17. Wimpy

The first Wimpy restaurant to open was actually called Wimpy’s Grill. It offered the typical American fast food menu and was estimated to sell eight million burgers in the Chicago area alone in a year. Peaking at 27 locations, the restaurant chain ended with the death of its founder because nobody had purchased the trademark.

However, in 1977, Wimpy restaurant locations started to suddenly re-open in the UK. This was possible because the founder had sold a license to J. Lyons and Co. in 1954. The restaurant continued to thrive in the UK and Europe – though sadly, its American lifespan has reached its end today.