over 800 franchises at one point, now only one left.

[@JayBigDadyCy]

I think he covered this one since this vid came out.

[@MichaelMcFerrin]

I couldn't forget that......I worked at one operated by my dad's sister in Milwaukee.

[@gcbranger1189]

my first taste of fish and chips was at arthur treachers.

[@robertmasina7388]

I remember one Arthur Teacher's back in the 1970's in the Chicago area located several miles from my home.

[@deaconbluezzz]

Burger Chef kicked McD's ass back in the 70's...I really miss them :(

[@samanthab1923]

Just dawned on me our Burger Chef was built across from the McD’s 😂

[@maryguy9013]

someone needs to MCD"s ass they made money during the pandemic at the expense of customers and employees. Corporate demonic operative needs to be boycotted because of their unhealthy food. They pretend they care about their employees no they do not. They use and abuse their elderly employees their younger worker are being groomed for slavehood. BOYCOTT BOYCOTT this shithole called MCDONALDS

[@EricT3769]

The thing I remember most was the fun burger and easily recognizable aqua and orange 70’s colors. Lol

[@matrox]

@Marya Kamilla Yeh...just call him...Deaconbluezz!😆

[@barbarasteed3966]

You got that right...

[@tinasmith1391]

It was amazing growing up in the 1970s. There were so many small businesses back then. I really feel sorry for kids growing up today.

[@planetrob555]

If you look around, there are many small businesses now. Everyone says "oh things were better then." Well in a few decades the exact same thing will be said about this time period. These kids will be fine. I have three granddaughters and they have the time of their lives just living.

[@jfranklins]

Actually things were better back then. If you can't tell the difference then I feel sorry for you. I really do feel sorry for the kids of today who think this crazy time we're living in is normal. Probably this is most immoral, sick society that has ever been in human history.

[@journeytothemosthigh5021]

I agree

[@journeytothemosthigh5021]

@@jfranklins I agree

[@j.d.leslie8458]

I am 65. The 1970s was the peak of American culture. Cars, clothing, music, books, movies, restaurants, television programming, the list is almost infinite. Everyone was working. Inflation low. You could buy just about anything if you had a job. Not much was out of reach for the average person. Optimism was high. All of that is gone now. Just a shell of its former self. And all of it done on purpose and by design.

[@scottfuller1711]

It really sucked when Burger Chef went under, they invented so much of the industry like happy meals and movie themed meals that we still see today. I remember when the first Star Wars movie came out in the 70's and the happy meals gave a Star Wars toy in each one. I wished I had saved all those toys from then they would be worth a fortune today.

[@joerichardwad1645]

It didn’t go under. It was bought by Hardee’s.

[@jimmyolsen5897]

I got a bunch of those toys where can I sell them

[@jasoncinema]

Yeah, I’ve always wished I’d been able to visit one. I was born in 1981.

[@mike9307]

Never made it to Burger Chef. My parents liked McDonald's.

[@socksumi]

I remember in the mid 1960s my Mom and Dad would drive our family of four kids to the Burger Chef in the suburbs. She said the food was so cheap she didn't need to cook meals.

[@theodorerelic2718]

I remember the Burger Chefs back in the 70s around here in Columbus Ohio. Funny thing...if you find yourself driving on S. High St/Rt 23 near Dering Ave. in S. Columbus, you'll see a used car dealership occupying a former Burger Chef that closed sometime in the 80s. The unique building is immediately recognizable!

[@robertfrederick4714]

I also lam from Columbus And ate at the one on east Livingston Often as a kid I will have to take a drive down s high!

[@melissayager883]

I've been a Columbus gal since early 2000's. LOL, I'm really from Lorraine Ohio. But I didn't even realize some of these restaurants were everywhere and that we all have so much connected no matter where we are from! I remember Hardee's when I was younger I remember being a young girl and my papa would bring home milk shakes from Hardee's after he would get off of the night shift at the steel plant. I just really really really miss the old times! Burger shack Burger King all of everything just tasted better, it wasn't so damn expensive and it was just everybody treated people with a little more consideration and a little more effort into making sure food was made the right way the first time! Now everybody wants to be yelling at people and throwing popping people's faces and cursing at everybody and everything to get online for your quick 15 minutes of fame LOL😊

[@squiggymcsquig6170]

Liked Burger Chef. Still have a glow-in-the-dark Burger Chef & Jeff frisbee.

