They did, however, have cheap meals, which made them a primo alternative. Not too long after their inception though, the company started to lose ground to its competitor and decided to close a huge chunk of their store locations.
Only one store is left standing, in Benton Harbor, Michigan.
Burger Chef
Even though Burger Chief was wildly popular, it started declining in quality and eventually lost to its golden-arched competitor.
After haemorrhaging money, it was sold off to General Foods and then sold off again. After all the changes, it was reborn as Hardee’s.
Henry’s Hamburgers
Henry’s Hamburgers was opened by an ice cream company to expand on their shakes and malts. Back then, people went crazy for chocolate shakes and burgers, so it’s no wonder this place became famous.
Henry’s was designed to go after their strongest competitor: McDonald’s. Compared to McDonald’s, they didn't have a drive-in, and had a much less diverse menu.
Howard Johnson’s
Howard Johnson’s – better known as “Hojo’s” – was one of the largest restaurant chains during the 1960s and 1970s.
The restaurant chain was known for its iconic building designs, orange roofs, weather vanes, and peaks. With over 1,000 locations nationwide, they soon became a regular favorite with a unique twist when it came to the dining experience.
Howard Johnson’s
After a few years in business, the chain started to fall behind its competitors and didn’t leave much room for financial growth and innovation.
“The downfall of Howard Johnson’s was ultimately their competitors. Friendly’s had their ice cream, KFC was all about fried chicken, and in comparison, HoJo’s was just too basic.” According to one critic.