9. Kenny Rogers’ Roasters
Country singer Kenny Rogers teamed with business partner John Y. Brown to launch this chicken chain in 1990. While the food was popular, they were never able to break into the market and the restaurants were sold off to Nathan’s in 1998. However, the chain was immortalized in a classic episode of the sitcom Seinfeld.
10. Minnie Pearl’s Chicken
The story of Minnie Pearl’s Chicken has become a cautionary tale for franchisees. In the 1960’s, businessman John Jay Hooker teamed with country singer Pearl to launch a chain of restaurants bearing her name. Initially a success, there were nearly 500 locations at one point. However, the lack of a cohesive menu or recipes sabotaged the food, and the whole franchise fell apart within a few years.
11. The All-American Burger
The All-American Burger is one of my favorite old restaurant chains and was never more than a regional fast-food joint. However, it became famous when it was featured in the hit 80s teen film Fast Time at Ridgemont High. The final location closed in 2010. This one reminds me of Burger Chef, another unfortunate defunct restaurant chain.
12. White Tower
The first White Castle opened in 1921 and became the first popular fast-food chain. As is prone to happen in business, numerous imitators quickly opened. One of these knockoffs was known as White Tower. Opened by John E. Saxe and his son, Thomas, White Tower copied White Castle’s menu, style, advertising, and even architecture. At its height, there were 230 White Towers, but the chain died after legal action from White Castle forced them to make significant changes, yet a defunct restaurant chain.