[@TheBOG3]

I was so sad when they closed Burger Chef and changed them to Hardee's. Burger Chef was my absolute favorite hamburger joint. They had the Fun Burger AND the Fun Meal, which came with the drink and fries. I don't remember if there was a dessert or toy with it. Maybe the Fun Burger also came with a toy, too? Anyway the burgers tasted so much better than McDonald's and Burger King.

[@tankman7711]

It came with a toy, the meal did. I still have a burger Chef and Jeff YO-YO !

[@paules0099]

Man, I remember the Burger Chef and Jeff commercials. And yes, their food was good, dammit!

[@nuthinbutluv4u142]

Hardee's gave away coupons for a free goldfish in a plastic bag from a neighboring pet store in my town.

[@petezereeeah]

Burger Chef had the "Works Bar." You could get a plain burger and then self serve your own topping selection, quantities, etc. The place was great!

[@Saavik256]

As a European born in 1985, I had no idea you folks had so many different fast food restaurants! Fascinating history! :)

[@PrezVeto]

Yes, the big global chains we know today are merely the ones that emerged from several decades of competition among lots of regional chains (like the ones covered here), and the even smaller one or two location owner-operated places that each of those started as. The concept started in the 50s with widespread car ownership. We do still have a lot more chains here that you probably aren't aware of in Europe, but they can generally only compete with the giants you know by charging more for higher quality. They're not as fast as a result.

[@johnbiggans3514]

I work at a grocery store people want us to cook fried chicken past 5pm go somewhere else

[@colinchampollion4420]

Our country huge

[@unclefester4626]

Americans love Hamburgers. Personally i believe Burgers are the reason for life itself!!!😁👍

[@iseegoodandbad6758]

Europe was better off until the 21st century. Until a few decades ago Europeans ate REAL food brought from markets. Now Americans are realizing what they missed out on for over 100 years. Edible food. But Europe now is also swamped with American style fast food but still of better quality.

[@coppertopolo]

Also, maybe you could include a segment on Arthur Treacher's Fish n' Chips - got me through those long college nights.

[@davidmitchell6873]

Pretty sure they did one already.

[@kathyscoppettuolo7168]

my job when I was in high school.. but I hate fish! the chicken was good

[@palillo2006]

He already made that video.

[@msnell326]

And Red Barn's Big Barnies for me.

[@msnell326]

In the 70's the line was out the door at Arthur Teacher's on Friday night after work.

[@bp39047]

I remember back in the late 50's a chain call Sandy's. Home of the 19 cent burgers. It featured a small burger with mustard, ketchup, patty, and a pickle.

[@hartwell146]

Yes, Sandy's was my favorite !! They had the big Scott it was so good

[@NATIVESUNSETS65]

Early 60's Jack in the Box had a cheeseburger - ketchup, patty,Cheese and a pickle for 20 cents this was before Jack in the Box became just " Jacks ". back then it was let's go to the one with the Clown. A west coast only franchise that had the Best 1/4 pound burger and Fried burritos was Doggie Diner , They had a huge Dachshund with a Chefs hat on that rotated on top of the buildings .

[@bp39047]

@@NATIVESUNSETS65 My Jack in the box favorite is their cheap tacos. Used to get a bag full for $2 back in the 60's. Loved the secret sauce flavor. Nearest on to me today is over 3 hours away in Louisiana.

[@jaydouglas5847]

@@hartwell146 Yes...Sandy's ! At the bottom of our street was an original Henry's hamburgers, about 1970 or so it closed and reopened as Sandy's. Lots of memories as us neighborhood kids used to hangout there as there was a "woods" right behind Sandy's. So first kiss, first smoke, first meal purchased with my own money, first placed I ever walked alone to (age 6), first everything important happened at the back end of Sandy's parking lot where the woods began. Loved the cheese they put on the burgers ..it was sharp cheese not the bland processed stuff. They also had the shrimp basket and killer onion rings and real shakes made with only ice-cream and milk. Must have eaten there a thousand times ! In the mid seventies a McD's opened a few blocks away and that spelled its doom. One on my earliest memories happened there. I must have been 5 or 6 years old. I was sitting on the kiddies bench eating a burger and a friendly german shepherd walked up to me wagging his tail and being very nice as such I was not afraid, he sat right down next to me and gently took the burger from me and swallowed it whole ! Apparently it saw me as an easy mark and probably had done this before to other kids at that bench. I began to cry at the loss of my yummy burger....and wouldn't you know it but apparently the manager had seen this happen through the window and brought me out a new burger on the house ! The building still stands as it originally was built....but the woods are long gone. Over the last 50 years since being Henry's/Sandy's it has been a hotdog joint, a sandwich shop, and an Italian takeout several times. I have ate so much food there over the years it's only second in terms of meals to my mom's and my own kitchen. I miss Sandy's and that era. Kids today haven't a clue as to what they missed out on.

