Original Locations of 15 Mega-Chains

Posted by Miss Cellania in Everything Else on October 3, 2008 at 10:15 pm


The biggest franchises in the world all started with just one store. Some are so big and have been around so long that few know where the original was! Read how Starbucks, 7-11, and The Gap started out, and plenty of trivia. Did you know Taco Bell was named after its founder? That Arby’s is named for the pronunciation of R.B, but that doesn’t mean roast beef? And the first Whoppers cost 37 cents? Fifteen such chains are featured in this post. Link -Thanks, Freshome!


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COMMENT

9 comments to "Original Locations of 15 Mega-Chains"

  1. Joe
    October 3rd, 2008 at 11:20 pm

    Q: where did hamburger come from?

    Sent from my mobile using FeedM8

  2. manilenio
    October 4th, 2008 at 12:37 am

    i wasn’t even born yet when these stores opened, but based on the pictures the chain stores they have today are a far cry from the homey and cozy looks of the original stores…

  3. Christophe
    October 4th, 2008 at 6:26 am

    Do they count twice TacoBell and KFC when they share the same spot?

    Great article : reads like a Bathroom reader!

  4. David B
    October 4th, 2008 at 8:06 am

    The question of who actually invented the hamburger will probably never be answered but the modern hamburger as we know it MAY have started in Texas in the late 1800’s and MAY have been introduced to the world at the 1904 World’s Fair. There seems to be no claim on the hamburger origin prior to that.
    As far as this article goes I found it interesting that Japan has so many 7-11’s and I guess that’s why I can get sushi at my local one now, although I’m hesitant to do so. I also got a kick out of Motel 6. They could rename it now to Motel 45 because that’s an approximate average nationwide for a night’s lodging now.

  5. qoyyim
    October 4th, 2008 at 11:06 am

    so ham from rb right?

  6. natalie
    October 4th, 2008 at 9:36 pm

    I’m so glad the first Hilton was mentioned. My dad was the manager there for several years before it was an “Indigo.” He left when the traditional decor changed to a nautical theme. I still don’t understand that, nautical in Dallas? The closest body of water is the Trinity River.

  7. CelticCatEyes
    October 4th, 2008 at 11:13 pm

    McDonald’s started in my hometown (not sure how proud I am of that…but its nice to see my hometown featured on Neatorama) and I used to drive by the McDonalds museum (which is very mini) all the time. Its kind of weird that something that started where I was born has exploded all over the world. Well, mostly because we have very few claims to fame.

  8. Cyberziggy
    October 6th, 2008 at 6:55 am

    Can’t believe they left out Sambos. The one that started it all in 1957 is still in business in Santa Barbara, CA. but is now the only one left.

    From Wikipedia…

    ” Sambo’s had 1,200 outlets in 47 U.S. states. However in the late seventies controversy over the chain’s name drew protests and lawsuits in communities that viewed the term Sambo as a pejorative towards African-Americans, particularly in Northeast states. ”

    As a kid, I always understood Sambo as the name of the chain’s masquot (a cute tiger), but some folks are just too tightly wound up. PC will be the death of us all.

  9. Miss Cellania
    October 6th, 2008 at 7:17 am

    Here are two links that may help explain why a chain named Sambo’s was doomed to fail. Warning: racial stereotypes.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Black_Sambo
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSfGvptL_TY


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