Kenny Rogers Roasters ... LOL. Never heard of that one.
Which restaurant chain has been in business the longest/still going?
Happy Thanksgiving to you.
That’s an interesting question. My favorite single location is Taichung Grill in San Francisco., foundedm1849! As far as chains go…
| Category | Winner | Founded | Why They’re the Champion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absolute oldest still operating (original location never closed) | Nathan’s Famous | 1916 | Still open on exact same Coney Island corner for 109 years; never bankrupt, runs the July 4th hot-dog contest since 1916 |
| Oldest franchised chain | A&W Restaurants | 1919 | First to sell franchises (1925); root-beer identity kept it alive through multiple owners |
| Oldest hamburger chain | White Castle | 1921 | Family-owned 100+ years, profitable every decade, invented the slider, never chased trends |
Some people hesitate to call Nathan’s Famous a “chain” because the original Coney Island stand still completely dominates the brand image. Most locations are non-traditional (ballparks, travel plazas, kiosks) rather than big sit-down stores. Only ~40–50 are traditional street-front restaurants. Many Americans have eaten Nathan’s hot dogs for decades without ever seeing a standalone Nathan’s restaurant. That’s me!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and family, too!
There’s a leftover that’s just branded as Roasters (no Kenny Rogers) in Sandy Springs, GA. I like them, good selection non-fried main courses with rotisserie chicken featured, and good selection of sides as well.