[@lizzieb6311]

I loved Burger Chef ♥ We used to ride our bikes to the restaurant and get milkshakes and fries. D’Lites was the place to go when I was in high school… we always clamored to get a table in the “atrium” area on the perimeter of the dining room. Even though it was sweltering hot there in the blazing sun it was where we could see our classmates coming to dine. Good times. Thank you for taking us down recollection road ♥🙏

[@julius-stark]

I've been watching The Food That Built America and was amazed at how many burger joints opened up trying to chase McDonald's market share.

[@zythr9999]

LOL

[@sshza2143]

corporate gold rush🤑🍔🍟😁🙋‍♂✌😎

[@unclefester4626]

@JD Rhea McNastys...

[@jenniferhansen3622]

I'm glad you're back! I hope you're doing well.

[@bextar6365]

Where was he ?????

[@jenniferhansen3622]

@@bextar6365 If you go onto his channel and tap on "community" you can see that he posted about being affected by Hurricane Ian so he had to take some time off.

[@frankperdue6585]

The Funburger evolved into The Funmeal, and when they announce the works bar that was the greatest thing ever

[@bigscarysteve]

Remember the "with or without" campaign that Burger Chef had? For those of you that don't, if you ordered your burger "without," all you got was a burger patty on a bun--but then you took it over to the works bar (essentially a salad bar) and put whatever condiments and vegetables on it you wanted. I remember going to Burger Chef once with an elderly family friend who hadn't seen the TV commercials. He got upset because he thought they were trying to sell him a hamburger without any meat in it!

[@MaxStax1]

I never went to a Kenny Rodgers Roasters, they didn't show up in my area. I just remember that one Seinfeld episode where Kramer got hooked on the chicken from there, and it made me really want to try it.

[@GhostRider-sc9vu]

Not about Kenny's but there was a story going around the Nashville area when Minne Pearl's was starting that a secretary for the company borrowed $50,000 and bought that many shares pre-IPO. The stock took off and then split one share into two the Sec then sold the stock when it reached $80 made a profit of $7,950,000. Do not know if the Sec was real do know MP stock shot up in a hurry.

[@DonTruman]

Ah, so that's how I remember that business.

[@mshay6190]

I ate at a Kenny Rogers Roasters in Athens, Ga. It was very similar to Boston Market/Chicken.

[@xXxSkyViperxXx]

Kenny Roger's Roasters is still alive in the philippines. u can find them in malls and such sometimes around metro manila

[@trevorbarnhill697]

Oh man, I feel for you. We had one in my hometown in the nineties. Kenny Rogers Roasters was so awesome. The chicken, side dishes, and the corn muffins. My family and I would eat there a couple of times a month as well as do takeout every couple of weeks or so. It sucked when ours closed down for good. Sorry you missed out.

[@pegs1659]

I worked at Burger Chef in 1974 in Decatur, Al. Good ol Burger Chef and Jeff lol.

[@bigtalk2598]

I live in Decatur, AL. Still have Penn's Burgers on 6th Avenue.

[@rascalme9754]

We're hungry for fun fun food.

[@kylemarzion2814]

That's right man burger chef and Jeff

[@karanapier9175]

Glad you're back!

[@MaxStone01]

Maybe this has been mentioned but Gino’s was revived in Maryland a couple of years ago, and there are currently two locations in operation in Towson and Glen Burnie.

[@wesleywilson1175]

I was looking for this comment since I have eaten at the Towson location many times in the last couple of years.

[@VGHSyntheticOrchestra]

Yep. Just 3 minutes up the road from me. Still haven't opened back up their dining room since COVID. Smh.

[@Strommy777]

It's not the same, it's Gino's in name only (it is nothing like the old Gino's and their version of the "Giant" is very different and nott very good). And almost all the stores they opened have since closed (I think there were 8 of them at one time). There were a couple in PA that only lasted a couple of years. It's failing because it's not the same..

[@carlc5748]

I remember seeing the original Batmobile on display, at a Burger Chef on Devonshire St. in Northridge, Calif. about late 1966!

