Wetson’s
Herb Wetanson, a native of Long Island and the creator of the Wetson’s Burger chain, was motivated to open his own eatery after visiting the original McDonald’s while traveling through California. In 1959, Wetanson opened the first Wetson’s in the Long Island community of Levittown with assistance from his family. The chain’s 15-cent hamburgers started off as a huge hit. When McDonald’s and Burger King aggressively entered the New York market in the 1970s, the chain, however, faced financial difficulties. By the decade’s conclusion, Wetson’s was just a distant memory.
Rax Roast Beef
Over the course of the restaurant chain’s existence, Rax Roast Beef has gone by various names. Originally known as Jax Roast Biff and then Rix Roast Beef, Rax experienced its greatest phase of success in the 1980s. At the time, the addition of salad bars and other food stations temporarily elevated Rax to the status of one of the most popular chains in the nation. Early 1990s mismanagement and other problems harmed the company, and as of 2017, only a small number of Rax outlets were still open for business.