A
chain restaurant is an establishment with many locations under the
same company’s ownership. A similar business model is that of the
franchise where the overall restaurant concept is sold to different
owners. In America there are countless famed chain and franchise
restaurants from fast food juggernauts like McDonald’s, Wendy’s,
and Burger King, to casual sit-down eateries like Applebee’s, Olive
Garden, and Chili’s.
Cape
Cod in the last half century has seen a greater influx of the chain
and franchise restaurants after spending much of the previous half
century relying on single-location ‘mom and pop’ type
establishments. Today there are well-established chains on the
peninsula like McDonald’s, 99 Restaurants, and Olive Garden.
Looking
back though there have been some famous chains and franchises that
once called Cape Cod home. A few were here recently, a few closed
long ago. Do you remember when Cape Cod housed these former iconic
chains? Here is a list of some of them that once resided on the
Cape.
Howard
Johnson’s
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| Charles Hathaway/Flickr |
Est. 1925 – around 1,000 locations at peak This was the original chain/franchise. It opened its very first
location in Wollaston, Massachusetts. It was known for its bright
orange roof. Owned by Howard Deering Johnson the burgers and ice
cream establishment opened its first franchise in Orleans at the
junction of Rt. 6A and Rt. 28. Later there would be locations in
West Dennis, Hyannis, Bourne, and Falmouth. As of 2022 only one
Howard Johnson’s remains in Lake George, New York. Burger
Chef
Est. 1954 – 1,050 locations at peak For a time in
the 1970’s Burger Chef was the #2 fast food restaurant in America
behind only McDonald’s. The first location was opened in
Indianapolis, Indiana. Known for signature items like the Big Shef
and Super Shef burgers as well as being the originator of the kid’s
meal, Burger Chef made its way to Cape Cod in the late 1960’s.
Their one location was on Rt. 28 in West Yarmouth and lasted until
the early 1980’s. It was in 1982 when Burger Chef was sold, with
most locations being converted to Hardee’s, or simply closed down.
Denny’s
Est. 1953 – 1,487 locations in 2021 Denny’s is a
powerhouse in the sit-down breakfast restaurant business. Their
Grand Slam breakfast is well-known across America. It was
originally founded in Lakewood, California by Harold Butler and
Richard Jezak. For nearly the entirety of its existence Denny’s
has been rivaled by the International House of Pancakes(est. 1958).
This came to be on Cape Cod as well when Denny’s opened its only
location on Rt. 132 in Hyannis in 1983. IHOP was and still is
located a half-mile down the road. Denny’s only lasted a few
years before being shuttered on the Cape though. The nearest
Denny’s to Cape Cod is currently in Fall River.
Mr.
Donut
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| Mister-Donut.com |
Est. 1955 – around 550 locations at peak This spot
is shockingly bigger than ever, despite only having one remaining
location in America. It was established in 1955 by Harry Winkour.
He had worked with his brother-in-law William Rosenberg who had
established Dunkin’ Donuts in 1950. Mr. Donut had a pair of Cape
Cod locations in Hyannis on Rt. 28 and West Main Street from the
late 1970’s through the early 1990’s. As of 2022 there is only
one Mr. Donut remaining in the United States, that being in Godfrey,
Illinois. However in total there are roughly 5,500 Mr. Donut
locations worldwide, with the majority being in Asia.
Old
Country Buffet
Est. 1983 – around 500 locations at peak A more recent entry this family-style buffet spot was a staple for
decades peaking at about 500 locations in 36 states. In Hyannis
this establishment was located in the Festival shopping plaza from
1995-2010. It was a popular and low-cost spot for family meals and
gatherings for local sports teams after games. Three bankruptcy
filings came, combined with an increasing worry over obesity by many
Americans. This spelled the slow decline of the buffet chain. As
of 2022 the number of Old Country Buffet restaurants left in the
U.S. stood at 17 and shrinking.
Arthur
Treacher’s Fish and Chips
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| Nicholas Eckhart/Flickr |
Est. 1969 – over 800
locations at peak This chain was named for English character actor
Arthur Treacher who had roles in Mary Poppins and was a butler in
several Shirley Temple films. The classic seafood fare restaurant
began in Columbus, Ohio in 1969 with Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas
as one of the principal owners. By the late-1970’s it grew to its
peak of over 800 locations. This included 2 locations on Cape Cod.
One was on Rt. 28 in South Yarmouth where the Lighthouse Landing
strip mall is, which opened in May 1977. The other on North Street
in Hyannis opened in 1978. They both last only a few years. As of
2022 there is only one Arthur Treacher’s left in America in
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
Jack
In the Box
Est. 1951 – 2,228 locations as of 2021 The
largest active chain on this list Jack In the Box is firmly
established throughout the south and west of the United States.
Whether for the unique mascot ‘Jack’ or it’s eclectic menu
including traditional burgers and fries but also tacos this chain
has been a staple for more than 70 years. It was originally founded
by Robert Peterson in San Diego, California and sports more than
2,200 locations as of 2022. On Cape Cod Jack In the Box had its one
and only location debut inside the Cape Cod Mall upon the shopping
center’s grand opening in 1970. It survived for a decade before
closing. Today the closest Jack In the Box locations are in North
Carolina.
Hooters
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| Hooters.com |
Est. 1983 – 311 locations as of 2021 Another recent entry,
Hooters had a location on Main Street in Hyannis. Founded in 1983
in Clearwater, Florida this sports bar type establishment is known
as much for its servers known as ‘Hooters Girls’ as it is for
its actual cuisine. The Cape Cod location opened in 2003 despite
major opposition. It only last a few years before shuttering in
2007. The former location is currently home to Kkatie’s Burger
Bar. If you’re craving Hooters wings the nearest one is in
Warwick, Rhode Island.
Sambo’s
Est. 1957 – over 1,100 locations at peak This once-popular
chain, with a controversial name, was founded in Santa Barbara,
California by Sam Battistone Sr., and Newell Bohnett. The name was
a mash-up of the owners names, however it also was a highly
derogatory slur used toward African-Americans. The restaurant was a
diner-style chain promoting everything from pancakes to steak and
more. By the time Sambo’s came to Cape Cod in 1978 there were
already loud cries for the company to change its name. It opened
near the Airport Rotary in Hyannis in the same building that would
eventually hold Denny’s and Pizzeria UNO among others. In 1981 it
changed its name to No Place Like Sam’s before closing in late
1982. The company filed for bankruptcy in late 1981 with all but
one of the restaurants closing or changing their names within a
year. The last Sambo’s, owned by Battistone’s grandson, finally
changed its name to ‘Chad’s’ in 2020.
Lum’s
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| Dr. Neil Gale/Blogspot.com |
Est. 1956 – around 450 locations at peak This classic
American cuisine chain was founded in Miami Beach, Florida in 1956.
Their signature item was hot dogs steamed in beer. A rapid
expansion of the chain led to two Lum’s on Cape Cod opening in
Hyannis and Falmouth in 1972. During this same time the chain
gained national attention with famed comedian Milton Berle as their
spokesperson. Both Cape locations were closed by 1980 as the rapid
expansion had stretched the chain thin. By 1982 Lum’s had filed
for bankruptcy. The last remaining Lum’s in Bellevue. Nebraska
closed in 2017.
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