[@valerieanderson3833]

We had a Druthers restaurant in my hometown in Indiana. My favorite was their fish sandwich. When I realized the only remaining Druthers was in Kentucky and within driving distance, my husband and I made the 6 hour drive so I could have a fish sandwich. He had never even heard of Druthers before. I was pleasantly surprised that my sandwich was spot on just as it was 20+ years ago. My husband said his burger was amazing.

[@terrybeavan4264]

Nice! I grew up in the Louisville / Shepherdsville, KY area and lived basically within walking distance of both a Burger Chef and Burger Queen, and while we had some of the other usual fast food places e.g. McDonalds, Burger King and Wendy's and of course KFC I LOVED Burger Queen, not so much for their "Imperial Burger" but the fish and chicken, to me it was way better than the fast food competition. The family moved to Jacksonville FL in 1980 and I think by then there wasn't a single Burger Chef here and definitely no Burger Queen, and I well remember going back to Louisville and visiting friends during summer vacation and almost always stopping at Burger Queen, and in 1986 my last time there until 2005 seeing it was renamed as Druthers, I'd thought they were gone and seeing that one still exists, if I ever manage to make it back up there I MUST go there! One bit of good news down here, White Castle is basically nonexistent down here other than sold frozen in a local grocery store chain Publix, but they've FINALLY opened one not far south of me in Orlando! Life keeps getting in the way but I swear if it's what it takes I'll just make the 2 hour or so drive down there on a Saturday, go through the drive thru and come straight back home! :D

[@onthefritzfarm]

I think there was a Druthers in Bedford IN. I used to live there. Definitely a place called Pleasers.

[@leighcarlson87]

Worked at a Burger Chef in Indiana in the late 70s.

[@Kim-mz8co]

I use to eat at one in Columbus, IN in the mid-70s.

[@leighcarlson87]

I was in Anderson.

[@davidrogers0717]

Mine was on the south side of Muncie in the 70s. It turned into a Hardees.

[@rickdavid244]

I sucked an old man cock in Indiana in the late 70s for a joint

[@99dsm1]

I remember the one in Danville indiana Have a scar on my head still from slipping on a wet floor

[@kevinsmith5288]

Glad to see you back, have been thinking about you since the hurricane as I know you are located in Fort Myers.

[@thomasallen3818]

I grew up in South Texas and my hometown had a Burger Chef, but when Hardee’s bought them out they just closed the location even though there were no Hardee’s in South Texas. In high school we used to go there for lunch on Fridays because they had 10 plain burgers for a $1.00, which meant we all had a couple of burgers each with fries and a drink for just a couple of dollars.

[@danieldaniels7571]

No point in competing with Whataburger

[@johnwohara]

Gino's was a great place for burgers. Their "Gino Giant" came wrapped in a collar. The hamburger meat was top quality, and the special sauce was the tastiest I've ever had on any burger. Now I'm almost drooling just remembering it. There's nothing that comes close to the taste and flavor of the Gino Giant anywhere today.

[@KristalMack]

Agree with you about the Gino Giant 100%

[@davidburke1794]

Missing Gino's giant at 73 and 38 circle in NJ. I knew it was going down ne'er when they changed the theme color to black.

[@Direwolf181]

The only Gino's I know was Gino's Pizza... which I just realized only realized it's actually really just a WV thinh...

[@christian361]

We still have 2 Gino's in Maryland currently. Not original, but like a reboot. It's not too bad, but nothing like I remembered as a kid.

[@markdanielczyk944]

Nice job on the video!

[@pt2575]

Glad to see you back.

[@johnmcafee6140]

Some Burger Chef restaurants were operated independently. The last one was located in Cookeville, TN and managed to stay open until June 1996. I ate at it a few weeks before it closed.

[@raybo1018]

I grew up eating at Burger Chef all the time. Too bad it ended. I preferred it to the competitors

[@sherryhannah9262]

Ray Lussier in Beaumont Texas where I live one Burger Chef turned into an optical place there were other businesses in the building after Burger Chef closed one business that was in the building was a travel agency I hope you will reply to this

[@loydkline4686]

❤️ bill knapps ❤️ fried chicken & biscet, love red barn restaurant

[@samanthab1923]

Ours was the first fast food in town. Then came BK & McD’s. By that time BC was an Arthur Treachers fish place.

