SIC 5812

Eating Places

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

69companies1762–1997founding years69still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
1955
EconomyMcDonald's franchising begins, remaking fast food.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

In-N-Out Burger
Active
In-N-Out Burger, a California Corporation, is a leading fast-food retail chain with more than 120 locations in…
Metromedia Company
Active
Metromedia Company has emerged over the past decade as one of the largest private concerns in the United States, with…
The Greenalls Group PLC
Active · founded 1762 · United Kingdom
Operated for more than two centuries as a regional brewer and distiller, The Greenalls Group PLC has in the space of…
Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky N.V.
Active · founded 1878 · Netherlands
Long a fixture of Amsterdam's famed Dam Square, Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky N.V.
Galeries Lafayette S.A.
Active · founded 1905 · France
Galeries Lafayette S.A.
Sanborn Hermanos, S.A.
Active · founded 1907 · Mexico
Best known in the United States as the American tourist's home away from home in Mexico, Sanborn Hermanos, S.A.
Knott's Berry Farm
Active · founded 1920
Knott's Berry Farm grew from a small roadside berry stand 22 miles south of Los Angeles into one of the most popular…
Shiseido Company, Limited
Active · founded 1927 · Japan
Shiseido Company, Limited is the leading cosmetics company in Japan and one of the largest in the world.
Morrison Restaurants Inc.
Active · founded 1928
One of the companies responsible for bringing the cafeteria concept of dining to the Southern United States, Morrison…
Edison Brothers Stores, Inc.
Active · founded 1929
Edison Brothers Stores, Inc., is a leading retailer, specializing in apparel, footwear, and entertainment.
Valhi, Inc.
Active · founded 1932
Valhi, Inc.
Granada Group PLC
Active · founded 1934 · United Kingdom
Granada Group PLC is a leading U.K.
Carlson Companies, Inc.
Active · founded 1938
Carlson Companies, Inc.
D'Agostino Supermarkets Inc.
Active · founded 1939
D'Agostino Supermarkets Inc.
Piccadilly Cafeterias, Inc.
Active · founded 1944
Piccadilly Cafeterias, Inc.
Harveys Casino Resorts
Active · founded 1955
Founded in 1944, Harveys Casino Resorts is an established owner, operator, and developer of high quality hotel/casinos…
KFC Corporation
Active · founded 1955
KFC Corporation is the largest fast-food chicken operator, developer, and franchiser in the world.
El Chico Restaurants, Inc.
Active · founded 1957
One of the largest Mexican dinner house chains in the United States, El Chico Restaurants, Inc.
Perkins Family Restaurants, L.P.
Active · founded 1957
With over 450 restaurants throughout the United States and Canada, Perkins Family Restaurants, L.P.
Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc.
Active · founded 1959
Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc.
Luby's Cafeteria's, Inc.
Active · founded 1959
Luby's Cafeterias, Inc.
Pizza Hut Inc.
Active · founded 1959
Pizza Hut Inc.
Vail Associates, Inc.
Active · founded 1961
Vail Associates, Inc., is the owner of Vail Mountain, the largest and most popular ski area in the United States;…
Taco Bell Corp.
Active · founded 1962
Taco Bell Corp.
Summit Family Restaurants Inc.
Active · founded 1963
Summit Family Restaurants Inc., formerly known as JB's Restaurants Inc., is one of the nation's top 100 restaurant…
Arby's Inc.
Active · founded 1964
A subsidiary of Triarc Companies, Inc., Arby's Inc.
Chick-fil-A Inc.
Active · founded 1964
With some 722 units in 35 states, Chick-fil-A Inc.
Foodmaker, Inc.
Active · founded 1966
Foodmaker, Inc., is the operator and franchisor of Jack in the Box restaurants, the fifth-largest fast-food hamburger…
Ground Round, Inc.
Active · founded 1968
A pioneer in casual dining restaurant chains, Ground Round, Inc.
Ponderosa Steakhouse
Active · founded 1968
Under the parentage of the Metromedia Company, Ponderosa Steakhouse is one of America's leading budget steak house…
Shoney's, Inc.
Active · founded 1968
Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Shoney's, Inc., is one of the restaurant industry's most respected companies.
Old Spaghetti Factory International Inc.
Active · founded 1969
Old Spaghetti Factory International Inc.
Restaurants Unlimited, Inc.
Active · founded 1969
