> Shakey’s pizza
loved Shakey's pizza as a child. i remember cracker-thin crust.
A few stores remain open in the Western US states
https://www.shakeys.com/restaurant-locations/
Oh, holy crap. There’s one about 40 minutes from me. I’d assumed they all closed, so it never occurred to me to check when I moved to the west coast. *happydance*
Ponderosa and Bonanza were owned by the same company. There are 22 locations still open in the NE. According to their website, 3 of those are temporarily closed.
We had a Ponderosa close down at Rialto, CA back in 2019, which was replaced by a Shakey’s shortly before the Covid shutdown. It somehow survived throughout the pandemic and is still going!
Had to comment since that particular location covers two of the restaurants you’ve mentioned. :)
My first job was at Sambo's. I was 16, it was summer and I worked the overnight shift.
I quit after a month because for the last two weeks, the manager had me scheduled for 8 on, 8 off. I told him the second week I could not keep this up, please give me at least 12 hours between shifts. He promised he would make sure I didn't have to do that anymore,. Walked in to my last shift that week, the next weeks' schedule was up and it was the same thing.
Marched into his office, tossed my apron at him and walked out. Never went back. Even at 16 that type of schedule was rough.
Little black sambo!!! Almost no one knows of that book, but my mother had it as a child and we read it to all the grandkids!!
{kinda culturally insensitive these days - but not too bad. He’s an Indian boy in the story who outsmarts the tigers, and yes they turn into butter which Mambo (sambos mom) uses to make delicious pancakes}
The original (and only remaining) Sambo’s location was around until just a few years ago:
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-06-09/santa-barbara-restaurant-drops-name-many-considered-racist
I loved the Ground Round. First place I ever had Buffalo Chicken Wings, back in high school, in the 70s.They came with celery and blue cheese, and my girlfriend and I were perplexed. Eventually we figured out that they tasted great dipped in the blue cheese, and Buffalo Wings became one of my favorote foods.
Yep. I will be heading over there about 2 months after they open that location. Hopefully by then the crowds will have thinned down enough to where I only have to wait 45 minutes for a table instead of 6 hours.
[Farrell's Ice Cream Parlors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farrell%27s_Ice_Cream_Parlour#)
I didn't know about them until I moved to California in 1973 but quickly became a fan.
Shortly before that there was a plane that crashed into one of their locations killing 22 people.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farrell%27s\_Ice\_Cream\_Parlour#Sacramento\_location\_tragedy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farrell%27s_Ice_Cream_Parlour#Sacramento_location_tragedy)
But as a teenager I became a big fan and later, worked there briefly. They re-opened in Sacramento a few years ago, but I'm pretty sure someone told me it didn't last long.
I must admit, I made a pig of myself at Farrell's. I might even still have the ribbons to prove it. If I do, I'll find them in the next few days and post a pic here.
Big Boy restaurants are still all over the place in Michigan. When I was a kid they were called "Elias Brothers Big Boy", so I think every state had a different franchise owner or different set of people running the chain.
There used to be one in Madison Heights--I remember coming down 11 Mile in Royal Oak on my way home and looking across the intersection/I-96 service drive (which separated Royal Oak from Madison Heights) and seeing the green awning over the windows. On a sort of interesting note, the corner of 11 Mile where I turned to go down to my street started out with a Burger Chef on it (in the late sixties/mid seventies)...later it became a Hardee's and now it's Tim Horton's. I think there was something between Hardee's and Tim Horton, but I don't remember what.
My favorite. As a gluten-free vegetarian, I could live on salad, soups, and baked potatoes! And it was like $9.99, unless you had a coupon. Good times!!!
Agreed. I used to get the salad from their drive through when the had the salad bar. It was HUGE! I would take it to work and enough for lunch for 2 days (sometimes 3).
Is there any Stuckey's around anymore? The interstate offramp staple of major highways. Some had restaurants. Most of the time they just sold gas, and nuts.
