COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 72211

Full-Service Restaurants

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

52companies1916–1997founding years50still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedMITROPA AG
1916
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedArmy and Air Force Exchange Service
1941
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
FoundedFrisch's Restaurants, Inc.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedCBRL Group, Inc.FoundedFresh Foods, Inc.
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
FoundedMexican Restaurants, Inc.FoundedPanda Management Company, Inc.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
FoundedBrinker International, Inc.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
FoundedMorton's Restaurant Group, Inc.
1978
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedCEC Entertainment, Inc.
1982
FoundedApplebee's International, Inc.
1983
FoundedEateries, Inc.FoundedWal-Mart de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedSanta Barbara Restaurant Group, Inc.
1986
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
FoundedLogan's Roadhouse, Inc.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
FoundedFamous Dave's of America, Inc.
1994
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
FoundedDenAmerica CorporationFoundedP. F. Chang's China Bistro, Inc.
1996
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
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

MITROPA AG →
Defunct · founded 1916 · Germany
German-based MITROPA AG is Germany's fourth largest restaurant chain and one of Europe's leading caterers for people on…
MITROPA AG →
Defunct · founded 1916 · Germany
German-based MITROPA AG is Germany's fourth largest restaurant chain and one of Europe's leading caterers for people on…
Army and Air Force Exchange Service →
Active · founded 1941
1940s:Exchange Service goes to war; catalog ordering is introduced.
Army and Air Force Exchange Service →
Active · founded 1941
1940s:Exchange Service goes to war; catalog ordering is introduced.
Frisch's Restaurants, Inc. →
Active · founded 1947
Frisch's Restaurants, Inc., an Ohio corporation engaged in the food service and lodging business, is probably best…
Frisch's Restaurants, Inc. →
Active · founded 1947
Frisch's Restaurants, Inc., an Ohio corporation engaged in the food service and lodging business, is probably best…
TDL Group Ltd. →
Active · founded 1964 · Canada
TDL Group Ltd.
TDL Group Ltd. →
Active · founded 1964 · Canada
TDL Group Ltd.
CBRL Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
CBRL Group, Inc., was formed in 1998 as a holding company for Cracker Barrel Old Country Store restaurants, a chain of…
CBRL Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
CBRL Group, Inc., was formed in 1998 as a holding company for Cracker Barrel Old Country Store restaurants, a chain of…
Fresh Foods, Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
North Carolina-based Fresh Foods, Inc., formerly known as WSMP, Inc., is a holding company for a variety of food…
Fresh Foods, Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
North Carolina-based Fresh Foods, Inc., formerly known as WSMP, Inc., is a holding company for a variety of food…
Golden Corral Corporation →
Active · founded 1972
Having started with one small steakhouse, Golden Corral Corporation has grown into one of the nation's strongest family…
Golden Corral Corporation →
Active · founded 1972
Having started with one small steakhouse, Golden Corral Corporation has grown into one of the nation's strongest family…
Mexican Restaurants, Inc. →
Active · founded 1973
Mexican Restaurants, Inc.
Mexican Restaurants, Inc. →
Active · founded 1973
Mexican Restaurants, Inc.
Panda Management Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1973
Panda Management Company, Inc.
Panda Management Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1973
Panda Management Company, Inc.
NPC International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1974
NPC International, Inc.
NPC International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1974
NPC International, Inc.
Brinker International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1975
Brinker International, Inc.
Brinker International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1975
Brinker International, Inc.
Morton's Restaurant Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
Morton's Restaurant Group, Inc.
Morton's Restaurant Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
Morton's Restaurant Group, Inc.
Leeann Chin, Inc. →
Active · founded 1980
Leeann Chin, Inc.
Leeann Chin, Inc. →
Active · founded 1980
Leeann Chin, Inc.
CEC Entertainment, Inc. →
Active · founded 1982
CEC Entertainment, Inc., formerly ShowBiz Pizza Time, Inc., is the holding company for the popular child-oriented Chuck…
CEC Entertainment, Inc. →
Active · founded 1982
CEC Entertainment, Inc., formerly ShowBiz Pizza Time, Inc., is the holding company for the popular child-oriented Chuck…
Applebee's International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Applebee's International, Inc.
Applebee's International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Applebee's International, Inc.
Eateries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Eateries, Inc.
Eateries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Eateries, Inc.
O'Charley's Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
O'Charley's Inc.
O'Charley's Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
O'Charley's Inc.
Wal-Mart de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1984 · Mexico
Wal-Mart de Mexico, S.A.
Wal-Mart de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1984 · Mexico
Wal-Mart de Mexico, S.A.
Santa Barbara Restaurant Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Santa Barbara Restaurant Group, Inc.
Santa Barbara Restaurant Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Santa Barbara Restaurant Group, Inc.
Jillian's Entertainment Holdings, Inc. →
Active · founded 1988
Jillian's Entertainment Holdings, Inc.
Jillian's Entertainment Holdings, Inc. →
Active · founded 1988
Jillian's Entertainment Holdings, Inc.
Logan's Roadhouse, Inc. →
Active · founded 1991
Logan's Roadhouse, Inc.
Logan's Roadhouse, Inc. →
Active · founded 1991
Logan's Roadhouse, Inc.
Famous Dave's of America, Inc. →
Active · founded 1994
Famous Dave's of America, Inc.
Famous Dave's of America, Inc. →
Active · founded 1994
Famous Dave's of America, Inc.
Tumbleweed, Inc. →
Active · founded 1995
Tumbleweed, Inc.
Tumbleweed, Inc. →
Active · founded 1995
Tumbleweed, Inc.
DenAmerica Corporation →
Active · founded 1996
DenAmerica Corporation operates 200 full-service family restaurants, most of them branded, in about 25 states.
DenAmerica Corporation →
Active · founded 1996
DenAmerica Corporation operates 200 full-service family restaurants, most of them branded, in about 25 states.
P. F. Chang's China Bistro, Inc. →
Active · founded 1996
P.F.
P. F. Chang's China Bistro, Inc. →
Active · founded 1996
P.F.
Total Entertainment Restaurant Corporation →
Active · founded 1997
Total Entertainment Restaurant Corporation is a Wichita, Kansas-based company consisting of three restaurant chains:…
Total Entertainment Restaurant Corporation →
Active · founded 1997
Total Entertainment Restaurant Corporation is a Wichita, Kansas-based company consisting of three restaurant chains:…
Build It Today

Starting a full-service restaurants company now

Each week we rebuild one of these stories for today's tools and capital.