Every legendary restaurant chain has a story, and it all starts with one original location. These humble beginnings often held nothing more than a big dream, a unique recipe, and a passion for food. From fast food icons to upscale dining empires, their first stores laid the groundwork for global success. Take a trip back in time and discover where 30 of the world’s most famous restaurants opened their doors for the very first time.
Subway – Bridgeport, Connecticut (1965)
Fred DeLuca and Peter Buck opened “Pete’s Super Submarines,” which later became Subway, offering customizable sandwiches.
Starbucks – Seattle, Washington (1971)
The first Starbucks store opened at Pike Place Market, focusing on high-quality coffee beans and equipment.
Pizza Hut – Wichita, Kansas (1958)
Brothers Dan and Frank Carney started Pizza Hut with a $600 loan, serving pizza in a small building with limited seating.
Wendy’s – Columbus, Ohio (1969)
Dave Thomas opened the first Wendy’s, emphasizing fresh, made-to-order hamburgers and introducing the drive-thru window.
Taco Bell – Downey, California (1962)
Glen Bell launched the first Taco Bell, offering affordable Mexican-inspired fast food like tacos and burritos.
Burger King – Jacksonville, Florida (1954)
Originally named “Insta-Burger King,” the first location utilized the Insta-Broiler to cook burgers quickly.
Domino’s Pizza – Ypsilanti, Michigan (1960)
Tom Monaghan and his brother James purchased “DomiNick’s,” which became Domino’s Pizza, focusing on fast delivery.
Dunkin’ (formerly Dunkin’ Donuts) – Quincy, Massachusetts (1950)
William Rosenberg opened the first Dunkin’ Donuts, serving coffee and donuts with a focus on speed and convenience.
Chipotle Mexican Grill – Denver, Colorado (1993)
Steve Ells opened the first Chipotle near the University of Denver, emphasizing fresh ingredients and customizable burritos.
Panera Bread – Kirkwood, Missouri (1987)
Originally called St. Louis Bread Company, the first Panera offered freshly baked breads and a cozy café atmosphere.
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen – Arabi, Louisiana (1972)
Al Copeland opened “Chicken on the Run,” which was later renamed Popeyes, specializing in spicy New Orleans-style chicken.
Arby’s – Boardman, Ohio (1964)
The Raffel brothers introduced Arby’s, focusing on roast beef sandwiches as a fast-food alternative to burgers.
Sonic Drive-In – Shawnee, Oklahoma (1953)
Troy Smith Sr. launched Sonic as a drive-in with carhop service, featuring burgers and milkshakes.
Hardee’s – Greenville, North Carolina (1960)
Wilber Hardee opened the first Hardee’s, offering charbroiled hamburgers and a fast-food experience.
Carl’s Jr. – Anaheim, California (1945)
Carl Karcher started with a hot dog cart, eventually opening the first Carl’s Jr. restaurant serving burgers and fries.
Jack in the Box – San Diego, California (1951)
Robert O. Peterson introduced Jack in the Box, combining drive-thru service with a diverse fast-food menu.
In-N-Out Burger – Baldwin Park, California (1948)
Harry and Esther Snyder opened the first In-N-Out, pioneering the drive-thru concept with a focus on fresh ingredients.
Five Guys – Arlington, Virginia (1986)
The Murrell family launched Five Guys, emphasizing hand-formed burgers and fresh-cut fries.
Shake Shack – New York City, New York (2004)
Danny Meyer opened Shake Shack as a hot dog cart in Madison Square Park, eventually expanding to a full restaurant.
Whataburger – Corpus Christi, Texas (1950)
Harmon Dobson opened the first Whataburger, aiming to serve a burger so big it took two hands to hold.
Culver’s – Sauk City, Wisconsin (1984)
Craig and Lea Culver opened the first Culver’s, known for ButterBurgers and frozen custard.
Raising Cane’s – Baton Rouge, Louisiana (1996)
Todd Graves and Craig Silvey launched Raising Cane’s, focusing on a simple menu centered around chicken fingers.
Jimmy John’s – Charleston, Illinois (1983)
Jimmy John Liautaud opened the first Jimmy John’s, offering gourmet sandwiches with a focus on speed.
Jersey Mike’s Subs – Point Pleasant, New Jersey (1956)
Peter Cancro purchased Mike’s Subs at age 17, later expanding it into Jersey Mike’s, known for authentic East Coast subs.
Papa John’s Pizza – Jeffersonville, Indiana (1984)
John Schnatter started Papa John’s by converting a broom closet in his father’s tavern into a pizza kitchen.
Little Caesars – Garden City, Michigan (1959)
Mike and Marian Ilitch opened the first Little Caesars, offering affordable pizza with a focus on carry-out service.
Wingstop – Garland, Texas (1994)
Antonio Swad opened the first Wingstop, specializing in buffalo-style chicken wings with various flavors.
Tim Hortons – Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (1964)
Hockey player Tim Horton and Ron Joyce opened the first Tim Hortons, serving coffee and donuts to Canadian customers.
KFC – Corbin, Kentucky (1930)
Colonel Harland Sanders began serving his secret-recipe fried chicken at Sanders Court & Café, laying the foundation for KFC.
McDonald’s – San Bernardino, California (1940)
Founded by Richard and Maurice McDonald, the original McDonald’s Barbecue Restaurant introduced the “Speedee Service System,” revolutionizing fast food.