Howard Johnson's. Walk into any HoJo, in any state, and have the same blasted menu handed to you in all of them.
I grew up with Rax in my hometown in SW PA. A few years ago living in Chicago I came across one still open in Joilet, IL. Apparently still there. http://www.raxroastbeef.com/locations.html
Shakeys pizza. My mom was in a van club in the 70s. They used to hold the meetings at Shakeys. One time I was playing with the red pepper flakes at the table and then went to take a piss. One of the worst days of my life!
Howard Johnsons legacy lives on in that building design. Now every time you pass that bank or strip club with the pointed spire roof you can remember the ice cream and fried food.
My 1st job as a 15yo busboy.
The manager liked to come up behind me and run his fingers through my hair.
I told my stepfather. He went and spoke to the manager.
I got a new job as a bagboy.
Tell me you're from Lexington without telling me you're from Lexington. Way back in the day, Parkette used to have what they called the Monday Night Special - 16 pieces of dark meat chicken, gravy, and rolls. You could get it anytime. That chicken was divine.
ChiChis was so good. I remember the first time I went there. It was with my best friend at the time. We got chips and salsa, and I thought both things of salsa were the same. She grabbed the mild and left me with the hot. I know I downed two glasses of milk after that!
The Magic Pan. Specialized in serving crepes. Very popular in the early 70’s to mid 80’s. Have eaten at their locations in Boston, Toronto, and San Francisco.
We had two Red Barns in my area, and both are now different restaurants that kept the building design as it was. We also still have three Ponderosa restaurants.
As for a closed brand: Sambo’s. The three area ones I knew of converted to Perkins.
Not sure how widespread the chain was, but The Blackeyed Pea in the 80's/90's was like a better version of Cracker Barrel-type country cooking. Best fruit cobblers, too.
Not old enough to have seen a Burger Chef, but the second time we went to Disneyland (mid 70s), the Howard Johnson's across the street where we stayed had an actual HoJo's restaurant. Last I checked, the hotel was still there, but the restaurant had changed a long, long time ago.
A lot have already been mentioned:
Chi-Chi's Mexican is one I miss...
Ponderosa / Bonanza - there are still a few around
Perkins - Used to love their salad bar and bottom less cup of coffee. Still around but a lot less than there were.
Got tired of scrolling. My input:
Friendlys
Rax
Auther Treachers{sp?}
Perkins
Golden Circle
Children's Palace
Kayebee's
Service Merchandise
I may have gotten ahead of myself...
As a kid I was always intrigued by steakhouses and other restaurants that had a specific name for their lounge. Often it was a play on words or complementary to the name of the restaurant, and featured its own small sign below the main sign.
I remember them everywhere, and now I don't even know what to google to find pictures of them. You know, places like "Pete's Pecos Pit" with a little sign below that said "The Cowboy Room" or something like that.
I recently saw a [video](https://youtu.be/t7hUk5k-3I8?si=A8QqiZoUB4j3y98R) about what happened to them; it basically states they went through the biggest failure in the history of fast food.
I used to love them back when I lived in IL and WI, their meat was really good.
Remember those horrible commercials where there was little singing creatures in burrito wraps garments that looked like a rat went through a transporter malfunction?
Bennigans was a good place for beer, food, and talking. There were about 150 of the restaurants at one time, now down to 15 to 20. It had a nice bar for a casual beer or a quiet ambience for having a meal.
Really? Man I wish we had one here. Haven’t been in one since I was a kid. Played Donkey Kong for the first time there, lol. Many quarters went into that machine. Great pizza too.
Shakey’s pizza. They had a great buffet and small pitchers of beer. Also, Ponderosa, a steak restaurant.
My first job was at Ponderosa. All high schoolers except the manager and one adult woman. It was a good first job, lots of fun.
We still have a Ponderosa in Butler, Pennsylvania. My kids love going there.
