20 Defunct Restaurant Chains With The Strangest Gimmicks In History

Ever wonder what happened to those restaurants that tried a little too hard to stand out?
I’ve always been fascinated by eateries that went beyond just serving food to create bizarre dining experiences.
From jungle atmospheres to sci-fi adventures, these defunct restaurant chains pushed the envelope with marketing stunts that ranged from clever to downright uncomfortable.
Let’s look back at 20 restaurant chains that disappeared despite (or because of) their outlandish gimmicks.
1. Jekyll & Hyde Club: Where Monsters Served Your Meals

My first visit to Jekyll & Hyde Club in New York City nearly gave me a heart attack when a bookshelf suddenly moved and a monster popped out! This macabre-themed restaurant was essentially a haunted house where you could eat overpriced burgers.
Waiters dressed as mad scientists or Victorian ghouls would interact with diners, often startling them mid-bite. The walls were lined with animatronic creatures that would randomly come to life, talking and sometimes spraying water at unsuspecting guests. The food was mediocre at best, but people didn’t come for the cuisine—they came for the theatrical horror experience. Unfortunately, even the monsters couldn’t scare up enough business to keep this spooky spot alive in the competitive restaurant scene.
2. Mars 2112: Dining In A Martian Colony

Remember when eating on Mars was as simple as visiting Times Square? Mars 2112 transported diners to the red planet via a “spaceship” elevator that shook and rumbled as if actually traveling through space. The commitment to the bit was impressive! Inside, the cavernous restaurant featured a terrain modeled after Mars, complete with alien creatures who wandered around entertaining (or terrifying) children.
The ceiling twinkled with stars, while rock formations and strange alien plants completed the extraterrestrial ambiance. I still laugh thinking about the menu items with names like “Martian Melody Meatloaf” and “Cosmic Chicken Fingers.” The food was standard American fare dressed up in sci-fi packaging—much like the entire concept that eventually crashed back to Earth in 2012.
3. Automat: The Original Robot Restaurant

Long before touchscreen ordering became the norm, Horn & Hardart’s Automat revolutionized dining with wall-to-wall vending machines dispensing fresh food. I remember my grandmother telling me how magical it felt in the 1930s to put nickels into slots and watch little glass doors open to reveal her meal. These gleaming Art Deco eateries featured rows of small glass compartments containing sandwiches, pies, and hot dishes that were prepared fresh behind the scenes.
The food would be regularly replenished by invisible hands working behind the wall of cubbies. No waiters, no tipping—just you and a pocketful of coins selecting whatever looked appetizing. This revolutionary self-service concept thrived for decades before fast food drove the final Automat out of business in 1991.
4. Rainforest Café: Thunderstorms With Your Thunder Tea

“Mom, can the mechanical gorilla stop beating its chest while I’m trying to eat?” This was my constant refrain during childhood visits to Rainforest Café. Every 30 minutes, the restaurant would erupt into a manufactured thunderstorm with flashing lights and rumbling sounds that sent my spaghetti jumping off the plate. Massive aquariums, animatronic animals, and a canopy of artificial trees created the illusion of dining in a tropical jungle.
Mist would occasionally spray from hidden nozzles, sometimes directly onto your food if you were seated in the wrong spot. While technically not entirely defunct (a few locations still exist), Rainforest Café’s empire has shrunk dramatically from its 1990s heyday when suburban families flocked to hear mechanical elephants trumpet while eating mediocre $18 burgers shaped like volcanoes.
5. Chuck E. Cheese’s Original Concept: Nightmare Fuel Animatronics

The Chuck E. Cheese’s of today barely resembles its terrifying original form. When Atari founder Nolan Bushnell created the concept in the 1970s, he populated the restaurants with now-vintage animatronic bands that would haunt children’s dreams for decades. The original Rock-afire Explosion band featured jerky, dead-eyed animal robots with exposed mechanical parts that would suddenly spring to life and perform robotic covers of pop songs.
Their mouths rarely synced with the lyrics, and their stiff movements resembled something from a low-budget horror film. Though the chain still exists in a modernized form, the original animatronic concept has largely been scrapped. I still get chills remembering how the pizza tasted like cardboard but we’d beg to go anyway, drawn by the hypnotic terror of those mechanical performers.
6. Medieval Times: Jousting Knights Serving Chicken Legs

