Some of these chains started here, some just got big here, and every one of them is somebody’s childhood.
In this guide
This city has seen countless restaurants launch onto the national scene throughout the years, and although some of them are gone, they’re hardly forgotten. Whenever we talk about nostalgic, beloved spots around the city, there are a few names that always seem to pop up.
The Kahiki, known for its Polynesian-inspired decor and cocktail menu. The Florentine for their unmatched family ambiance. The list goes on and on. But one group of restaurants we don’t talk about enough is chains.
Back in the day, you could find Columbusites (I’m still not convinced this is what we should be called) of all ages grabbing burgers, shakes, and other goodies from massive chains that either started or grew in popularity here in Columbus. Let’s take a look back at some of the most popular places to eat back in the day.
| Restaurant | Founded | Status today |
| Burger Boy Food-O-Rama | 1961 | Closed (became Borden Burger, gone) |
| Sisters Chicken & Biscuits | 1978 | Closed for decades |
| Ritzy’s | 1981 | Reopened in Clintonville, open |
| Arthur Treacher’s | 1969 | A few standalone locations, all in Northeast Ohio |
| York Steak House | 1966 | Open: the last one in the world, on W. Broad St. |
| Max & Erma’s | 1972 | Closed in Columbus; a handful left elsewhere |
| Damon’s | 1979 | Last Columbus location closed 2011; a few remain, including England |
| Original Wendy’s | 1969 | Closed 2007 (marker at 257 E. Broad St.) |
Burger Boy Food-O-Rama
Burger Boy Food-O-Rama, also known as BBF, first opened in 1961. Owned by Milton O. Lustnauer and Roy Tuggle, the restaurant was known for its fast food fare. Opened to compete against McDonald’s, BBF wanted to make food bigger, better, and faster than their competitors. There were several locations throughout the city and their legacy lives on in the memories of fast-food lovers around the Ohio Valley.
Sisters Chicken & Biscuits
An offshoot of Wendy’s, Sisters Chicken & Biscuits opened in the late 1970s as a “high quality, upscale” chicken and biscuit joint. The restaurants have been closed for decades, but that doesn’t stop people from missing their flaky biscuits and perfectly fried chicken.
Ritzy’s
Originally founded by Graydon Webb in 1981, G.D. Ritzy’s (as it was known then) was a throwback diner serving hamburgers, shoestring fries, and creamy, delicious ice cream. Although the restaurant was dormant for 30 years, it’s back and better than ever in Clintonville. Which means you can stop daydreaming about their food and just go grab some! You can check out our review of the recently re-opened Ritzy’s right here.
Damon’s, The Place For Ribs
Before every sports bar had a wall of TVs, Damon’s was already doing it in Columbus. Founded here in 1979, Damon’s built its name on ribs, onion loaf, and trivia boxes on the tables, and it grew to more than 150 locations across the country. Bankruptcy caught up with it in 2009, the last Columbus location closed in 2011, and only a scattered few remain today, oddly enough including a couple over in England.
Arthur Treacher’s Fish & Chips
Arthur Treacher’s is a seafood chain that started here in Columbus way back in 1969. At one point, there were over 800 stores around the country and everyone was obsessed with their iconic fish and chips. After a rapid expansion, new ownership, and menu changes due to the “Cod Wars”, Arthur Treacher’s began closing stores across the country. Now just a handful are left, all of them up in Northeast Ohio.
York Steak House
Started by Bernie Gros and Eddie Grayson back in 1966, York Steak House quickly became a family favorite. As the chain expanded, York Steak house began popping up in shopping malls around the country. But after a decline in America’s malls, many York Steak House locations were closed. There’s only one left in the world, and we’re so lucky it’s right here on W. Broad Street. It nearly went under in early 2026 over back taxes, but the bill got paid and the doors are still open.
Max & Erma’s
Max & Erma’s started in German Village in 1972, when Todd Barnum and Barry Zacks bought a corner tavern that Max and Erma Visocnik had run since 1958. The mismatched decor, the tabletop phones, and the build-your-own burger bar turned it into a birthday-dinner institution, and at its peak the chain ran more than 100 locations. The original German Village spot closed in 2017, and only a handful of Max & Erma’s are still open today, none of them in Columbus.
Wendy’s
It would be criminal to talk about nostalgic chain restaurants and not mention the original Wendy’s. If you ever took a school field trip to COSI before the early 2000s, there’s a decent chance you ate lunch at the original Wendy’s, located at 257 E. Broad Street. It was such a unique space and I personally have some very fond memories of eating there. It always felt more special than your average fast-food restaurant and I was genuinely sad to see it go. If you’d like to take a long walk down memory lane, you can check out the history of Wendy’s and their Columbus roots on their website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the original Wendy’s still open? No. The first Wendy’s, at 257 E. Broad Street downtown, closed on March 2, 2007. There’s a historical marker at the site, which is now home to The Catholic Foundation.
Is York Steak House still open in Columbus? Yes. The location at 4220 W. Broad Street is the last York Steak House left anywhere. It nearly closed in early 2026 over back taxes, but the bill got paid and it’s still serving.
Is Ritzy’s still open? Yes. Ritzy’s came back in Clintonville at 4615 N. High Street, serving the shoestring fries and ice cream the original was known for.
What happened to Arthur Treacher’s? The Columbus-born chain shrank from more than 800 stores to just a few standalone spots, all of them in Northeast Ohio.
