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White Castle
White Castle 1921 Wichita, KS
The first White Castle was opened in 1921 and was founded with only $700. The owner Billy Ingram wanted everyone to be able to buy his burgers so he originally sold them for only five cents. -
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Fast food History
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Kentecky Fried Chicken
Kentucky Fried Chicken 1930 Corbin, KY
The first Kentucky Fried Chicken, back then it was called sanders court, was opened in Corbin Kentucky in 1930. The original recipe was fried in a frying pan until the founder Harland Sanders decided to use pressure cookers instead of frying pans. -
McDonald's
McDonald’s 1940 San Bernardino, CA
The first McDonald’s was opened in San Bernardino, by Dick and Mac McDonald. Originally McDonald’s did not sell hamburgers, they sold barbeque. -
In-N-Out Burger
In-N-Out 1948 Baldwin Park, CA
Harry and Esther Snyder came up with the idea of In-N-Out burger and originally sold burgers out of a small shack and had carhops service cars. Harry, however, decided to change from carhops to a drive through speaker. -
Dunkin' Donuts
Dunkin’ Donuts 1950 Quincy, MA
In 1950 William “Bill” Rosenberg opened up the first Dunkin’ Donuts. The original prices when he first opened the donut shop were 69 cents for a dozen, a single donut was only 5 cents, and 10 cents for a cup of coffee.
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Sonic Drive-In
Sonic Drive-In 1953 Shawnee, OK
The first Top Hat drive-in was opened in 1953, after founder Troy Smith quit his job as a milkman. Top Hat was originally a root beer stand, but the shop started to make good profit so Smith decided to expand. A second Top Hat was opened in the near city of Woodward, OK in 1956. Eventually, the name was changed to Sonic drive-in in 1959. Along with the new name came a new motto, “Service at the speed of sound”. -
Burger King
Burger King 1954 Jacksonville, FL
The first location of Burger king is unknown, but the idea of the restaurant was thought up in Jacksonville, FL. Founders David Edgerton and James McLamore were the first to use their signature cooking style, flame broiling the beef. -
Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut 1958 Wichita, KS
In 1958 founders Dan and Frank Carney opened their first pizzeria. Their pizzeria was small so the sign for their shop could only be 9 letters long. One of their family members said that the shop looked like a hut, and thus the name Pizza Hut was born. -
Taco Bell
Taco Bell 1961 Downey, CA
Taco Bell founder Glen Bell opened the first Taco Bell in 1961. Soon after the restaurant opened it was purchased by the company PepsiCo,Inc. Taco Bell grew as a company under the control of PepsiCo. -
Subway
Subway 1965 Bridgeport, CT
Pete’s Super Submarines was opened by co- founders Fred DeLuca and Dr. Peter Buck in 1965. Many people got confused by the name mistaking it for “Pizza Marines”, so the owners decided to change the name of the sub shop to Subway.
