There have been numerous burger giants on the scene since (and burgers have only gottenbigger).
But there have also been greats that came and went.
Here are several burger chains that were once the most beloved restaurant destination in America.
Henry’s Hamburgers / Facebook
weretaken over by another infamous burger chain on the rise: Hardees.
Henry’s Hamburgers
It’s the 1950s and drive-ins are all the rage.
Henry’s was known for its 15-cent burgers (or ten for a buck!
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), fresh, hot fries, and orange soda that was"the best in town."
But with the growth of companies like McDonald’s and Burger King, the market became increasingly competitive.
The final Burger Chef, located in Cookeville, Tenn., closed its doors in 1996.
Gregory M. / Yelp
Its locations combined menu staples likeGino Giant, a predecessor of McDonald’s Big Mac,and sports memorabilia.
Although the chain’s footprint ended up growing to 330 by 1972, the success didn’t last.
In the 1980s, Marriott purchased Gino’s and merged it with its existing Roy Rogers brand.
robby/Flickr
Red Barn changed ownership several times during its relatively short life, which was ultimately its demise.
By 1988, the chain was defunct.
The founding father-son duo even hired a former White Castle operator to help them with the business.
Nolen G./Yelp
Its last location shuttered in 2004.
A version of this story was originally published on September 16, 2022.
It has been updated to include new information.
Forgotten Buffalo/Facebook
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