Watching armored knights battle while gnawing on a turkey leg without utensils—Medieval Times pioneered this peculiar dining experience that somehow still exists in limited locations. During its heyday, this dinner theater chain had you cheering for color-coded knights while servers dressed as wenches brought food you had to eat with your hands.
The first time I visited as a kid, I was shocked when they refused to give me silverware! “My lord, in medieval times they had no forks,” explained my server with theatrical flair while dropping a whole roasted chicken on my plate. While technically not completely defunct, Medieval Times has contracted significantly from its peak. The original gimmick of combining historically inaccurate medieval pageantry with dinner service seemed brilliant until the novelty wore off and people remembered they actually like using forks.
7. Sambo’s: The Restaurant Chain That Racism Killed

Sambo’s collapse represents a valuable lesson in how cultural insensitivity can sink a business. At its peak in the late 1970s, this pancake house chain boasted over 1,000 locations nationwide, each decorated with imagery from the controversial children’s book “Little Black Sambo.” Founders Sam Battistone and Newell Bohnett claimed the name came from combining their own names, but the restaurants leaned heavily into racist imagery that depicted harmful stereotypes.
Walls featured murals of the story’s characters, and the mascot was a caricature that perpetuated offensive racial stereotypes. Growing civil rights awareness in the 1970s led to protests and boycotts against the chain. By 1982, nearly all locations had closed or rebranded. The last surviving original Sambo’s in Santa Barbara finally changed its name in 2020, marking the complete end of this troubling restaurant concept.
8. Planet Hollywood: When Celebrity Endorsements Weren’t Enough

Sylvester Stallone once handed me a menu at Planet Hollywood’s London location—at least that’s what I told my friends. In reality, it was just a cardboard cutout, which perfectly symbolizes this chain’s empty celebrity promises. Founded in 1991 by action stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, and Stallone, Planet Hollywood aimed to be the film industry’s answer to Hard Rock Cafe.
Walls covered in movie props and costumes created a museum-like atmosphere where you could eat an overpriced burger supposedly designed by a famous actor. The chain expanded too rapidly, banking on the drawing power of celebrity appearances that became increasingly rare. Turns out people eventually realized they were just eating mediocre food in rooms filled with memorabilia from movies they could watch at home. The chain declared bankruptcy twice, with most locations shuttering by the early 2000s.
9. Hot Shoppes: Drive-In Dining With Carhop Service

Before founding Marriott Hotels, J. Willard Marriott started with Hot Shoppes, a revolutionary restaurant chain that helped pioneer American car culture dining. My grandfather would reminisce about pulling up in his Chevy and having uniformed carhops—often on roller skates—attach trays to his car window. Hot Shoppes introduced the world to the Mighty Mo burger and the Orange Freeze drink, becoming fixtures in mid-century American life.
The restaurants featured both drive-in service and indoor dining rooms with counter service, making them versatile for families and teenagers cruising in their new automobiles. The chain gradually disappeared as Marriott shifted focus to hotels and travel plazas. The last Hot Shoppes closed in 1999, marking the end of an era when dining in your car was considered the height of modern convenience rather than a rushed necessity.
10. HoJo’s: The Orange-Roofed Highway Oasis

Those distinctive orange roofs once dotted American highways like beacons for hungry travelers. Howard Johnson’s—affectionately known as HoJo’s—was my family’s go-to road trip stop, where I’d always beg for their famous 28 flavors of ice cream. The chain pioneered consistency in roadside dining when interstate travel was booming in the 1950s and 60s.
Their fried clam strips, frankfurters, and ice cream became road trip staples, while the simple orange roof with turquoise trim became one of America’s most recognizable building designs. At its peak, HoJo’s had over 1,000 restaurants nationwide. The familiar comfort of knowing exactly what you’d get at each location eventually became its downfall as more exciting fast-food options emerged. The last Howard Johnson’s restaurant closed in 2017, though the hotel chain continues under different ownership.
11. Chi-Chi’s: Where Fried Ice Cream Met Its Demise

