39 Iconic Restaurants That No Longer Exist
Miss you forever, Carnegie Deli!
Due to fickle consumer trends and high rent, many beloved restaurants have been forced to call it quits over the years—some even after decades of success.From swanky celebrity hot spots to local institutions, take a look back at some of the most iconic restaurants that have, sadly, gone out of business.
1961: The Original McDonald’s
With over 37,000 restaurants worldwide, it’s safe to say McDonald’s isn’t going anywhere.But the original McDonald’s drive-in, which was founded in 1948 and located in San Bernardino, California, isn’t a McDonald’s restaurant anymore.
After brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald signed over the rights to their company to franchise agent Ray Kroc in 1961, they forfeited the right to their name.In 1971, the building where fast food was born was demolished and turned into an unofficial museum for the chain by restaurateur Albert Okura.
1965: The Stork Club
The Stork Club was an integral part of the New York City social scene in the early 19th century.Open from 1929 to 1965, the restaurant and night club was a place where celebrities and socialites alike could enjoy cocktails, a steak dinner, and a night of dancing.The prestigious hot spot closed in 1965, and although there were talks of it relocating, owner Sherman Billingsley died shortly after.The club’s iconic building was later demolished and turned into Paley Park.
1968: Minnie Pearl’s Fried Chicken
Minnie Pearl’s Fried Chicken was a fast food franchise started in 1966 as a competitor for the nationwide sensation Kentucky Fried Chicken.Founder John Jay Hooker set up a copy cat model of the restaurant and hired popular comedic actress, Minnie Pearl, as the spokesperson.
After much success, the company took their stock public, but after an investigation by the Security Exchange Commission and inquiries with their books, the chain closed up shop in 1968.
1971: Toots Shor’s Restaurant
During the ’40s and ’50s, every A-list celeb was a regular at Toots Shor’s—from Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe to Jackie Gleason and Judy Garland.The exclusive New York City bar, owned by Bernard Shor served steak and baked potatoes among other things, but the crowd was the real attraction.The establishment closed down in 1971 when the building was seized for taxes.Even though Shor reopened a year later, the restaurant’s heyday had passed.
1979: Cloud Club in New York City’s Chrysler Building
For more than 40 years, a private luncheon club for Manhattan’s titans of industry was located 68 floors above Manhattan and nestled into one of the most iconic buildings in New York City.Founded in 1930, the Cloud Club offered more than just food.It also had a private locker room, cigar collection, and a two-story view of Manhattan.
Since the club closed in 1979, the space has remained vacant, and many of the original old art deco fixtures
have been removed or damaged.
1982: Sambo’s
The causal diner opened during the peak of roadside dining in 1957.
It gained massive popularity (in part for its fluffy pancakes) and in the years to follow there would be a chain in 47 states.
The eatery was not without controversy though, as the name is a derogatory slang word used towards African Americans.As the chain opened more and more restaurants, especially in bigger cities, customers began objecting to the tone-deaf marketing.The restaurant eventually rebranded itself, changing its name to No Place Like Sam’s and Jolly Tiger, however there’s still one original Sambo’s left in the United States—the original restaurant, which is run by the founder’s grandson in Santa Barbara, California.
1985: Dubrow’s Cafeteria
For 33 years, this New York City family-owned, cafeteria-style institution served as a rallying point for hopeful politicians (both JFK and Ed Koch campaigned here), as well as a favorite dining destination for locals.But, sadly, Dubrow’s closed in the late ’80s, as the trend of diners began to die down.
1986: Gino’s Hamburgers
At the start, Gino’s Hamburgers was simply Gino’s Drive-In, a hamburger company started in Baltimore, Maryland, in the late 1950s.The company was known for their celebrity endorsements, like Muhammad Ali and comedian Soupy Sales, as well as their monstrous burgers like the “Sirloiner” and the famous “Giant.” In 1982, the company was sold to Marriott and used as a foothold to expand their chain, Roy Rogers.
