COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 6794

Patent Owners and Lessors.

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

76companies1922–1996founding years76still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedEskimo Pie Corporation
1922
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.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
FoundedPlayboy Enterprises, Inc.
1953
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedLittle Caesar Enterprises, Inc.
1959
FoundedInternational Management Group
1960
FoundedPearle Vision, Inc.
1961
FoundedTaco Bell Corp.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedGround Round, Inc.FoundedShoney's, Inc.
1968
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
FoundedNoble Roman's Inc.
1972
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
FoundedInformation Builders, Inc.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
FoundedIndigo NV
1977
FoundedAdvantica Restaurant Group, Inc.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
FoundedAu Bon Pain Co., Inc.FoundedTCBY Enterprises Inc.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedChart House Enterprises, Inc.
1985
FoundedThe Score Board, Inc.
1986
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
FoundedGrow Biz International, Inc.
1988
FoundedInaCom Corporation
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
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

Eskimo Pie Corporation →
Active · founded 1922
Having celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1996, the Eskimo Pie Corporation boasts one of the best-known names in the…
Eskimo Pie Corporation →
Active · founded 1922
Having celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1996, the Eskimo Pie Corporation boasts one of the best-known names in the…
Riddell Sports Inc. →
Active · founded 1927
Riddell Sports Inc.
Riddell Sports Inc. →
Active · founded 1927
Riddell Sports Inc.
Playboy Enterprises, Inc. →
Active · founded 1953
Playboy Enterprises, Inc.
Playboy Enterprises, Inc. →
Active · founded 1953
Playboy Enterprises, Inc.
El Chico Restaurants, Inc. →
Active · founded 1957
One of the largest Mexican dinner house chains in the United States, El Chico Restaurants, Inc.
El Chico Restaurants, Inc. →
Active · founded 1957
One of the largest Mexican dinner house chains in the United States, El Chico Restaurants, Inc.
Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc. →
Active · founded 1959
Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc.
Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc. →
Active · founded 1959
Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc.
Pizza Hut Inc. →
Active · founded 1959
Pizza Hut Inc.
Pizza Hut Inc. →
Active · founded 1959
Pizza Hut Inc.
International Management Group →
Active · founded 1960
Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, International Management Group is the world's largest and most influential sports…
International Management Group →
Active · founded 1960
Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, International Management Group is the world's largest and most influential sports…
Norrell Corporation →
Active · founded 1961
Though it is best known as a temporary agency, Norrell Corporation offers a wide variety of services.
Norrell Corporation →
Active · founded 1961
Though it is best known as a temporary agency, Norrell Corporation offers a wide variety of services.
Pearle Vision, Inc. →
Active · founded 1961
Pearle Vision Inc., a subsidiary of British food conglomerate Grand Metropolitan plc, is one of the largest optical…
Pearle Vision, Inc. →
Active · founded 1961
Pearle Vision Inc., a subsidiary of British food conglomerate Grand Metropolitan plc, is one of the largest optical…
Big O Tires, Inc. →
Active · founded 1962
Big O Tires, Inc.
Big O Tires, Inc. →
Active · founded 1962
Big O Tires, Inc.
Taco Bell Corp. →
Active · founded 1962
Taco Bell Corp.
Taco Bell Corp. →
Active · founded 1962
Taco Bell Corp.
Foodmaker, Inc. →
Active · founded 1966
Foodmaker, Inc., is the operator and franchisor of Jack in the Box restaurants, the fifth-largest fast-food hamburger…
Foodmaker, Inc. →
Active · founded 1966
Foodmaker, Inc., is the operator and franchisor of Jack in the Box restaurants, the fifth-largest fast-food hamburger…
Ground Round, Inc. →
Active · founded 1968
A pioneer in casual dining restaurant chains, Ground Round, Inc.
Ground Round, Inc. →
Active · founded 1968
A pioneer in casual dining restaurant chains, Ground Round, Inc.
La Quinta Inns, Inc. →
Active · founded 1968
With more than 220 inns in 29 states, La Quinta Inns, Inc.
La Quinta Inns, Inc. →
Active · founded 1968
With more than 220 inns in 29 states, La Quinta Inns, Inc.
Shoney's, Inc. →
Active · founded 1968
Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Shoney's, Inc., is one of the restaurant industry's most respected companies.
Shoney's, Inc. →
Active · founded 1968
Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Shoney's, Inc., is one of the restaurant industry's most respected companies.
Sir Speedy, Inc. →
Active · founded 1968
Sir Speedy, Inc.
Sir Speedy, Inc. →
Active · founded 1968
Sir Speedy, Inc.
Noble Roman's Inc. →
Active · founded 1972
Operating a chain of casual dining restaurants in the Midwest, Noble Roman's Inc.
Noble Roman's Inc. →
Active · founded 1972
Operating a chain of casual dining restaurants in the Midwest, Noble Roman's Inc.
Spaghetti Warehouse, Inc. →
Active · founded 1972