[@EricT3769]

Loved Burger Chef in the 70s. The fun burger was great. I moved to Lake Charles, LA in 1991. There was an old Burger Chef on Enterprise Blvd that was an Aladin’s Lebanese restaurant, which served great food. Sadly, the old building is no longer there. I also remember Bresler’s 33 Flavors ice cream in Lafayette’s North Gate Mall. The only place I’ve ever found Concord grape ice cream, which was so great as a kid. Loved it!

[@MrSpike320]

@@sherryhannah9262, I'm originally from Beaumont as well and I remember that Burger Chef location quite well!! I got all of the Star Wars posters there when I was a kid. I STILL miss Burger Chef!!

[@GuitarAnthony]

One of the things that killed Burger Chef was exorbitant franchisee fees. Another was constant rebranding and new logos which also added to franchisee costs. Some franchisees didn't want to go Hardees so some collectively rebranded as Pleasers. I'm from NY so, sadly, never got to try Burger Chef. McD's had too strong a foothold.

[@toughenupfluffy7294]

I ate at a Burger chef and got food poisoning. So Burger Chef almost killed me.

[@stubbylee8339]

Also the infamous unsolved to this day Burger Chef murders.

[@dave3657]

I remember Burger Chef, they had a fix-it bar to top off your hamburger.

[@bigscarysteve]

Yes. Remember their "with or without" TV commercial campaign?

[@tracyisbest]

Hey, glad to see you are back. Hope you are recovering well from Ian in Fort Myers, FL.

[@jons.6216]

On the west coast we had Doggie Diners that had the great signs of a red dachshund head in a bow tie wearing a chef's hat! They discontinued in 1986 but those big fiberglass heads live on as some private owners bought some of them and there's a permanent landmark of one up on a pole in the middle of Sloat Blvd in San Francisco!

[@baileez821]

The skin on Doggie Diner hot dogs was so tough that one bite would pull the meat out of the sausage and the skin was left hanging empty in the bun. Gross. I kind of liked the chili burgers though.

[@danieldaniels7571]

I remember my parents driving by those but we never ate there

[@stephenspilker9334]

look at those old prices lol.

[@dewilew2137]

I remember Burger Chef being a rather central part of the plot in one season of Mad Men. I assumed it was a fictional restaurant. 😳

[@scottmcwave9479]

Love looking at the menus! Used to go to Pup”n”Taco all the time!

[@trish5556]

Milligan's in Jacksonville, Florida was another fast-food chain that disappeared in the 1970's. It had tiny burgers similar to Krystals but were better and less expensive. There are some urban legends surrounding the chain's closure. My husband grew up in Jacksonville and was told that a disgruntled employee turned the owner in for tax evasion and the bill was too high for him to pay off, so he went bankrupt and closed all the stores. Maybe you all can find out what the real story was.

[@Bonzi_Buddy]

They served human meat.

[@B3Band]

You married someone from Jacksonville? Do you have three ears or something? Did you accidentally make eye contact and get pregnant?

[@elwin38]

When i would visit relatives in Indianapolis during the 70's(from Memphis), i would eat Burger Chef(there was one a few blocks away from my Aunt). Tasty burgers but i loved the fries.

[@Corgis175]

Burger Chef is the only one I remember eating at. It seems when original owners sell out, everything goes downhill.

[@gofishingwhenyoucan]

Another awesome video 👍😎

[@melissabibby7310]

This was a great video! I enjoy all the once was videos!👍❤️

[@markchoma9822]

Melissa you're really pretty.

[@melissabibby7310]

@@markchoma9822 thank you

[@janetpitts7302]

We had a burger chef right down the road from us growing up in late 60s early 70s, we just had to hop on the railroad tracks and we were there!!! Loved it and loved Hardee's too!!! Thank you!

[@rkirschner7175]

Had a Burger Chef just down the road growing up. The Best.

[@dianebollig1332]

As a treat my dad would take me and my siblings to pup and taco once or twice a month the prices were incredibly cheap and the food was good I really miss that place and I think about it often!

[@meauxjeaux431]

Burger Chef was awesome ! They flame broiled their patties long before Burger King was even around, and the Big Chef was a 3 teired burger like the Big Mac. They were a whole LOT better tasting than the Big Mac and the Whopper.... COMBINED !

[@freedbyhisgrace9075]

SO many memories ! Burger Chef was my first job in 1973 in Annapolis, Md., and it really was good for being fast food. The last Gino's that closed in Pasadena, Md. in 1986, reopened in the very same building, in I believe 2015, and is still there. I also remember going to Lums for a "fancier" fast food experience. The hot dogs were so damn good. Only one missing here is Hot Shoppe Junior.

