Burger Chef
Burger Chef was founded in 1954 by General Electric in Indianapolis. The chain had over 1,200 locations nationwide during its prime and quickly became popular.
With all this success, you might be wondering just what happened to it? Perhaps if we tell you its biggest competitor was McDonald’s, you might be able to guess how it went down.
Henry’s Hamburgers
Henry’s Hamburgers was opened by an ice cream company to expand on their shakes and malts. Back then, people went crazy for chocolate shakes and burgers, so it’s no wonder this place became famous.
Henry’s was designed to go after their strongest competitor: McDonald’s. Compared to McDonald’s, they didn't have a drive-in, and had a much less diverse menu.
Burger Chef
Even though Burger Chief was wildly popular, it started declining in quality and eventually lost to its golden-arched competitor.
After haemorrhaging money, it was sold off to General Foods and then sold off again. After all the changes, it was reborn as Hardee’s.
Horn & Hardart
Although this seemed like the easiest way to get food on the go, without having to line up behind a check-out counter.
Sadly the last Horn & Hardart location closed in 1991.
Horn & Hardart
Horn & Hardart was known as the first automated fast food joint, or “Automats.” Here, you could purchase food already laid out and prepared for you from behind a glass window.
All you had to do was grab what you wanted and pay for it as you would with a vending machine. It was this unique experience that kept customers flocking back for more, which is why it became so famous.