“Once upon a time, in a restaurant far, far away…” That’s how the servers at Chi-Chi’s would begin singing their bizarre birthday song before bringing out a sombrero for the embarrassed guest of honor. This Mexican restaurant chain was known for theatrical presentations that were about as authentic as their cuisine. Founded in 1975, Chi-Chi’s spread rapidly across America, introducing many midwesterners to their first taste of “Mexican” food—heavily Americanized dishes drowning in cheese and sour cream.
Their fried ice cream, served in a cinnamon-sugar tortilla bowl, was the highlight of any childhood visit. The chain’s dramatic downfall came in 2003 when a hepatitis A outbreak linked to green onions at a Pennsylvania location sickened over 600 people and killed four. This health disaster, combined with bankruptcy proceedings, effectively ended Chi-Chi’s presence in America.
12. Kenny Rogers Roasters: The Chicken That Drove Kramer Crazy

Kenny Rogers Roasters achieved immortality thanks to a Seinfeld episode where the restaurant’s neon sign drove Kramer to madness. The country music star’s chicken chain actually served pretty decent wood-fired rotisserie chicken with homestyle sides—a healthier alternative to KFC. The restaurants featured country music memorabilia and an atmosphere that attempted to evoke Rogers’ down-home persona.
Each location prominently displayed that infamous red neon chicken sign that burned so brightly in the sitcom. Despite initial success and international expansion, the chain couldn’t compete domestically with established chicken restaurants. By 2011, all U.S. locations had closed, though the brand lives on in Asia where it remains surprisingly popular. I still remember my dad humming “The Gambler” every time we visited, thinking he was the first person to make the connection.
13. Little Chef: Britain’s Roadside Breakfast King

Fat Charlie—the iconic chef mascot with his oversized toque—welcomed British motorists to Little Chef for over 60 years. My first taste of their famous Olympic Breakfast during a rainy highway stop made me understand why this chain was a British institution. These roadside restaurants were deliberately designed to be familiar rather than exciting. The red and white color scheme, laminated menus, and simple British comfort food provided a reliable pit stop for travelers.
Their pancakes, all-day English breakfasts, and bottomless tea kept generations of road-trippers fueled. At its peak, over 400 Little Chef locations operated across the UK, but changing travel habits and competition from fast-food chains gradually eroded their customer base. The last Little Chef closed in 2018, leaving Fat Charlie unemployed after decades of cheerfully beckoning hungry drivers from highway signs.
14. Casa Bonita: The Mexican Disneyland of Restaurants

Before South Park made it famous, I visited the original Casa Bonita in Denver and witnessed the indoor cliff divers splash into the 14-foot deep pool while munching on what might generously be called Mexican-adjacent food. This pink palace was less about cuisine and more about creating a bizarrely entertaining dining spectacle. Beyond the cliff divers, the massive 52,000-square-foot restaurant featured puppet shows, mariachi bands, an underground cave with a waterfall, and gunfights performed by costumed actors. The food was notoriously terrible—the running joke was that you paid for the entertainment and the meal was punishment. Though the original Denver location closed during the pandemic, South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone purchased the restaurant in 2021 with plans to revive it. Their childhood nostalgia for this wonderfully weird place might just save Casa Bonita from permanent extinction.
15. Bikinis Sports Bar & Grill: The Restaurant That Became A Ghost Town

Bikinis Sports Bar & Grill took the “breastaurant” concept to such an extreme that its founder actually purchased a Texas ghost town and renamed it “Bikinis, Texas” as a publicity stunt. I drove by once out of curiosity and couldn’t decide what was more uncomfortable—the servers’ mandatory uniform of bikini tops and cowboy boots or the clientele openly ogling them.
Founded in 2006, the chain combined the Hooters formula with Texas BBQ and an atmosphere that made no pretense about its selling point. Waitresses were officially called “Bikini Babes” and the company even trademarked the term “breastaurant” in 2013. Public backlash against the objectification of women, combined with mediocre food quality, eventually doomed the chain. By 2018, all locations had closed, and Bikinis, Texas was quietly renamed Bankersmith, returning the ghost town to its original obscurity.
16. Winky’s: The Fast Food Chain That Winked Out

