Here's the original location for all our favorite fast food chains
We all have our favorite spots for fast food. Maybe it's the McDonald's around the corner or the Wendy's several miles away that always has the best burgers. With fast food being so convenient nowadays, we forget there was a time when drive-ins and diners were few and far between.
Every chain restaurant, from mega corporations like McDonald's to defuct favorites like Burger Chef, had to start somewhere. Here are the original locations for 10 favorite fast food chains. Who knows, there might be one nearby! If you live in Wichita, Kansas, there might be two!
McDonald's
1398 N. E St., San Bernardino, California
Despite being headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, the original McDonald's opened nearly 2,000 miles away in San Bernardino in 1940. Originally calling their drive-in "McDonald's Bar-B-Q," the founders changed the name to just "McDonald's" in 1948 when they decided to focus on burgers and fries. Smart move, if you ask us.
Burger King
Forgotten Advertisements
7146 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, Florida
Burger King was founded in 1953 as the very modern-sounding Insta-Burger.
Burger Chef
Burger Chef
3401 W. 16th St., Indianapolis, Indiana
Although we can't eat at Burger Chef anymore, it was once the second biggest burger chain in the country. The original location opened in Indianapolis in 1954.
Wendy's
Flickr
257 E. Broad St., Columbus, Ohio
Long before the days of starting fast food wars with "Where's the Beef?", Wendy's opened its first location in Columbus in 1969. The original location stayed open for almost four decades, until it closed in 2007.
Waffle House
Waffle House
2719 E. College Ave., Decatur, Georgia
Today, the original Waffle House is a museum, where you can make your own waffles. The interior hasn't changed, meaning you'll get a trip of nostalgia if you travel to Decatur.
Dunkin' Donuts
Wikipedia
543 Southern Artery, Quincy, Massachusetts
Before becoming the Dunkin' we know today, the chain opened in 1948 in Quincy as Open Kettle, later changing its name Kettle Donuts for a brief period of time.
KFC
Wikipedia
688 U.S. Route 25W, North Corbin, Kentucky
Just like Waffle House, Col. Sanders' original restaurant is now a museum, and was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
White Castle
Wichita Photos Archives
201 N. Main St., Wichita, Kansas
The first White Castle opened at this location in 1921 in Wichita. Today, locals craving the legendary sliders have to drive nearly four and a half hours to the nearest location in Columbia, Missouri.
Pizza Hut
Wikimedia Commons503 S. Bluff St., Wichita, Kansas
Who knew Wichita gave the country two great fast food chains? The original Pizza Hut opened in the same city in 1958, in a building that kind of resembled a hut, hence the name.
Taco Bell
KABC
7112 Firestone Blvd., Downey, California
The original location, opened in 1962 in Downey, was moved in 2015 to the company's headquarters in Irvine, California.