1980s Restaurants That Are Almost Lost to History

The 1980s were a remarkable era for family-friendly dining in America. Numerous restaurants flourished during this time, with a multitude of corporate and franchised locations springing up across the country. However, as locally owned boutique restaurants gain popularity in cities nationwide, chain restaurants seem to be dwindling. Here are seven iconic restaurants the enjoyed that enjoyed their heyday in the 1980s but are now nearly extinct.

Steak & Ale

Founded in 1966 by Norman Brinker
Filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2008 and closed for good
Had as many as 280 locations in the 1980s
Announced in April 2024 that Steak & Ale is being revived

Howard Johnson's

Began as a drug store/soda fountain
The first restaurant in 1929 by 32-year-old Howard Deering Johnson
HoJo's was the largest American restaurant chain in the 1950s and '60s, with more than 1,000 restaurants by 1979
Today, after multiple company ownership changes, only one Howard Johnson's restaurant is still in operation

Bonanza Steakhouse

Founded in 1963 by Dan Blocker, who played "Hoss" on the show Bonanza
First location opened in Westport, Connecticut
Peaked in 1989 with nearly 600 locations
As of April 2024, only three Bonanza locations remain in the U.S.

D'Lites

Founded in 1978 in Norcross, GA
Brought a nutritious flavor to fast food
More than 100 stores open by 1985
By end of 1986, all were closed due to bankruptcy, caused in large part by the fact other fast food restaurants began offering more nutritious options

Chi-Chi's

Founded in Richfield, MN, in 1975
Co-founder's wife's nickname was Chi Chi
Rose in popularity in the 1980s, and had 210 locations by 1995
Filed for bankruptcy in October 2003
In November 2003, Chi-Chi's had the largest hepatitis A outbreak in American history

Rax Roast Beef

Peaked in the 1980s with more than 500 locations
The company has declared bankruptcy more than once
As of 2024, there are only six Rax locations still in operation

ShowBiz Pizza

The first ShowBiz Pizza opened in March of 1980 in Kansas City, Missouri
The "house band" was called the Rock-afire Explosion
By 1981, there were 90 ShowBiz Pizza locations — 42 franchises and 48 company-owned
Today, there are only a handful of ShowBiz locations still open, none of which are in the U.S.