[@victoriacat3017]

I miss so many of these restaurants!! Thanks for these memories 😊

[@robertabiallas6923]

You may want to make an addendum on Gino’s. There are at least two locations which are still open in Maryland in the greater Baltimore area. We just ate there last month. It is still the same Gino’s, the logo and menu haven’t really changed (they’ve just added more salads and chicken options).

[@josephmclean515]

Being from Maryland I definitely remember Gino’s❤

[@rachelc.5463]

There was a Gino's in Leesburg, Virginia.

[@waynecoe6338]

We used to go to Horne and Hardy’s in the maul at Belair Md, miss it

[@francisjaniewski5990]

That darn Burger Chef. Loved it!!! It was 3 miles, or a 10 mi use bike ride. Miss em. Not the same as Hardee's.

[@btceth4714]

I remember Gino's as a kid... they were the best!

[@samanthab1923]

We had one in town. It’s where we got our KFC.

[@btceth4714]

@@samanthab1923 exactly!

[@amputeeright]

Ginos, Burger Chef, Little Tavern, Shakey's Pizza...ah, the memories.

[@GarrettWorcester]

@@amputeeright Rax in Glen Burnie and Sconecutter's in Brooklyn Park; was probably doomed from the start based on their unique locations, but the food wasn't that bad.

[@happycommentator6773]

Gino's in Kensington and Gaithersburg, Burger Chef in Aspen Hill when I was a kid. Also had a Red Barn across from Gino's on Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg. I believe we also had a Lums on Frederick Avenue down near Walnut Hill shopping center. Y'all remember Tippy's Taco House?😄

[@Tiberius291]

Used to have a "Kenny Rogers Roaster's" here in Miami Florida, the rest of the restaurants featured didn't ring a bell.

[@craigpennington1251]

Burger Chef was the BEST of them all. Really do miss them. McDonald's used to be good back in the 60s but now, I don't eat there. NASTY!

[@curtw8827]

In western PA we had Winkys with 15 cent hamburgers.

[@danielulz1640]

I grew up in Baton Rouge and the only one that I remember was Burger Chef. I wondered what happened to them.

[@luisreyes1963]

Legend has it, they became Hardee's. 😕

[@sherryhannah9262]

Daniel Ulz they went out of business honey

[@michaelwaters5168]

Might want to click the play > button above.

[@wesmcgee1648]

I went to law school in B Rouge. Ate there almost every day.

[@MissPandaButt]

I grew up in BR as well!!

[@midgie1166]

I miss the way Dairy Queen used to be. You walked up to a window to place your order. After being served, we would sit at the tables and eat or eat in the car.I liked the cones and dad liked banana splits Ahhh! The memories! P.S. Would be nice to hear about automats!

[@dimitriberozny3729]

They went to inside service in the early 1980’s so restaurants that were located in colder climates could stay open year round.

[@billwang4181]

@@dimitriberozny3729 Right, my wife grew up in Oklahoma in the '50s and "60s, and she said DQ's would close during the winter there.

[@harleyray4654]

I'm in a city in Western Canada and have a Dairy Queen like the one you describe. It opened in 1960 and is still doing good business. It closes during the Winter but I imagine the owners make so much money when open that they can afford a winter vacation somewhere warm !

[@rclaughlin]

I would have liked hearing mention of Chicken Delight and Red Barn.

[@buickinvicta288]

"Don't cook tonight, Call Chicken Delight" 🎶🎵🎶

[@RichZFishes]

Chicken Delight still exists! There are a few stores, but a bunch more in Canada. In general though, it disappeared when the US franchise holders got together a sued the company for the exorbitant prices they charged the franchises for supplies that they were contractually restricted from buying elsewhere.

[@spyderlogan4992]

My hangout was the Burger Chef in Franconia, Virginia. There was a night(Summer '66) where I broke my '61 Falcon behind the place and had to call my Dad.

[@surferbri5346]

If everything on BurgerChefs menu ends with SHEF, why wasn't it called BurgerShef?

[@Joseph-og9jh]

My first job was at the Gino’s location in King of Prussia, PA

[@ricknblueridge]

Red Barn was another that I remember growing up in Arlington VA. Although known for their burgers, they had the best fish sandwiches I ever eaten.

[@baronvoncalculon486]

Another one you should add to the list is Red Barn. They had great burgers, I loved them as a kid.

