Latest news with #Henry'sHamburgers
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Vintage Fast Food Burger Chain That No One Remembers Anymore
Henry's Hamburgers doesn't ring any bells for most people, but there are a few who remember the chain from the late 1950s to the mid-1970s. The restaurant had a customer-first philosophy with competitive prices and great food, and by the early 1960s, it had over 200 locations across the United States. As of June 2025, however, only one location remains. Henry's Hamburgers was the brainchild of Bresler's Ice Cream Company, which was looking to drum up business. The franchise was co-run by Harold Shook and Don Bishop, who wanted the place to feel like a spot to hang out, not like a corporate cash cow. As such, they really listened to their diners and their needs. Soon, Henry's was flourishing. Its menu catered to the average Joe, sporting 15-cent hamburgers, fish sandwiches (which always seem to taste better at restaurants), hot dogs, and the like. Throughout the 1970s, Bresler's went through a host of internal business changes and mergers, and the management of Henry's fell by the wayside. By the late 1970s, only one location remained. Still, two men saw the potential in it yet and bought out Bishop and Shook. Dave Slavicek and Wayne Senecal took over in 1983 and gave it a second life. They updated the drive-thru and built a new building for the restaurant across the road from the original location, but it still sports the original vintage look and decor. Read more: Ranking Fast Food Burgers From Worst To Best, According To Reddit Dave Slavicek bought out Wayne Senecal in 2006, and as of June 2025, Henry's Hamburgers offers much of the same fare that it did back in the day. According to its website, its "Brown Bag Special" — a meal deal consisting of a double cheeseburger, fries, and a Pepsi that was introduced in 1987 — accounts for over half of its daily sales. Desserts include cookies, apple turnovers, and funnel cake fries. Ever since its inception in the 1940s, the drive-thru has revolutionized the way restaurants can push stock. Henry's has reaped the benefits of this well — its website states that its own one contributes to around 70% of sales. It was first introduced to the restaurant in 1988 with its resurgence and has served the brand faithfully. Notably, Henry's feels like a blast from the past because of its prices. It runs a "Munchie of the Month" special which costs only 93 cents. Hard to imagine in this day and age, but the owner saw that this old-school diner had a lot more to give, so long as it wasn't just retro on the surface. It still maintains an ethos of caring for its employees and making sure both worker and customer are satisfied. It may not be as dominating as it once was — and you probably won't find it on any fast-food burger rankings — but Henry's Hamburgers is still alive and kicking. Want more food knowledge? Sign up to our free newsletter where we're helping thousands of foodies, like you, become culinary masters, one email at a time. Read the original article on Food Republic.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Vintage Burger Chain That Failed Because It Couldn't Keep Up With The Times
McDonald's. Burger King. Steak 'n Shake. There's no shortage of burger chains to choose from, but one once-popular chain that's become merely a memory (along with other notable names like Burger Queen and the Doggie Diner) is Henry's Hamburgers. Known for offering "ten burgers for a buck," Henry's kept pace with McDonald's through the early 1960s, with both restaurants operating over 200 stores. However, today there is just one Henry's remaining, while McDonald's has expanded to well over 40,000 franchise locations across the globe. Henry's was founded in the 1950s by Bresler's Ice Cream Company, who rightly recognized that pairing sweet ice cream with savory burgers could pay off. Their other major impetus was the growing popularity of the drive-in restaurant concept. After all, the automobile industry was still in its early decades. Although Bresler's was savvy enough to recognize that big money could be made by catering to the driving public, it wasn't quick enough to take the next step from drive-in to drive-thru. Beyond this, the Bresler's company itself seemed to be in a bit of turmoil. Henry's began its descent into obscurity in the 1970s, and Bresler's was sold off the following decade. Nevertheless, people lucky enough to be familiar with Henry's Hamburgers have fond memories of its affordable, tasty food (15-cent burgers and French fries by the pound!) and relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. Too bad we'll never know how these affordable fries would stack up when ranked against other fast food fries. Read more: 8 Restaurants That Were Once Frequented By Al Capone If you have fond memories of Henry's Hamburgers, or perhaps you just love chasing a bit of nostalgia, you can visit the last remaining Henry's Hamburgers location in Benton Harbor, Michigan. While the hamburgers no longer cost 15 cents, at $3.53, they're not bad by today's standards. Fries can be purchased by the half-pound, too. The owners of Henry's Hamburgers credit their success to putting their customers first, listening to their concerns even above those of the larger parent company. As that larger company faltered, this customer-oriented approach paid off — and yes, they did eventually add a drive-thru. Their menu remains simple and classic: burgers, shakes, fries, and onion rings. However, they also serve up some surprising options like a shrimp boat and pizza stick. And if you're a Henry's regular who wants something new, you can always order their 99-cent "Munchie of the Month." The lasting legacy of this Henry's Hamburgers franchise is a testament to the fact that it's important to know when to innovate but it's equally important to recognize your strengths and lean into them. Read the original article on Chowhound.