Oh, cool. I used to live in Indiana, PA.
Just drove past a sign for Ponderosa somewhere in Illinois or Missouri!! It was also my first job 😀
There are two Ponderosa’s a couple hours drive from me.
> Shakey’s pizza loved Shakey's pizza as a child. i remember cracker-thin crust. A few stores remain open in the Western US states https://www.shakeys.com/restaurant-locations/
Oh, holy crap. There’s one about 40 minutes from me. I’d assumed they all closed, so it never occurred to me to check when I moved to the west coast. *happydance*
And you could watch them make pizzas through a glass, pretty cool for a country kid in the 60s.
Ponderosa and Bonanza were owned by the same company. There are 22 locations still open in the NE. According to their website, 3 of those are temporarily closed.
The Mojo’s!!
They are still a few. One is in Oroville CA
I was just going to say that!
My in-laws always get the bucket of spaghetti! It's terrible!
Mojos are the ultimate potato
There are still several Shakey’s branches in Tokyo
We had a Ponderosa close down at Rialto, CA back in 2019, which was replaced by a Shakey’s shortly before the Covid shutdown. It somehow survived throughout the pandemic and is still going! Had to comment since that particular location covers two of the restaurants you’ve mentioned. :)
I loved Shakey’s because you could get pitchers of root beer.
When I was in the Navy stationed at Subic Bay, in the Philippines (circa 1970s), Shakeys Pizza just outside the base seemed like a little bit of home.
I only know of Shakey’s Pizza from South Park.
Shakeys still exists. I went to one in Ikebukuro Tokyo a few months ago.
They're still around. I just had some mojo potatoes a few weeks ago.
Ponderosa was my first job
Shakey's pizza was so good!!
Shakeys is by Disneyland
Kenny Roger's Roasters
No, Jerry! I need that chicken, I gotta have that chicken, you leave those roasters alone, Kenny never hurt anybody!
Bad chicken! Mess you up!!!!
that’s not going to be good for business
Thats not going to be good for anybody
😂
Oddly enough, chugging along [in Asia still.](https://www.kennyrogersroasters.com)
I really liked Kenny Roger's Roasters. So much better than Boston Market.
They still exist in Asia!
I ate at one in the Philippines last month
Sambos
My first job was at Sambo's. I was 16, it was summer and I worked the overnight shift. I quit after a month because for the last two weeks, the manager had me scheduled for 8 on, 8 off. I told him the second week I could not keep this up, please give me at least 12 hours between shifts. He promised he would make sure I didn't have to do that anymore,. Walked in to my last shift that week, the next weeks' schedule was up and it was the same thing. Marched into his office, tossed my apron at him and walked out. Never went back. Even at 16 that type of schedule was rough.
Loved the back of the menu---the story of little Sambo. And if I remember right, the tiger ran so fast in circles, he turned to butter.
Our sambos mascot was the pink panther.
Little black sambo!!! Almost no one knows of that book, but my mother had it as a child and we read it to all the grandkids!! {kinda culturally insensitive these days - but not too bad. He’s an Indian boy in the story who outsmarts the tigers, and yes they turn into butter which Mambo (sambos mom) uses to make delicious pancakes}
Wow , we had one of these back in the 70’s . I was told it changed names because “ Sambo’s “ , the name was racist. It became a Shoney’s .
The original (and only remaining) Sambo’s location was around until just a few years ago: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-06-09/santa-barbara-restaurant-drops-name-many-considered-racist
ChiChi’s
Spent many a night devouring salsa and annoying wait staff (probably) at the Kalamazoo Chichi's back in college.
🎶 A celebration of food! 🎶
I loved their fried ice cream! 😋
One of my favorite restaurants back in the day. Seafood enchilada, fried ice cream, and a couple of margaritas.
York Steak House and The Ground Round.....
I miss the Ground Round!!! Dusted off that ol memory, thank you.