Winky’s sassy winking mascot once challenged McDonald’s across the Midwest with its square burgers and distinctive yellow and brown buildings. My uncle claims their “Winkburgers” were superior to any modern fast food, though nostalgia probably seasons his memory. Founded in the 1960s in Pennsylvania, Winky’s expanded to over 60 locations at its peak.
The restaurants featured a cartoon mascot with a chef’s hat who would wink at customers, promising fast service and quality ingredients. Their signature touch was serving square hamburgers—a novelty that predated Wendy’s similar approach. Unable to compete with the marketing budgets of national chains, Winky’s gradually disappeared throughout the 1970s. The last location closed in 1982, leaving behind only faded photos of their quirky buildings and collectible paper bags that now sell as vintage memorabilia on eBay.
17. Macheezmo Mouse: The Health-Conscious Mexican Chain With A Rodent Mascot

Nothing says “appetizing Mexican food” quite like a cartoon mouse mascot! Macheezmo Mouse somehow thrived in the Pacific Northwest during the 1980s and 90s despite this questionable branding choice. The first time I visited, I couldn’t decide if the name was brilliant or terrible—I’m still undecided. This quirky chain distinguished itself by offering healthier Mexican options before it was trendy.
They used no lard, MSG, or preservatives, and provided detailed nutritional information when most fast food places were still hiding their ingredients. Their signature “Zoodoo” sauce (a secret blend of herbs and spices) developed a cult following. Founded by Portland entrepreneur Tiger Warren, the chain expanded to 24 locations before financial troubles forced its closure in 1999. Despite the unfortunate rodent association, many Oregonians still reminisce about their innovative, health-conscious approach to Mexican cuisine.
18. Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse: Where Animatronic Animals Interrupted Your Steak

“Please pass the A1 sauce—HOLY COW THE MOOSE IS TALKING TO ME!” This was a common reaction at Bugaboo Creek, where your quiet steak dinner might be interrupted by a mechanical moose head suddenly coming to life on the wall. As a kid, I was simultaneously terrified and thrilled by these unpredictable animatronic outbursts. Designed to evoke a Canadian mountain lodge, each restaurant featured talking animals, including the signature moose, a bear, and various woodland creatures that would activate at random intervals.
The animatronics would tell corny jokes, sing songs, or comment on diners’ conversations. The chain expanded throughout the Northeast during the 1990s, offering mid-priced steaks in a family-friendly atmosphere. However, the novelty of dining under the watchful eyes of robotic wildlife eventually wore thin, and the last location closed in 2016 after several rounds of bankruptcy.
19. ShowBiz Pizza Place: Where Nightmare Robots Performed While You Ate

Before merging with Chuck E. Cheese’s, ShowBiz Pizza Place terrified a generation of children with the Rock-afire Explosion—possibly the most unsettling animatronic band ever created. My cousin’s birthday party there in 1985 left me with both indigestion and recurring nightmares about Fatz Geronimo, the gorilla keyboardist with unnervingly human eyes.
Founded in 1980, ShowBiz featured arcade games, mediocre pizza, and the centerpiece attraction: a stage show of jerky animatronic animals performing cover songs. The band included Billy Bob the bear, Rolfe the wolf, and Mitzi the cheerleading mouse, all performing with stiff movements and occasional mechanical failures. Corporate restructuring led to ShowBiz locations converting to Chuck E. Cheese’s by 1992, but the original characters maintain a cult following. YouTube videos of restored Rock-afire bands performing modern songs have millions of views, proving nostalgia can transform childhood terror into adult fascination.
20. Coon Chicken Inn: The Most Racist Restaurant In American History

Sometimes restaurant concepts reflect the darkest aspects of our cultural history. Coon Chicken Inn, which operated from the 1920s through the 1950s, stands as perhaps the most overtly racist restaurant chain America ever produced. The entrance to each location was designed as a grotesquely caricatured face of a Black man with an exaggerated grin. Patrons would literally walk through the mouth of this racist caricature to enter the restaurant.
Menus, advertisements, and employee uniforms all featured this deeply offensive imagery. The chain had three locations in Utah, Washington, and Oregon, serving fried chicken to white customers in an atmosphere that normalized and commercialized racial degradation. Public pressure and changing social attitudes eventually forced the chain to close in the 1950s. Its existence serves as a disturbing reminder of how openly American businesses once profited from racist imagery and the dehumanization of Black Americans.