Do the most popular 80s restaurants still exist today? Find out – and see how they used to look!
Let’s explore the fates of some of the most iconic 80s restaurants, charting their journey from their heyday to the present. Which ones have survived?
Vintage food & drink
80s grocery stores: See vintage supermarkets, plus find out how retro tech paved the way for modern retail
Step back in time to 1980s grocery stores! From barcode scanners to in-house brands, they paved the way for major retail transformation. See inside these 80s supermarkets and what foods they might be selling.
Remember Chi-Chi’s restaurant, back in the 70s & 80s when Mexican food seemed new and exciting?
Chi-Chi’s may have closed its US restaurants, but it’s far from forgotten. Reminisce with these old menus and get you some of that yummy Chi Chi’s salsa – it’s still on the market!
Delicious Dairy Queen history: Soft serve ice cream, Dilly Bars, Blizzards, burgers & more
Dairy Queen history involves decades of transformation, innovations, and, of course, a few yummy vintage menu items that make folks nostalgic.
These old Jell-O Crown Jewel Dessert recipes still make dazzling treats
Crown Jewel Dessert as a mold, a pie, and a spring-form pan dessert! Also known as Broken Glass Dessert, this easy treat fits busy schedules.
Yellow or white margarine? The tedious legal battle over butter-colored margarine, and how people had to dye it themselves
In the early 1900s, there was a war fought with food coloring & butter knives. Learn about the great battle of colored margarine: yellow vs white.
Old Wendy’s restaurants: What was on the menu, what they looked like & how they got the name
Wendy’s has been a top player on the American fast food scene since not long after their first restaurant opened back in 1969. Established in Columbus, Ohio,
Sambo’s Restaurants: The diner chain’s story – and how it got that controversial name
Sambo’s Restaurants were popular in the ’60s and ’70s. But as much as people loved the diners, the company name was always a problem. Here’s why.
Antique Toby jugs: See dozens of collectible drinking mugs that were also vessels for cultural history
Toby Jugs came to America in the 1700s and quickly became a favorite collectible. Check out these examples of the art form!
Cracker Jack: The sweet history behind Cracker Jack prizes & the popular old popcorn treat
For decades, Cracker Jack has been more than a just a popcorn and peanut snack. Thanks to the famed Cracker Jack prizes, it’s also a treasure hunt in a box! Find out more about this peak Americana treat.
40 discontinued cake mixes in flavors you can’t get anymore
With their fun retro flavors – like pink lemonade and orange, toffee and macaroon, peanut butter and black walnut – check out these discontinued cake mixes that you just don’t see in stores anymore!
Make this pineapple upside-down cupcake recipe in 5 easy steps
This adorable pineapple upside-down cupcake recipe is a mini classic! They’re probably easier than you think to make, too.
How to make a homemade graham cracker pie crust & other delicious crumb crusts like they did in the 50s, 60s & 70s
We found some great vintage graham cracker pie crust recipes, and ways to make other delicious crumb crusts. Get the basic how-to, and try some of these creative and classic combinations!
How the old Bob’s Big Boy burger restaurants became the stuff of legend
It’s been a remarkable journey from that first Bob’s Big Boy hamburger stand to the national restaurant franchise it still is today. Here’s a look at the restaurant chain over the years!
Here’s how to have a festive 4th of July with a vintage vibe!
Here are some fun ideas and recipes to give your July 4th holiday a truly retro vibe, plus a look back at the history of Independence Day!
The Roy Rogers Restaurant chain’s wild ride: How the cowboy rode into fast food history
When it comes to the fascinating saga of American fast food, the tale of Roy Rogers Restaurant chain is a true standout. Check out these old photos from decades past.
28 vintage bad product names so fabulously awful, you won’t see them today
From awful double entendres to horrible diseases to the just plain bizarre, here are some vintage bad product names that used to appear on grocery store shelves.