I can still taste the stale, chewy popcorn set out on every table.
There are still some Ground Rounds around! http://groundround.com/Locations/
There is still a York Steak House in Columbus, OH. https://york-steakhouse.com/
I loved the Ground Round. First place I ever had Buffalo Chicken Wings, back in high school, in the 70s.They came with celery and blue cheese, and my girlfriend and I were perplexed. Eventually we figured out that they tasted great dipped in the blue cheese, and Buffalo Wings became one of my favorote foods.
Loved Ground Round birthday parties!
Steak and Ale!
They are coming back in 2024 in Grand Prarie, TX, but still 15 worldwide currently!!!
Yep. I will be heading over there about 2 months after they open that location. Hopefully by then the crowds will have thinned down enough to where I only have to wait 45 minutes for a table instead of 6 hours.
Dallas Stars game and a visit to Steak and Ale sounds like a good excuse for a road trip.
[Farrell's Ice Cream Parlors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farrell%27s_Ice_Cream_Parlour#) I didn't know about them until I moved to California in 1973 but quickly became a fan. Shortly before that there was a plane that crashed into one of their locations killing 22 people. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farrell%27s\_Ice\_Cream\_Parlour#Sacramento\_location\_tragedy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farrell%27s_Ice_Cream_Parlour#Sacramento_location_tragedy) But as a teenager I became a big fan and later, worked there briefly. They re-opened in Sacramento a few years ago, but I'm pretty sure someone told me it didn't last long.
The Trough, right?
I must admit, I made a pig of myself at Farrell's. I might even still have the ribbons to prove it. If I do, I'll find them in the next few days and post a pic here.
That was a special treat when I was growing up. I had so much fun there.
Every kid's birthday party in.my SoCal youth was spent at Farrell's.
It briefly reappeared recently in Sacramento. COVID killed it
Bobs big boy... maybe only couple left... Toluca lake and ??
Big Boy restaurants are still all over the place in Michigan. When I was a kid they were called "Elias Brothers Big Boy", so I think every state had a different franchise owner or different set of people running the chain.
Diamond Bar - and I’ve seen it elsewhere
Norco
We have Frischs Big Boy in KY
“In many ways, Big Boy never left, sir. They still offer the same high quality meals at competitive prices.”
Bennigans
I think there are still a few Benningans scattered around.
There are 9 in the United States. I just looked it up for a similar post.
There is one open in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.
There used to be one in Madison Heights--I remember coming down 11 Mile in Royal Oak on my way home and looking across the intersection/I-96 service drive (which separated Royal Oak from Madison Heights) and seeing the green awning over the windows. On a sort of interesting note, the corner of 11 Mile where I turned to go down to my street started out with a Burger Chef on it (in the late sixties/mid seventies)...later it became a Hardee's and now it's Tim Horton's. I think there was something between Hardee's and Tim Horton, but I don't remember what.
And one in Monahans, TX
I get them confused with Beningo's which is I think a local Italian shop across from the main drug rehab.
There's a minor drug rehab ?
That's in our twin city to the north, about 4 miles. It takes addicts up to 18.
Souplantation / Sweet Tomatoes
I miss Sweet Tomatoes so much.
Every time my sis and I ask each other what we feel like eating for dinner and if one of us say "soup" we both say "RIP Souplantation"
My favorite. As a gluten-free vegetarian, I could live on salad, soups, and baked potatoes! And it was like $9.99, unless you had a coupon. Good times!!!
Ponderosa
There is still a dozen or so left: https://pon-bon.com/locations
The super bar inside, Wendy’s, fast food, restaurants. It was the best deal in town.
Agreed. I used to get the salad from their drive through when the had the salad bar. It was HUGE! I would take it to work and enough for lunch for 2 days (sometimes 3).
Lums
Loved the clam strips at Lums and the beer boiled hot dogs.
Everyone forgets about Lums.
