Restaurant Chain Pins and Buttons
Description: Chi-Chi's was a Mexican restaurant chain founded in 1975 in Richfield, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis, by restaurateur Marno McDermott (his wife's nickname was "Chi Chi") and former Green Bay Packers player Max McGee. MacDermott had previously founded the Zapata fast-food Mexican chain, which later became Zantigo. From 1977 to 1986, the chain was run by former KFC executive Dula Brown. When Dula took leadership, the chain moved its headquarters to his hometown of Louisville. By March 1995, the chain had grown to 210 locations.
Description: Steak and Ale is an American chain of casual dining restaurants, owned and operated by Legendary Restaurant Brands, LLC. Steak and Ale was founded as an independent restaurant chain in Dallas, Texas, on February 26, 1966, by Norman E. Brinker. On July 29, 2008, the chain's remaining 58 locations closed as part of a chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding. Restaurant pioneer Norman Brinker founded Steak and Ale in 1966 in Dallas. The chain, with its dimly lit dining rooms, billed itself as offering an upscale steak experience at lower prices. It was seen as a model for the casual-dining steakhouse chain, and many executives there went on to run other large chains. Restaurant pioneer Norman Brinker founded Steak and Ale in 1966 in Dallas.
Description: Mr. Steak was an American steakhouse restaurant chain started in 1962 by James A. Mather in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The chain operated 278 restaurants throughout the United States and 4 in Canada at its peak. The chain saw a decline in the 1980s when it attempted to diversify its menu options, drawing focus away from the steak in favor of fish, salads, and chicken.
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: Mr. Steak was an American steakhouse restaurant chain started in 1962 by James A. Mather in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The chain operated 278 restaurants throughout the United States and 4 in Canada at its peak. The chain saw a decline in the 1980s when it attempted to diversify its menu options, drawing focus away from the steak in favor of fish, salads, and chicken.
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: The Mr. Swiss company was based in Oklahoma City, OK. The chain was started in 1964 by L.J. Doerfler and featured a diverse menu that included 34 soft-style ice cream flavors and 11 sandwiches ranging from a 25-cent hot dog or hamburger to a 69-cent corned beef and roast beef sandwich. Doerfler’s father, Lawrence M. Doerfler, died in 1961 at age 55. Doerfler Sr. was apparently a big shot and ran a construction company he founded in 1936.
Description: Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips was an American fast food seafood restaurant chain. At the peak of its popularity in the late 1970s, it had more than 800 restaurants. The chain's namesake is Arthur Treacher (1894–1975), an English character actor typecast as "the perfect butler" for his performances as Jeeves, as a butler in several Shirley Temple films, and the role of Constable Jones in Walt Disney Productions' Mary Poppins. At the time the chain was founded, Treacher was best known as the announcer and sidekick on the popular The Merv Griffin Show.
Description: Shakey's Pizza is a pizza restaurant chain based in the United States. Founded in 1954, it was the first franchise pizza chain in the United States. In 1968, the chain had 342 locations. The chain had about 500 stores globally, and 58 in the United States, as of July 2019. Currently, the stores can be found in the states of California and Washington, as well as in the Philippines and Japan.
Description: ShowBiz Pizza Place was an American restaurant pizza chain and family entertainment center founded in 1980 by Robert L. Brock and Creative Engineering. The brand emerged following a separation between Brock and Pizza Time Theatre, owners of the Chuck E. Cheese's franchise. ShowBiz Pizza restaurants entertained guests through a large selection of arcade games, coin-operated rides, and animatronic stage shows as a way to provide a complete package of food and entertainment.
Description: Remembering Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour Restaurants. 1963 - 2019. Farrell's became known for their offer of a free ice cream sundae to children on their birthday. The parlors had an early 1900s theme, with employees wearing period dress and straw boater hats, and each location featured a player piano. By 1975, there were 120 Farrell's nationwide.
Description: Steak and Ale was an American chain of casual dining restaurants that went bankrupt in 2008. However the brand, recipes and other intellectual property associated with the former chain are currently owned by Legendary Restaurant Brands, LLC, the parent company for Bennigan's. Steak and Ale was founded as an independent restaurant chain in Dallas, Texas, on February 26, 1966, by Norman E. Brinker. On July 29, 2008, the chain's remaining 58 locations closed as part of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding.
Description: Founded in 1962, Geri’s Hamburgers was a beloved fast-food chain based in Rockford, Illinois, that grew to more than a dozen locations throughout northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. At its peak, the chain operated several restaurants in the Rockford area and expanded into markets such as Madison, Wisconsin. Inspired by the early McDonald’s model, Geri’s focused on quick, affordable service with limited indoor seating and a strong emphasis on take-out dining. By 1980, the chain had grown to at least 13 locations. The Geri’s corporation officially closed in 1981, though some restaurants continued operating independently for years afterward. The final Geri’s location, in Beloit, Wisconsin, remained open until it closed its doors in 1999.
Description: Steak and Ale was an American chain of casual dining restaurants that went bankrupt in 2008. However the brand, recipes and other intellectual property associated with the former chain are currently owned by Legendary Restaurant Brands, LLC, the parent company for Bennigan's. Steak and Ale was founded as an independent restaurant chain in Dallas, Texas, on February 26, 1966, by Norman E. Brinker. On July 29, 2008, the chain's remaining 58 locations closed as part of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding.
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." This logo from the early 1960s includes their new fun chef.
Description: Burger Chef was an American fast-food restaurant chain. It began operating in 1954 in Indianapolis, Indiana, expanded throughout the United States, and at its peak in 1973, the chain had 1,050 locations, including some in Canada.The chain featured several signature items, such as the Big Shef and Super Shef hamburgers.