Hawaiian Punch: Remember the retro tropical fruit drink & its tasty variations over the years
Let’s reminisce for a minute about Hawaiian Punch, the iconic red beverage that has a history as rich as its flavor. The original product first hit the
Remember these vintage & discontinued Lunchables from the 1990s?
Feast your eyes on and wax nostalgic for these vintage and discontinued Lunchables. Which was your favorite?
Stripe-It-Rich cake recipe: How to make a Jell-O pudding poke cake, 80s-style
This Stripe-It-Rich cake recipe – made with your favorite flavor of pudding – can make an ordinary cake extraordinary. It’s easy! Here’s how to do it, with the retro-how-to from the 1980s.
Double pineapple upside-down cake recipe, step-by-step: A classic 1950s skillet dessert
This special recipe for double pineapple upside-down cake has crushed pineapple in both the topping and in the cake.
Remember Carnation Breakfast Bars & Carnation Instant Breakfast?
The old Carnation Breakfast Bars were an offshoot of the popular Instant Breakfast powdered drink mix. Here’s a look back at both of these popular products!
90s candy: 40+ popular and totally fly sweet treats to remember
The Juice is Loose! SNICKERS really satisfies. Melts in your mouth, not in your hand. First it’s a candy, then it’s a gum. These iconic ad campaign
Fried green tomatoes & more: 12 old-fashioned & delicious recipes for green tomatoes
What can you make with green tomatoes? Here’s an old-fashioned recipe for fried green tomatoes, plus 10 more ways to use them!
See vintage Kraft & Campfire marshmallows from the 1950s-1980s (plus a few easy retro marshmallow dessert recipes)
Let’s take a sweet journey through time when Kraft marshmallows and Campfire marshmallows held court in the pantries of America.
This radical 90s cereal collection will take you back to those simple days of childhood
You’ll remember just how many breakfast cereals you forgot as you scroll through these photos of 90s cereal ads.
70 popular vintage 1970s cereals we loved & we miss
Take a look back at some of the most popular vintage 1970s cereals that we loved – including many discontinued products we still miss. (And don’t forget about the free toys that were inside kids’ cereal boxes!)
35 old-fashioned sandwich fillings that range from delicious to… inventive
Rediscover the most tantalizing, old-fashioned sandwich fillings that once graced the humble bread slices of yesteryear.
Easy chocolate Scotcheroos take Rice Krispies treats to the next level (1965)
Chocolate Scotcheroos combine the sweet and luscious flavors of chocolate, butterscotch and peanut butter with a little Rice Krispies crunch.
Candy from the 70s: Remember these deliciously unforgettable sweets?
Take a look back at dozens of the most popular (and delicious) candy from the 70s – including several you can’t get anymore!
3 easy chocolate potato cake recipes: Old-fashioned chocolate & spice flavors
Chocolate potato cake is a flavor variation on a vintage favorite. For decades, cakes using plain mashed potatoes as a main ingredient were very popular. Here are three easy recipes!
You can make this easy & elegant frosted ribbon sandwich loaf from the 1960s
This frosted ribbon sandwich loaf is strictly for company, and simply delicious! Slice through the cream cheese frosting to reveal layers of ham and egg filling.
30 fun & fruity 1920s non-alcoholic drink recipes
Booze-free beverages were all the rage after prohibition kicked in, so from a huge collection of vintage mocktail suggestions, we found these 30 fruity 1920s non-alcoholic drink recipes that would still work well today.
Retro Easter candy from the 70s, 80s & 90s remains some of the greatest candy of all time
Believe it or not, retro Easter candy like chocolate Easter bunnies, creme eggs, jelly beans and Peeps candy didn’t exist at all prior to the 20th century. Here’s a look back at what the bunny has been bringing.
Remember Snackin’ Cake – the 1970s dessert you could mix, bake and serve in 1 pan?
People loved all 8 kinds of Snackin’ Cake that you mixed, baked, and served in the same pan. They came in flavors like Banana Walnut, Chocolate Chip, Coconut Pecan and more. See them here!
