20. Childs

Childs can be credited as being one of the first restaurant chains in the United States. Starting off early in 1889 with a single location in New York City, it soon had locations in 29 cities across the country and even in Canada. This early model paved the way for restaurant giants such as McDonald’s with its food options, sanitation, and service.

The chain especially thrived in the 1920s and 30s. But over the following two decades, it struggled to keep up. The restaurant tried a variety of services, including a hot dog machine, an ice cream machine, and even flipping flapjacks. Unfortunately, locations closed in the late 1960s.