By 1986, Gino’s was no longer in operation.
1987: Brown Derby
The Brown Derby became a Hollywood institution after the original Wilshire Boulevard location was founded by Herbert K.Somborn in 1926.The restaurant became known for hosting celebrity clientele, walls adorned with caricatures, and the unique building, which was shaped like a bowler hat.But as Hollywood exited the golden era, so did the Brown Derby, and by 1987 all four locations were closed.
1989: Beefsteak Charlie’s
What started as a popular Manhattan restaurant founded in 1914 grew to a huge chain throughout the northeast during the ’80s.Beefsteak Charlie’s commercials are famous for constantly plaguing viewers with their unlimited salad and shrimp bar—but, unfortunately, after getting acquired in 1987, the restaurant slowly went out of business.
1994: Boston Sea Party
In the late ’70s, it was hard to find a theme restaurant that didn’t do well, but by far the most inventive was Boston Sea Party.
The nautical-themed restaurant that served up unbelievable deals on seafood (as waiters wore colonial garb, no less) was scattered across the country.However, the chain closed quietly over the years, and the last one was shut down in 1994.
1995: Chasen’s
In 1936, Chasen’s opened and instantly drew in a flurry of Hollywood clientele.Over the years the West Hollywood restaurant became famous for its Academy Award after parties as much as it was
known for its chili.But after 24 years, the glamorous watering hole closed in 1995.
1996: Burger Chef
Starting with a small shop in Indiana in 1954, Burger Chef eventually grew to over 1,000 locations and rivaled fast food giant McDonald’s.After years of success, the owners sold the popular burger joint to Hardee’s in 1982.Sadly, the last storefront with the name closed in 1996.
1996: Mr.Steak
Mr.
Steak was a quality, yet affordable, steak house that took the United States by storm in the ’60s.After starting as a small operation in Colorado Springs, the chain eventually grew to over 200 restaurants in the U.S.and Canada.
In the 1980s, the restaurant began to decline, as it switched up menu items in favor of more chicken and fish.Eventually pieces of the franchise were sold off and it slowly dwindled with the last location closing the mid-1990s.
1998: Kenny Rogers Roasters
Country singer Kenny Rogers ventured into the chicken business in 1991.His chain restaurant, which focused on causal dining, never grew to tremendous popularity.However, it was memorialized on the sitcom
Seinfeld and some remain in operation in Asia.
1998: Sign of the Dove
Sign of the Dove is considered one of the lost gems of New York City after closing and eventually being demolished in 1998.”The hole it left in the landscape was more than physical.One of many iconic Upper East Side eateries owned by the Santo Family Group, the fine dining experience in its garden of stain glass was said to have been magnificent,” explained
The New York Times.
1999: Fashion Cafe
In the ’90s, one restaurant group decided to capitalize on the era of the supermodel.Fashion Cafe in New York City gathered iconic models together, like Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Elle MacPherson, and Claudia Schiffer to endorse it.
However, the international chain ceased operations in 1999.
2000: Valle’s Steak House
Founded in 1933, Valle’s Steak House saw huge expansion during the ’60s by embracing the dining trend of leaning toward a menu full of steak and lobster.Over the next decade, it saw huge expansion, which unfortunately was cut short by the ’70s economic crisis.
The chain never fully bounced back, but hung on for a long time.
The last restaurant shut down in 2000.
2000: La Petite Boulangerie
American bakery chain, La Petite Boulangerie or “little bakery,” did indeed start out small, with only two stores in the beginning.In 1982, the company was bought by PepsiCo and expanded across the United States.The company, famous for its warm croissants, had 93 stores in its peak, but eventually closed down in 2000.
2001: The Original Spago
The restaurant of world renowned chef, Wolfgang Puck, became a Hollywood hangout when it opened in 1982 on the Sunset Strip.
Although Puck owns other locations of Spago, in 2001 the chef decided to close down the original, which had become an institution amongst Hollywood’s heavy hitters.
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