31 Famous Restaurants When They First Opened

Take a look at the humble beginnings of your favorite restaurants way before they became the big shots in the food industry. Enjoy!

1. A&W
Opened 1919 in Lodi, California
vintage restaurants 1

via 22 Words

2. White Castle
Opened 1921 in Wichita, Kansas
vintage restaurants 2

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3. Kentucky Fried Chicken
Opened 1930 in North Corbin, Kentucky
vintage restaurants 3

via 22 Words

4. Big Boy
Opened 1936 in Glendale, California
vintage restaurants 4

via 22 Words

5. McDonald’s
Opened 1937 in Monrovia, California
vintage restaurants 5

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6. Dairy Queen
Opened 1940 in Joliet, Illinois
vintage restaurants 6

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7. Dunkin’ Donuts
Opened 1950 in Quincy, Massachusetts
vintage restaurants 8

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8. Whataburger
Opened 1950 in Corpus Christi, Texas
vintage restaurants 9

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9. Jack in the Box
Opened 1951 in San Diego, California
vintage restaurants 10

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10. Church’s Chicken
Opened 1952 in San Antonio, Texas
vintage restaurants 11

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11. Pizza Hut
Opened 1958 in Wichita, Kansas
vintage restaurants 14

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12. Sonic
Opened 1953 in Shawnee, Oklahoma
vintage restaurants 12

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13. Burger King
Opened 1953 in Jacksonville, Florida
vintage restaurants 13

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14. Little Caesar’s
Opened 1959 in Garden City, Michigan
vintage restaurants 15

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15. Dominos
Opened 1960 in Ypsilanti, Michigan
vintage restaurants 16

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16. Hardee’s
Opened 1960 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina
vintage restaurants 17

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17. Taco Bell
Opened 1962 in Downey, California
vintage restaurants 18

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18. Arby’s
Opened 1964 in Youngstown, Ohio
vintage restaurants 19

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19. Blimpie
Opened 1964 in Hoboken, New Jersey
vintage restaurants 21

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20. Subway
Opened 1965 in Bridgeport, Connecticut
vintage restaurants 22

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21. Chick-fil-A
Opened 1967 in Atlanta, Georgia
vintage restaurants 23

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22. Long John Silver’s
Opened 1969 in Lexington, Kentucky
vintage restaurants 24

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23. Wendy’s
Opened 1969 in Columbus, Ohio
vintage restaurants 25

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24. Taco Cabana
Opened 1978 in San Antonio, Texas
vintage restaurants 26

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25. Panda Express
Opened 1983 in Glendale, California
vintage restaurants 27

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26. Papa John’s
Opened 1983 in Jeffersontown, Indiana
vintage restaurants 29

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“Founder John Schnatter first started the business by selling pizzas out of a broom closet in the back of his father’s tavern.”

27. Boston Market
Opened 1985 in Newton, Massachusetts
vintage restaurants 30

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28. Five Guys
Opened 1986 in Arlington County, Virginia
vintage restaurants 31

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29. Freebirds Burrito
Opened 1987 in Isla Vista, California
vintage restaurants 32

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30. Chipotle Mexican Grill
Opened 1993 in Denver, Colorado
vintage restaurants 33

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31. Shake Shack
Opened 2000 as a food cart in New York, New York
vintage restaurants 35

via 22 Words