1) Rax Roast Beef

This Midwestern chain started out in 1967 as Jax Roast Beef, then became Rix, then finally Rax. Known for their sandwiches and kids’ meals, the chain went through a series of changes which resulted in the closing of nearly all their franchise locations.

Today there are only 8 locations left in the U.S. (all owned by the same company, Rax to Riches), down from more than 500 in North America, so this chain isn’t quite gone yet.