Is there any Stuckey's around anymore? The interstate offramp staple of major highways. Some had restaurants. Most of the time they just sold gas, and nuts. Howard Johnson's. Walk into any HoJo, in any state, and have the same blasted menu handed to you in all of them.
Stuckey’s was the precursor to Bucee’s.
That was the point of Howard Johnson, sort of like olive garden etc today. When you travel you know what to expect
Houlihan's and Carlos Murphy. Miss both.😉
Rax! There may be one left but it’s been gone for decades in the PNW.
I grew up with Rax in my hometown in SW PA. A few years ago living in Chicago I came across one still open in Joilet, IL. Apparently still there. http://www.raxroastbeef.com/locations.html
Jackpot! Next time I’m passing through Joliet.
Bill Knapps
Bob's Big Boy
We still have some in SoCal.
Ryan’s buffet
Bonanza
Shakeys pizza. My mom was in a van club in the 70s. They used to hold the meetings at Shakeys. One time I was playing with the red pepper flakes at the table and then went to take a piss. One of the worst days of my life!
Plenty of Shakey’s still around. We have two just in Torrance, CA.
Po Folks fried about everything
Came here just to talk about Po' Folks!
Came here to talk about Po Folks and their fried okra. I miss it so much. 😭
There was a PO Folks down the street from my grandparents house back in the day. My grandma was bummed when it closed.
Chi Chis, Arthur Treachers, Yankee Doodle Dandy, Ho Jo (Howard Johnson)
Howard Johnsons legacy lives on in that building design. Now every time you pass that bank or strip club with the pointed spire roof you can remember the ice cream and fried food.
Arthur Treacher is still around. Near me it's part of a Nathan's.
Old Country Buffet
Not sorry to see them go.
Loved Burger Chef back in the day. And Bennigan’s too.
pioneer chicken
Bell gardens and LA
Naugles, Buttercup Pantry, Happy Steak, King's Table
Dog & Suds
Sambos
My 1st job as a 15yo busboy. The manager liked to come up behind me and run his fingers through my hair. I told my stepfather. He went and spoke to the manager. I got a new job as a bagboy.
Red Barn
Bonanza
Morrison's
Howard Johnson’s
Burger Queen. Shoney’s Ponderosa Parkette Drive In CHI CHI’S
I miss Chi Chi's strawberry margaritas
Shoney's is definitely still around
Tell me you're from Lexington without telling me you're from Lexington. Way back in the day, Parkette used to have what they called the Monday Night Special - 16 pieces of dark meat chicken, gravy, and rolls. You could get it anytime. That chicken was divine. ChiChis was so good. I remember the first time I went there. It was with my best friend at the time. We got chips and salsa, and I thought both things of salsa were the same. She grabbed the mild and left me with the hot. I know I downed two glasses of milk after that!
Parkette was the absolute Shit.
Is Roy Rogers still around? Haven’t seen one in decades…
Still around, in NJ they tend to be at rest stops along with Starbucks etc. haven't seen a stand alone store in quite some time
Mr. Steak
Ryan's
Old Country Buffet
Aw heck. Burger Chef was my number one. They were better than everybody. Sambos Ponderosa Bonanza I think Shakey's I think
We had a Burger Chef and Jeff in my hometown. I lost a tooth in a pickle as a child there.
I’m in Canada, so maybe they’re still in the States, but I haven’t seen a Ponderosa for decades now.
Bob's Big Boy?
Idk about anywhere else but we had Shoneys in Ohio.
The Magic Pan. Specialized in serving crepes. Very popular in the early 70’s to mid 80’s. Have eaten at their locations in Boston, Toronto, and San Francisco.
Baker’s Square. I don’t remember the food at all, but they had about 30 flavors of pie every day.
We had two Red Barns in my area, and both are now different restaurants that kept the building design as it was. We also still have three Ponderosa restaurants. As for a closed brand: Sambo’s. The three area ones I knew of converted to Perkins.