[@imanonattorneyspokesperson5568]

There's one still standing in Chicago...Someone turned it into a church about 20 years ago but still has the barn style exterior

[@raymartin3527]

McDonald's advertising in the late 60's was change back from your dollar for a burger, fry's and a drink.

[@ilovegoodsax]

I remember that commercial. It was in the very early 70s (circa 1970/71), and the change you got back from your dollar was a dime.

[@waynecoe6338]

The first McDonald’s I remember was in Newark Del. Had 5 burgers for a dollar, There is a Hardy’s at Harridburg, Pa. my favorite. Now

[@vinnygi]

Jeez, how many old chains did Hardees buy and destroy?

[@lelandgaunt9985]

Yes

[@yankeesfan6426]

And Burger Chef was far better than Hardees

[@cdfreester]

A lot. They bought several other small-to-medium chains in addition to the ones mentioned in this video. Hardees grew by acquisition.

[@Foxonian]

After Hardees took over Burger Chef, the quality of the food went waay down. We used to call ours "Burger S**T" due to what you ended up getting after eating there.

[@mctm1981]

@ColonialBuckeye Hardees has better breakfast than the rest of their menu.

[@devildoll9929]

What about Howard Johnson's? It wasn't strictly a fast food place because it had sit-down service, but most of its business was take-out. Only the motel chain is still around, but back in the 1960s and 1970s, no road trip was complete without a stop at one of its restaurants. It even appeared in an extended scene in Alfred Hitchcock's "Marnie."

[@robertwhite9898]

I remember eating at Burger chef as a kid !

[@SMichaelDeHart]

Burger Chef was my favorite as a kid. We actually still have a local restaurant in an old Burger Chef building called Susie's (in South Charleston, WV) that has the same burger styles like the Big Chef and Super Chef. It's now the closest thing to Burger Chef.

[@ronin27k]

My Dad owned a pet store on Long Island and I went to work with him anytime I was able we had a Wetsons right out in the front parking lot and Dad would send me for lunch I loved Wetsons fried chicken it came wrapped in bright foiled paper and it was awesome! Great times I miss them and my Dad ty for the memory.

[@Lyael956]

I loved the food at Burger Chef. I worked at one in Indiana for a while. Much better than what Burger King is today!

[@rockymtnrider5325]

What about Red Barn? Maybe in your next video

[@esteban1487]

I remember Red Barn.

[@peacefuldaizy5717]

I was just telling my daughter about the Red Barn. I loved that place!

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

He has done Red Barn before in a previous video.

[@esteban1487]

@Marya Kamilla One in St. Clair Shores too.

[@DrumWild]

I grew up in Indiana, born in the mid-60s. Burger Chef was THE absolute best at the time. But in 1978, The Burger Chef Murders happened in Speedway. The perpetrator has never been caught, and my best friend's uncle was a suspect. So they probably felt that they HAD to change their name, thanks to how the press handled the naming of the murder. I still think about Burger Chef from time to time. Lots of great childhood memories remain, in spite of it all.

[@jonbiedermann79]

Loved Burger Chef! It was the first 'restaurant' that as a 6 year old kid, circa 1977, we would go to as a family about once a month or so- everything else that year was at home. The toppings bar was awesome, because that way I could get a cheeseburger plain and not add anything to it, while my parents would add all kinds of awful things, like tomatoes, lettuce, and the worst, mustard and pickles and onions! ;)

[@TheBOG3]

My husband's maternal grandfather had surgery and ended up losing weight during the recovery period. He was average weight for his height to begin with. He was at Kenny Rogers Roasters holding his tray full of food when his pants fell down in front of two old ladies, he said. Thankfully he had on his long boxer underwear 🩳. He said he knew he should of wore his belt but forgot or decided not to. My husband and I were cracking up 😂 when he told us what happened.

[@GH-oi2jf]

My home town on the Oregon coast had a tiny place called “3-minute burgers” in the 1950s. I don’t know if it was part of a chain. It disappeared without a trace long ago.

[@onthefritzfarm]

A place called 2 minute burgers forced them out of business.

[@dehydratedwater9806]

We had two Burger Chefs in my town. There's still one of their buildings standing peak facia and all. it's now a used car dealership.

[@user-vm5ud4xw6n]

Always enjoy your videos! Thank you for posting them!

[@discobikerAndRosie]

I grew up in Michigan. Burger Chef was my favorite when I was little. I believe the one we frequented in Genesee County became the Burger King.