One of the fastest-growing restaurant companies in the United States, Restaurants Unlimited, Inc.
Max & Erma's Restaurants Inc.
Active · founded 1972
Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Max & Erma's Restaurants Inc.
Noble Roman's Inc.
Active · founded 1972
Operating a chain of casual dining restaurants in the Midwest, Noble Roman's Inc.
Spaghetti Warehouse, Inc.
Active · founded 1972
Spaghetti Warehouse, Inc., owns, operates, and franchises full-service, family-style Italian restaurants.
The Marcus Corporation
Active · founded 1972
As American business success stories go, The Marcus Corporation's is a classic.
Unique Casual Restaurants, Inc.
Active · founded 1973
A restaurant operator undergoing extensive change, Unique Casual Restaurants, Inc.
GIB Group
Active · founded 1974 · Belgium
GIB Group, Belgium's top retailer, is active in four sectors: supermarkets and hypermarkets; do-it-yourself (DIY) home…
Station Casinos Inc.
Active · founded 1976
Station Casinos Inc.
Ben & Jerry's Homemade, Inc.
Active · founded 1978
Ben & Jerry's Homemade, Inc.
Jerry's Famous Deli Inc.
Active · founded 1978
Jerry's Famous Deli Inc.
Levy Restaurants L.P.
Active · founded 1978
A fast-growing foodservice operator based in Chicago, Levy Restaurants L.P.
The Cheesecake Factory Inc.
Active · founded 1978
The Cheesecake Factory Inc.
Advantica Restaurant Group, Inc.
Active · founded 1979
Advantica Restaurant Group, Inc., is one of the largest restaurant companies in the United States, operating 3,300…
Travel Ports of America, Inc.
Active · founded 1979
Travel Ports of America, Inc., operates around-the-clock, full-service travel plazas that provide customers with motor…
Grupo Carso, S.A. de C.V.
Active · founded 1980 · Mexico
Grupo Carso, S.A.
Il Fornaio (America) Corporation
Active · founded 1980
Il Fornaio (America) Corporation owns and operates 17 full-service, upscale Italian restaurants and five wholesale…
Au Bon Pain Co., Inc.
Active · founded 1981
A relatively small player in the overall retail food service industry, Au Bon Pain Co., Inc.
Consolidated Products Inc.
Active · founded 1981
Consolidated Products, Inc., is a holding company that operated 152 restaurants in 11 states going into 1995.
Hungry Howie's Pizza and Subs, Inc.
Active · founded 1981
Hungry Howie's Pizza and Subs, Inc.
Quality Dining, Inc.
Active · founded 1981
Quality Dining, Inc.
Rare Hospitality International Inc.
Active · founded 1981
With over 100 company-owned and franchised restaurants throughout the Eastern and Midwestern United States, RARE…
TCBY Enterprises Inc.
Active · founded 1981
TCBY Enterprises Inc.
Ark Restaurants Corp.
Active · founded 1983
Ark Restaurants Corp.
Back Bay Restaurant Group, Inc.
Active · founded 1983
Back Bay Restaurant Group, Inc.
Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited
Active · founded 1984 · Bermuda
Jardine Matheson is one of the oldest names in East Asia, and Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited is an international…
California Pizza Kitchen Inc.
Active · founded 1985
California Pizza Kitchen Inc.
Chart House Enterprises, Inc.
Active · founded 1985
Chart House Enterprises, Inc.
Checkers Drive-Up Restaurants Inc.
Active · founded 1986
With its distinctive black and white checkerboard squares surrounded by bright red and chrome, Checkers Drive-Up…
Fresh Choice, Inc.
Active · founded 1986
Now entering its second decade, California-based Fresh Choice, Inc.
Koo Koo Roo, Inc.
Active · founded 1987
Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Koo Koo Roo, Inc., oversees a restaurant chain specializing in flame-broiled…
Outback Steakhouse, Inc.
Active · founded 1987
Outback Steakhouse, Inc., runs a chain of casual restaurants with and Australian theme based in the South and the…
Fazoli's Systems, Inc.
Active · founded 1990
Fazoli's Systems, Inc.
Planet Hollywood International, Inc.
Active · founded 1991
Planet Hollywood International, Inc.
Marriott International, Inc.
Active · founded 1993
Marriott International, Inc.--formed in 1993 when Marriott Corporation split into two separate companies--is the…
Rainforest Cafe, Inc.
Active · founded 1994
Rainforest Cafe, Inc.
Roadhouse Grill, Inc.
Active · founded 1996
Roadhouse Grill, Inc.
Diageo plc
Active · founded 1997 · United Kingdom
Diageo plc is a world leader in branded food and drinks.
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