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The first steps up fast-food mountain

25 Fast-Food Franchise Origin Stories That Fit Into the Greasy Extended Universe

March 01, 2024

Before they were billion-dollar corporations, they were just fledgling burger, taco, fried chicken and sub shops. Something about them struck a chord with the masses, ‘cause damn boys, you spread like the grease fires that have no doubt ravaged a few of your kitchens. But before the cholesterol-raising controversies, there were these quaint, humble beginnings…

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25

Colonel Sanders

KFC 1952 New الله CRACKED.COM After varied careers, Colonel Harland Sanders began selling food out of his gas station in 1930. It wasn't until the invention of the pressure cooker in 1939 where he perfected his quickly fried chicken with 11 herbs and spices. In 1952, he franchised the business. — Source

24

The first doughnut machine was made in 1920 to meet the demand following WW1. Adolph Levitt, a Jewish refugee who came to America fleeing czarist Russia, designed the ma- chine and began selling fried doughnuts from his Harlem bakery in New York City. CRACKED NOW YOU KNOW — Source

23

Taco Bell is named after its founder, Glen Bell. TACO BELL Не was a California entrepreneur who first owned a mini golf course and a hot dog stand. NOW YOU KNOW CRACKED.COM — Source

22

McDonald's had a no women hiring policy until the late '60s. Even then, the owner demanded female employees be flat-chested and not work the grill since they didn't have the stamina for intense labor. NOW YOU KNOW CRACKED.COM — Source

21

The McDonaldland characters aren't original -- they're just ripoffs. C McDonald's lifted everything from H.R. Pufnstuf, one of the most popular kids' TV programs in the '70s. It was so brazen, McDonald's got sued. NOW YOU KNOW CRACKED.COM — Source

20

Subway 1965 *Petes SUBWAY Ril KITCHEN CRACKED.COM Fred DeLuca was 17-years-old when his family friend Dr. Peter Buck gave him a $1000 loan to open a sandwich shop to help fund his college. It was originally called Pete's Submarines. — Source

19

Burger King 1953 CRACKED.COM Inspired by McDonald's, the founders bought the rights to the Insta-Broiler, a special grill, which inspired their resturaunt's name Insta-Burger King. It was franchised the following year. — Source

18

Starbucks 1971 CRACKED.COM The three founders were college friends who were instructed how to roast by Peet's Coffee and Tea founder. The company's name was picked out from Moby Dick...it almost was named Pequod. — Source

17

Dairy Queen 1940 DAIRY QUEEN CRACKED.COM In 1938, to test a new soft serve technology, Sherb Noble of Sherb's ran a deal of all-you-can-eat ice cream for 10 cents. In 1940, Noble opened a Dairy Queen, that specialized in soft-serve. — Source

16

Pizza Hut 1958 PIZZA HUT CRACKED.COM Brothers Frank and Dan Carney borrowed $600 from their mom to open a pizzeria. They came up with the name Pizza Hut because their sign only had room for 8 letters. — Source

15

Chipotle 1993 Chipolle CINEMA GRAPHICS THE ULTIMATE POSTER SHOP CRACKED COM GOILL Steve Ells was working as a chef when he opened a burrito stand as a low-risk investment to support his dream of a full-scale restaurant. Не got a loan of $80,000 from his dad. — Source

14

Little Caesars Little Caesar's 1959 PIZZA TREAT CHICKENFISHSHRIMP CARRY OUTS-DELIVERY CRACKED.COM INUTE Mike and Marian llitch spent their life savings opening Little Caesar's Pizza Treat. Their original menu included chicken, fish, shrimp, and hot dogs. — Source

13

Dave Thomas regretted naming Wendy's after his daughter. Не said, I should've just named it after myself, because it put a lot of pressure on . NOW YOU KNOW CRACKED.COM — Source

12

McDonald’s

In the '60s, McDonald's was going to abandon their famous arches but... McDonald's Restaurant McDonald's McDonald's DER WITH STER a design consultant told them to keep them as Freudian symbol of a pair of nourishing breasts. NOW YOU KNOW CRACKED.COM — Source

11

Dunkin' Donuts was originally named Open Kettle. DUNKIN' DRIVETHRU DONUTS - The founder's architect came up with the name we know now, changed two years later. NOW YOU KNOW CRACKED.COM — Source

10

Arby’s

Arby's is a play on RB for Raffel Brothers, the founders. Arby's ROAST Beer Sandwich IS DELICIOUS. Arbyis Leroy and Forrest Raffel almost named it Big Tex. NOW YOU KNOW CRACKED.COM — Source

9

Before founding Wendy's, Dave Thomas used to work for KFC Colonel Sanders used to mentor Thomas. NOW YOU KNOW CRACKED.COM — Source

8

White Castle is the oldest fast-food burger chain, originating in 1921 White Castle WhiteChoile.com el Castle Save Uran The company's assembly line style food preparation helped to lead the the entire fast food industry. NOW YOU KNOW CRACKED.COM — Source

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7

Little Caesars

LITTLE CAESAR'S Little Caesar's PIZZA TREAT CHICKEN-FISHSHRIMP CARRY OUTS-DELIVERY MINUTE SERVICE Little Caesars 1959 GRACKED.COM The Little Caesar's mascot has remained almost entirely unchanged since the 50's, even keeping his tuft of exposed chest hair (Yum!). What is disturbing is the inclusion of FISH and SHRIMP anywhere near my pizza treat. No thank you. — Source

6

5

Come on in, take a load off!

WENDY'S WE OI ED НА FUNDERS Wendy's 1969 GRACKED.COM Wendy's didn't change up the old timey, western font until recently, but the creepy, Children Of The Corn original drawing of Wendy only lasted half a decade. Wendy herself looked like a portrait you'd find hanging up in a haunted Victorian style house, where her ghost would torment you with the same cold, dead eyes. — Source

4

PIZZA HUT Pizza Pizza Hut Hut 1960's Pete TM GRACKED.COM The apron-wearing Pizza Pete was made back when character design for any restaurant mascot was just an Italian man in his 50's. Pete's design was characterized by his sleeveless checkered shirt, a bad comb over, a cowboy hat that never makes contact with his scalp, and both eyes on one side of his head like a flounder. — Source

3

SONIC SONIC DRIVE -IN SERVICE WITH IHE SPEED OF SOUND Happy Eating TEXAS M-M-M-M-M OKLAHOMA SONIC HAM- BURGERS KANS ARKANSAS 1963 GRACKED.COM The first advertisements for Sonic Drive-In feature a well dressed man, who has the body of an earthworm, plug-walking with a steaming sack of hamburgers. They promise service with the speed of sound -not AT the speed of sound, but WITH the speed of sound. I suppose it's comforting to know that I won't be served a chili cheese dog in the vacuum of space. — Source

2

KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN TAKE Kentucky Fried Chicken AWAY It's finger lickin' good. Southern Hospitality - - - - containers. KFC 1952 THANK YOU TM CRACKED.COM The first Colonel Sanders had the look of someone who sold fried meat from a roadside motel in Kentucky, which just SO happens to be exactly how KFC started. It's finger licking good takes on a whole new meaning when this sleep paralysis demon is staring through your soul. — Source

1

The first McDonald's drive-thru opened next to a military base in Arizona. 5 McDonald's SERVICE SYSTEM HAMBURGERS McDonald's The have Sold OVER 1 MILLION Soldiers at the base couldn't show up in public in a work or duty uniform, so a drive-thru was set up to allow them to buy at McDonald's anyway. NOW YOU KNOW CRACKED.COM — Source

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