The largest restaurant chains of decades past are not the same as the largest restaurant chains of today.
Chi-Chi’s was born in 1975 in downtown Minneapolis, just south of the Canadian border.
The chain, famous for its deep-fried delights, including chimichangas, expanded rapidly.
Vintage Leftovers / Facebook
Two decades after its inception, it had 210 locations across the United States.
OtherTex-Mex chains started vying for a piece of the pie, including On the Border and Taco Bell.
Its footprint was down to under 200 locations by 2002.
Courtesy of KXRB
Chi-Chi’s is survived by Hormal-owned brands and has a fewoverseas locations.
Unlike Chi-Chi’s Midwest location, this was the perfect spotand timefor a steakhouse.
The chain billed itself as “America’s Steak Expert,” and people loved it.
Vintage Leftovers / Facebook
At the chain’s peak in 1978, there were over 270 restaurants in the United States.
But, honestly, we’d still kill forsteak and king crab for $8.45!
At that time, a company called Omnivest International bought the remaining locations and attempted to revitalize them.
Road-Maven / Tripadvisor
That effort ultimately failed, and in 2009, Mr. Steak’s final location closed.
It even had branches in Canada and Australia.
By 1988, the once-beloved Red Barn was no more.
Arn Kashino / Facebook
Failing to keep pace with its peers, Henry’s entered a decline in the ’70s.
In 1978, McDonald’s launched the Happy Meal, and Burger Chef lost a subsequent copyright lawsuit.
Gregory M. / Yelp
Burger Chef / Facebook