[@NOLAgenX]

I was waiting to see if Lum’s would be in here. They were not all closed by 1983. I worked as an assistant manager at Lum’s twice: in 1989 and 1994 in South Burlington, VT. There were IIRC several Lum’s still in existence at the time. We followed the Lum’s official recipes and some of the food shipments were Lum’s branded. There was another one I ate at during that time in Lake Placid, NY. A local entrepreneur owned several as a franchise, so maybe he alone was keeping the brand alive. In any case, it wasn’t gone by 1983.

[@stlram5]

Actually, the last Lum's closed in Bellevue, NE in May of 2017.

[@maxwellcrazycat9204]

I worked at a Burger Chef while in high school. It was a fun job. Enabled me to buy a car and have some fun money. We use to hide beer in the cooler in between the milkshake mix bags. It had an incinerator which I loved to use. Burned most of the trash. I guess I was a bit of a pyro.

[@kencarp57]

Another chain you didn’t mention was Sandy’s - a Midwest burger chain I grew up going to in Wichita KS in the 1960s… home of “The Quality 15-cent Hamburger” and the Big Scot, which was a triple-bun double-meat burger quite similar to the Big Mac but BETTER because it had a coleslaw-like dressing on it! I also loved their Fish Filet sandwich, which was also better than the Filet-O-Fish. Sadly, Sandy’s was bought out by Hardee’s in the mid-70s. 😒

[@cdfreester]

Another chain acquired by and converted over to Hardees restaurants.

[@hartwell146]

Loved Sandy's 😍

[@nuthinbutluv4u142]

That's in a separate video.

[@29madmangaud29]

Hey, have you've ever heard of "DOGGIE DINER",,, I don't think that it's around anymore, it was (I believe from Northern California/ San Francisco) , there was one over in Hayward, California still doing business I think as late at '82, atleast.

[@life_with_bernie]

I was hoping you would have included White Tower burgers but as a born and raised NYC'r I appreciate that you included Wetson's

[@samanthab1923]

First went to LUM’S on a trip to FL w/family. My uncle loved it. We collected the Looney Tunes glasses while there. I still have an Elmer Fudd 😂

[@roachrip]

Oh.. the prices..good lord..

[@TRANSPORTKING1988]

I remember some of my childhood memories of fast food restaurants in Boise, Idaho like A&W, Red Steer, Sambos, Winchell's Donuts, Chi Chi's restaurant, North Chuck wagon, just to name a few.... Today's restaurants don't even compare to the 70s and 80s

[@bobbrinkerhoff3592]

I forgot about Sambos .

[@caroline-s]

A&W is still around. I worked at red steer and loved their tater sticks.

[@biancagerade4229]

Glad you're back I hope all is well it's good to have you back I enjoy your content 😊

[@javoss123]

I love you for narrating your own videos, and not using a robot narrator. I’m going to subscribe.

[@tradertif9765]

There were definitely Lum’s open past 1983.

[@djm3462004]

Agreed. I was born in 1982 and remember the Newark, DE Lums was open until I was at least 10 or so. My dad worked at the DuPont Louviers location and we'd stop and eat there occasionally after he got out of work.

[@bigscarysteve]

I question classifying Lum's as fast food. It was a sit-down restaurant, and at least at the one in my town, the service was painfully slow.

[@DonTruman]

Only one familiar to me was Pup and Taco. Probably a result of McD and Burger King wiping out all of these places before I was old enough to remember them. It's a shame about D'Lites. I remember when McD and others tried adding healthy options. I bought them. Then they started cutting them out of the menu and returning to the junk food.

[@sonyafox3271]

Burger Chef is the fast food chain, I miss the most, I always remember getting the Happy Meal in Pop Up Box! In Ohio Burger Chef got a late start in the town, I grew up in. Until then, we ate at the location in Indiana where my mom’s family lived they ended up closing and, the one in Ohio still hadn’t open yet. But, the one in Ohio closed down in early 2000s and, every time, I went back down that way, it was a must stop! I also remember the restaurant stands in the early 70s, Don’t know the name of it but, it was in Ohio for a long time which was near road we always came up and back, wasn’t exactly a highway yet but, that restaurant was a must stop on the way back home or wherever we had to head to next. All, I know was the building was all silver for the most part. Never got to try Kenny Roaster’s Chicken, seemed like they made it one Indiana town and, the next thing it was closed!