Spaghetti Warehouse, Inc., owns, operates, and franchises full-service, family-style Italian restaurants.
Spaghetti Warehouse, Inc. →
Active · founded 1972
Spaghetti Warehouse, Inc., owns, operates, and franchises full-service, family-style Italian restaurants.
Cherokee Inc. →
Active · founded 1973
Cherokee Inc.
Cherokee Inc. →
Active · founded 1973
Cherokee Inc.
Information Builders, Inc. →
Active · founded 1975
Information Builders, Inc.
Information Builders, Inc. →
Active · founded 1975
Information Builders, Inc.
MicroAge, Inc. →
Active · founded 1976
MicroAge, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, is one of the nation's largest resellers of computer equipment and systems.
MicroAge, Inc. →
Active · founded 1976
MicroAge, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, is one of the nation's largest resellers of computer equipment and systems.
Indigo NV →
Active · founded 1977 · The Netherlands
Indigo NV is a pioneering developer and manufacturer of digital printing systems using patented liquid ink technology.
Indigo NV →
Active · founded 1977 · The Netherlands
Indigo NV is a pioneering developer and manufacturer of digital printing systems using patented liquid ink technology.
Ben & Jerry's Homemade, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
Ben & Jerry's Homemade, Inc.
Ben & Jerry's Homemade, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
Ben & Jerry's Homemade, Inc.
Advantica Restaurant Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1979
Advantica Restaurant Group, Inc., is one of the largest restaurant companies in the United States, operating 3,300…
Advantica Restaurant Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1979
Advantica Restaurant Group, Inc., is one of the largest restaurant companies in the United States, operating 3,300…
SpeeDee Oil Change and Tune-Up →
Active · founded 1980
SpeeDee Oil Change and Tune-Up started out as a single quick-oil-change shop in the New Orleans, Louisiana,…
SpeeDee Oil Change and Tune-Up →
Active · founded 1980
SpeeDee Oil Change and Tune-Up started out as a single quick-oil-change shop in the New Orleans, Louisiana,…
Au Bon Pain Co., Inc. →
Active · founded 1981
A relatively small player in the overall retail food service industry, Au Bon Pain Co., Inc.
Au Bon Pain Co., Inc. →
Active · founded 1981
A relatively small player in the overall retail food service industry, Au Bon Pain Co., Inc.
Hungry Howie's Pizza and Subs, Inc. →
Active · founded 1981
Hungry Howie's Pizza and Subs, Inc.
Hungry Howie's Pizza and Subs, Inc. →
Active · founded 1981
Hungry Howie's Pizza and Subs, Inc.
TCBY Enterprises Inc. →
Active · founded 1981
TCBY Enterprises Inc.
TCBY Enterprises Inc. →
Active · founded 1981
TCBY Enterprises Inc.
Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc. →
Active · founded 1982
Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc.
Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc. →
Active · founded 1982
Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc.
Chart House Enterprises, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
Chart House Enterprises, Inc.
Chart House Enterprises, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
Chart House Enterprises, Inc.
Checkers Drive-Up Restaurants Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
With its distinctive black and white checkerboard squares surrounded by bright red and chrome, Checkers Drive-Up…
Checkers Drive-Up Restaurants Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
With its distinctive black and white checkerboard squares surrounded by bright red and chrome, Checkers Drive-Up…
The Score Board, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
The largest distributor of sports memorabilia in the United States, The Score Board, Inc.
The Score Board, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
The largest distributor of sports memorabilia in the United States, The Score Board, Inc.
Outback Steakhouse, Inc. →
Active · founded 1987
Outback Steakhouse, Inc., runs a chain of casual restaurants with and Australian theme based in the South and the…
Outback Steakhouse, Inc. →
Active · founded 1987
Outback Steakhouse, Inc., runs a chain of casual restaurants with and Australian theme based in the South and the…
Grow Biz International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1988
Grow Biz International, Inc.
Grow Biz International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1988
Grow Biz International, Inc.
The Maxim Group →
Active · founded 1989
Headquartered in Kennesaw, Georgia, The Maxim Group is North America's largest--and only--publicly traded retail floor…
The Maxim Group →
Active · founded 1989
Headquartered in Kennesaw, Georgia, The Maxim Group is North America's largest--and only--publicly traded retail floor…
InaCom Corporation →
Active · founded 1991
The third-largest and most profitable computer distributor in the United States, InaCom Corporation was formed in 1991,…
InaCom Corporation →
Active · founded 1991
The third-largest and most profitable computer distributor in the United States, InaCom Corporation was formed in 1991,…
Planet Hollywood International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1991
Planet Hollywood International, Inc.
Planet Hollywood International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1991
Planet Hollywood International, Inc.
Roadhouse Grill, Inc. →
Active · founded 1996
Roadhouse Grill, Inc.
Roadhouse Grill, Inc. →
Active · founded 1996
Roadhouse Grill, Inc.
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