Vintage stand mixers from Kitchen-Aid, Hamilton Beach & more were a life-changing miracle for home bakers in the 1950s
While not as portable as hand mixers, the fact that these vintage stand mixers could stir and blend and whip on their own was a huge boon for home chefs.
Old potato chip brands: 50+ long-lost and popular chip & potato snack brands you may remember
Have a look back at 50 years of America’s favorite party snack — and see if we found any of your favorite old potato chip brands!
Red Lobster restaurant history: Look back at the dining experience in the 70s, 80s & 90s
Was Red Lobster restaurant where you got your first taste of seafood? The first Red Lobster restaurant was in Lakeland, Florida, and opened its doors to seafood
This classic & delicious zucchini nut bread recipe from 1976 is a year-round favorite
With its perfect combination of moist zucchini, crunchy nuts, and fragrant spices, your family is going to love this mouth-watering zucchini nut bread recipe.
Original Grasshopper Pie: Get this amazing recipe direct from the source, plus find out how it was invented in 1966
This original Grasshopper Pie recipe creates a delicious and refreshing no-bake dessert, made up of a chocolate mint cream filling (with alcohol) in what’s basically an Oreo crust.
Easy fondue recipe fun! Here’s how to party like it’s 1969
Although the popularity of the fondue recipe has waxed and waned over the years, it is still — and likely forever will be — enjoyed as a delicious communal meal that brings people together.
Famous Red Lobster biscuit recipe: These copycat Cheddar Bay biscuits taste like the real deal (1998)
If you want to try making the Red Lobster biscuit recipe yourself, this copycat Cheddar Bay recipe is for you!
Easy coconut no-bake cookies with chocolate & oatmeal (1964)
Originally called Chocolate Nut Drops when this recipe came out in the mid-60s, you make these coconut no-bake cookies by creating a candy-like chocolate base, then stir in oats, coconut and nuts.
Where did those sweet candy heart sayings come from? (1920s to present)
Everyone knows the pastel little Valentine’s Day sweets that say Hug Me, Cutie and more. Where did those candy heart sayings come from? Look back here!
Old-fashioned vanilla birthday cake recipe
This classic, homemade vanilla birthday cake recipe from 1955 is one that will never go out of style!
These 40 vintage TV dinners look even better than we remember
Remember vintage TV dinners — shiny foil trays filled with delicious-looking dinner delights, waiting in the freezer for a special night? Plus find out the history of TV dinners!
1970s microwave ovens: Look back to when they were the super-hot new kitchen appliances
Check out some old how-to info and classic ads from the early days of 1970s microwave ovens, with tips on how to use what is now the most basic of kitchen appliances!
Remember these vintage Hamburger Helper flavors we thought were so delicious in the 70s, 80s & 90s?
Easy and efficient, there’s a reason Hamburger Helper became – and remained – so popular with home cooks. Here are some of the Hamburger Helper flavors we enjoyed in the 70s, 80s & 90s.
The story of George Ehret & his famous old Hell Gate Brewery is sadder than we ever expected
The man behind the famous Hell Gate Brewery, George Ehret, wasn’t just a business success — he was a success as a human. Find out more about his story!
When was Prohibition, why was it even a thing – and why did the alcohol-free social experiment fail?
When was Prohibition and why didn’t it work? Here’s the story of how it not only didn’t do what it intended, but introduced a cascade of other problems, too.
‘Unboxing Betty’ takes you on a fun retro cooking adventure with 1970s Betty Crocker recipes
Unboxing Betty, a fun YouTube channel featuring America’s [fictional] sweetheart, Betty Crocker, has all the ingredients you crave for a fascinating trip down memory lane.
American cheese singles: What’s in them & the history of ‘processed cheese food product’
The square pieces of smooth, orange, slightly rubbery American cheese used to be the quintessential lunch food, showing up on everything from gooey grilled cheeses to baloney sandwiches. Here’s a look at how they came to be!
