Iconic Restaurant Chains That You Might Not Remember

Published on 06/28/2020
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Pioneer Chicken

This chain was a California staple back in the ‘80s. At its height, Pioneer chicken had 270 restaurants, and sports legends (pre-trial) O.J. Simpson and Chick Hearn advertised the chain. However, it started to lose relevance and marketshare in the ‘90s. As of 2017, only two locations are remaining — one in Bell Gardens, California, and one in Boyle Heights, California.

Pioneer Chicken

Pioneer Chicken

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Sandy’s

In the mid-1960s, a group of franchise owners of McDonald’s were unhappy with the changes in the agreement they had with the company, so they launched Sandy’s and offered menus similar to those of the golden arches. However, there were differences in the business structures, including restaurant operators owning their stores (they did not have to lease from the corporation) and not needing to purchase supplies from the corporation. For a period, Sandy’s was a regional success, but by the early ‘70s, financial issues led them to sell out to Hardee’s.

Sandy's

Sandy’s

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