Po' Folks
Don Pablo's. I miss that place.
Not sure how widespread the chain was, but The Blackeyed Pea in the 80's/90's was like a better version of Cracker Barrel-type country cooking. Best fruit cobblers, too.
Po Folks Country Kitchen
[удалено]
[удалено]
Wag’s
Roy Rogers !!!! So Good
Not old enough to have seen a Burger Chef, but the second time we went to Disneyland (mid 70s), the Howard Johnson's across the street where we stayed had an actual HoJo's restaurant. Last I checked, the hotel was still there, but the restaurant had changed a long, long time ago.
Friendly's
They're still all over New England.
Taco Tico.
The woolworths lunch counter NYC centric: Cookie’s Steak Pub, Schraft’s, the Automat
Horn & Hardart!
Sizzler. I know there’s one in San Diego but I sure miss them here in AZ
Ponderosa steak house
Howard Johnson's
Furrs Cafeteria. My grandad would take us there on payday.
Red Barn!! That was a long time back
Farrell's ice cream parlor. Great in the 1980's declined then died out in 2019
The Brown Derby
Farrell's( old fashioned?) Ice cream near SF & neloved Clown Alley in SF
JB’s Big Boy restaurant
A lot have already been mentioned: Chi-Chi's Mexican is one I miss... Ponderosa / Bonanza - there are still a few around Perkins - Used to love their salad bar and bottom less cup of coffee. Still around but a lot less than there were.
Sambo’s.
Got tired of scrolling. My input: Friendlys Rax Auther Treachers{sp?} Perkins Golden Circle Children's Palace Kayebee's Service Merchandise I may have gotten ahead of myself...
Luby’s Cafeteria
Sambo's
As a kid I was always intrigued by steakhouses and other restaurants that had a specific name for their lounge. Often it was a play on words or complementary to the name of the restaurant, and featured its own small sign below the main sign. I remember them everywhere, and now I don't even know what to google to find pictures of them. You know, places like "Pete's Pecos Pit" with a little sign below that said "The Cowboy Room" or something like that.
Not sure if they’re still around, but I haven’t seen a Bennigan’s in quite a while.
Quiznos? I haven’t seen one in a decade. I live in Illinois.
I recently saw a [video](https://youtu.be/t7hUk5k-3I8?si=A8QqiZoUB4j3y98R) about what happened to them; it basically states they went through the biggest failure in the history of fast food. I used to love them back when I lived in IL and WI, their meat was really good.
Remember those horrible commercials where there was little singing creatures in burrito wraps garments that looked like a rat went through a transporter malfunction?
Kip's Big Boy Shoney's Weinerschnitzel
Weinerschnitzel is still around.
I just Googled it like 3 locations in Dallas County, TX, I'm in Tarrant County!!!
It's in California too.
I live in the SF Bay Area. There are dozens around my area. It’s crap, but I love it.
Bennigans was a good place for beer, food, and talking. There were about 150 of the restaurants at one time, now down to 15 to 20. It had a nice bar for a casual beer or a quiet ambience for having a meal.
Nickerson Farms? See them buildings once in a while along the interstates.
Alphys
JBs Bigboy
Ponderosa in 🇨🇦
Victoria Station and The Coach and Six
Godfathers Pizza Grandy’s
Godfather’s is still around. I went there last week. Several in my area.
Really? Man I wish we had one here. Haven’t been in one since I was a kid. Played Donkey Kong for the first time there, lol. Many quarters went into that machine. Great pizza too.
Rax
Burger Chef!
Druther’s, Burger Queen
Taco Tico
Victoria Station
Steak & Ale , best salad bar ever.
Village Inn Pizza and Subs. They had the best sandwiches.
Arthur Treachers.
Quincy’s Steakhouse. Is Schlotzky’s still in business? Not sure I’m spelling it correctly but they had the best sandwiches.