Defunct Restaurant Hats
Description: ShowBiz Pizza Place was a popular 1980s American family entertainment chain combining pizza, arcade games, and animatronic shows. Founded March 3, 1980, in Kansas City, Missouri, it later merged with Chuck E. Cheese after 1984 bankruptcy proceedings. Rebranding began in 1990, and the ShowBiz name was retired in January 1993.
Description: This hand-drawn recreation of a vintage matchbook design pays tribute to Shenanigan's Restaurant in Dothan, Alabama. Known for its lively atmosphere, great food, and unforgettable nights, Shenanigan's was a beloved spot for locals and visitors alike. Whether you came for the pub-style burgers and comfort food or the live music and sports, this design captures the playful, casual vibe that made Shenanigan's a cherished memory. Perfect for fans of vintage Americana and those who remember the good times spent at this iconic hotspot!
Description: Remembering Bill Knapp’s Restaurants. If you traveled in the Midwest or Florida, it’s a good bet you ate a meal at Bill Knapp’s. At the height of its popularity, Bill Knapp’s operated 69 restaurants. The fare included steak, fish and fried chicken, au gratin potatoes, ham croquettes, cole slaw and those glorious, golden Bill Knapp’s biscuits. They also had meals in a basket, including the “Glorified Steakburger” that weighed in at a third of a pound and cost $1.95. And birthdays were a Bill Knapp specialty. The percentage you saved on your meal was equal to your age, For those of us who came of age in that era, a trip to Bill Knapp’s was a family tradition we’ll never forget.
Description: Burger Chef was an American fast-food restaurant chain. It began operating in 1954 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Burger Chef spread across the United States, following a strategy of opening outlets in smaller towns. By 1972 its number of locations (1,200) was surpassed only by McDonald's (1,600). They offered a double burger, called the Big Shef, and later the quarter-pound hamburger, Super Shef. The chain had two mascots: Burger Chef (voiced by Paul Winchell) and Jeff (the chef's juvenile sidekick). They had the first Kids Meal, 5 years before McDonald’s, as well as the first fast food deal with Star Wars. "There's more to like at Burger Chef."
Description: Al Green’s Drive-In was a legendary Indianapolis restaurant (est. 1947) on US 40, celebrated for its 1950s-60s popularity, featuring free outdoor movies, curb service via telephone, and signature food. Known for tenderloins and root beer, it was a major social hub before closing and being demolished in 1992.
Description: Waddle's Restaurant (also known as Waddle's Drive-In) was a landmark family-style eatery in Portland, Oregon, that operated for over 60 years before closing its last location in May 2004. Founded by Gene and Natha Waddle in 1938, the restaurant was best known for its flagship location at Jantzen Beach, which opened in 1945, making this a perfect vintage nostalgia piece.
Description: Toddle House was a national quick service restaurant chain, which specialized in breakfast but was open 24/7. By the 1950s, Toddle House had more than 200 locations in almost 90 cities. Originally, each outlet was built to the same plan, having the appearance of a small brick cottage, painted white with a blue roof. Inside, diners found no tables — just a row of 10 stools at a stainless-steel counter. Customers paid on the honor system, depositing their checks with the correct amount in a glass box by the door on their way out.
Description: Baby Doe's Matchless Mine was a popular 1970s and 1980s themed restaurant chain named after Colorado mining legend Elizabeth "Baby Doe" Tabor. Known for dramatic hilltop and rooftop views, rustic mineshaft entrances, and Gilded Age Victorian decor, the defunct chain is fondly remembered for its signature beer cheese soup, prime rib, and celebratory atmosphere.
Description: Who remembers the old Beef Steak Mining Company? It was located just inside the entrance to Penn-Can mall it was brilliantly decorated to make you feel like you were in the old west in a mining environment. The bar was fantastic as well with lots of wood and barrels that they used to keep the free appetizers on that they offered to their customers. if you ever dined there, I’m sure you visited their salad bar which had enormous shrimp (probably U-15 per lb), and it was all you could eat.
Description: Kelly's Lounge was a renowned, multi-section neighborhood bar located on Dixie Highway in Louisville, KY, famously known for its unique drive-thru window serving mixed drink quarts (like banana banshees and salty dogs). Often referred to as a "Jim Porter's of the south end," it featured a fireplace, dancing, and pool, before closing years ago.
