6 Defunct Breakfast Chains That Used to Fill America's Cup

As the 2000s have hit their twenties, breakfast has quickly gone from the most important meal of the day to a mere afterthought. Whether at the start of a road trip or the workday, what was once a quintessential sit-down meal has been replaced by fast-food breakfast sandwiches or, even more common, an extra-large latte on an empty stomach.But back in the glory days, a big breakfast wasn't limited to Mother's Day or the occasional IHOP run. With Denny's closing 150 locations and counting, it might be hard to believe that it once had dozens of breakfast-centric cousins dotted along the country's highway system. From the bottomless breakfast bars at Shoney's to Dunkin' rival Mister Donut, here are six defunct (or endangered) breakfast chains that used to make America's morning.Howard Johnson'sBakers SquareVillage InnUncle John's Pancake HouseShoney'sMister DonutHoward Johnson'sUniversal History Archive/GettyImagesHoward Johnson's may be entirely extinct today, but it was the largest restaurant chain in America for over two decades. Even earlier in the orange-roofed eatery's history, Howard Johnson's was just a soda fountain inside a drugstore. Its founder, grade school dropout Howard Johnson, never let go of the ice cream aspect of his business—though its over 1,000 restaurants and 500 motor lodges were known for much more than that. From the 1940s through the 1970s, the chain became an American institution not only because of its 28 flavors of ice cream, but for breakfast menu items like the "Farmer's Feast" and the "Country Boy's Breakfast." And yet, none remain standing today. After Johnson's son sold the chain in 1979 to the Imperial Group, it changed hands again from Marriott to Prime Motor Inns before closing its last Lake George location in 2022. Even a feature on Mad Men couldn't save its status as a road trip staple.Bakers SquareKen Wolter/ShutterstockIts few remaining locations are primarily pie-focused, but Bakers Square will forever be remembered for its all-day breakfast, from pancakes to scramblers and skillets. Funnily enough, Mrs. C's, born in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1969, was actually known for its pies, as well as soups and sandwiches. The breakfast menu it became famous for was first introduced in 1983 when the chain was bought by Vicorp and renamed Bakers Square. The brand expanded to 143 locations by 2006, but quickly saw nearly half of its restaurants close by 2009. Today, Bakers Square products are sold across 19 states, but only a handful of standalone locations still serve those fan-favorite breakfast items alongside its famous cream and fruit pies.Village InnRetail Photographer/ShutterstockFor many and many years, if you were craving a stack of buttermilk pancakes, Village Inn was the answer. Founded in Denver, Colorado, in 1958 by Merton “Andy” Anderson and Jim Mola, the casual diner expanded quickly after placing a prospective franchise ad in The Wall Street Journal in 1961. At its peak, the brand boasted more than 200 locations nationwide, beloved for its flapjacks and fresh eggs. But even its kids-eat-free nights and all-day breakfast weren’t enough to stop Village Inn from filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2008 and 2020. While you can still find around 100 locations operating across the country today, the pancake empire of the 1980s and ’90s has shrunk significantly.Uncle John's Pancake HouseWicki58/GettyImagesAnother breakfast joint that served up its pancakes with panache was Uncle John’s Pancake House. Founded in California by former Dairy Queen franchise owners Jack and Anne Holder, Uncle John’s soon set itself apart from competing diners with a massive menu featuring 18 different types of pancakes—from Iowa corn to African banana—some priced at less than two quarters. The chain achieved national status with dozens of locations operating through the 1960s and ’70s, but rising operating costs and labor shortages eventually phased the brand to obscurity. Only a tiny trio of surviving locations are left in California and Ohio.Shoney'sJoseph Hendrickson/ShutterstockShoney’s is cemented in breakfast history as a Southern staple, but when it started in 1947, it was simply a drive-in called the Parkette in Charleston, West Virginia. Founder Alex Schoenbaum eventually joined the Big Boy franchise family before going independent in 1984. That’s when its claim to fame came into play: the all-you-can-eat breakfast bar with more than 30 menu items. The oversized spread featuring foods like pancakes, biscuits and gravy, bacon, and scrambled eggs helped grow the chain to over 1,300 locations. However, momentum came to a halt following a $130 million class action lawsuit in 1993 and a later bankruptcy filing. After decades of closures, Shoney’s survives in just 16 states today. Mister DonutRawpixel.com/ShutterstockThe story of Mister Donut is one of the greatest rivalries in fast-food history. Founded in 1955 by Harry Winokur, the chain was born after Winokur had a bitter falling out with his brother-in-law, Bill Rosenberg, the founder of Dunkin’ Donuts. The two brands spent 35 years battling for the morning sweet tooth, with Mister Donut amassing over 550 U.S. locations famous for coffee and donuts—and almost double that in Japan to this day. The domestic rivalry ended in 1990 when parent company Allied-Lyons acquired both brands and converted almost every Mister Donut into a Dunkin’. Today, only a single American location lives on in Godfrey, Illinois. More Like This: