Restaurant Chains' Original Names Revealed

Many familiar restaurant chains bear names that are a far cry from their original monikers, often reflecting a different business focus, a founder's legacy, or a strategic rebranding effort. For instance, the popular American casual dining chain Applebee's was not always known by this name. It began its journey as "T.C. Molly's" in Decatur, Alabama, in 1980. The change to Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar occurred in 1986, a move that helped establish its current identity. Similarly, the ubiquitous fast-food fried chicken giant KFC, known globally for its "finger-lickin' good" slogan, was initially founded as "Kentucky Fried Chicken" by Colonel Harland Sanders in Corbin, Kentucky, in 1930. The company officially shortened its name to KFC in 1991, a decision that reflected its expansion beyond just fried chicken and its global reach.

Another well-known establishment, Pizza Hut, also has a different origin story. It was founded by brothers Dan and Frank Carney in Wichita, Kansas, in 1958. The name "Pizza Hut" was chosen because the original building where they started had a sign that could only fit eight letters, and "Pizza Hut" fit perfectly. The brothers borrowed $600 from their mother to start the business. In the fast-food landscape, McDonald's, the world's largest fast-food chain by revenue, began as a barbecue drive-in. Brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald opened their first restaurant in San Bernardino, California, in 1940, focusing on barbecue. However, in 1948, they streamlined their operation, introducing the "Speedee Service System" which emphasized a limited menu of hamburgers, fries, and milkshakes, and significantly reduced preparation times. This marked the true beginning of the McDonald's we recognize today, though the company's official founding date is often cited as 1955 when Ray Kroc opened his first McDonald's restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois, after becoming a franchising agent for the brothers.

Beyond fast food, even some coffee giants have undergone name transformations. Starbucks, now a global coffeehouse behemoth, was originally named "Pequod" after the whaling ship in Herman Melville's Moby Dick. The founders, Gordon Bowker, Jerry Baldwin, and Zev Siegl, later changed the name to Starbucks, inspired by the first mate's name in the same novel. The initial concept was to sell high-quality coffee beans and equipment, not brewed coffee drinks. The iconic red and white logo, featuring a siren, was designed by Terry Heckler. The first Starbucks store opened in Seattle's Pike Place Market in 1971. The transition to selling brewed coffee and expanding into cafes happened gradually over the years, with Howard Schultz joining the company in 1982 and playing a pivotal role in its transformation into the coffeehouse chain known worldwide today. These name changes and evolutions highlight the dynamic nature of business, branding, and consumer adaptation over time.