Here we are talking about food again. What are we anyway, compulsive eaters?

Well, we love our food, especially when it's fast. Recently, we did a story on how many fast food places there are here in Sioux Falls.

As I looked over the list, I highlighted my favorites. It turns out I chose several that my family and I frequent regularly.

In writing the names down, I thought of a question that never crossed my mind before. How did these places get their names? In my need to know, I did some research. Let me pass the interesting findings on to you:

Arby's
The chain was founded by the Raffel Brothers. The name comes from the enunciation of the initials of the two words RB.

Burger King
It was founded in Jacksonville, Florida in 1953 with the name Insta-Burger King. After it was sold to new owners, they shortened the name.

McDonald's
The name comes from the founders, Dick and Mac McDonald. The brothers started the restaurant in 1940 and sold it to Ray Kroc in 1955, who kept the name.

Popeyes
Contrary to conventional wisdom, the chicken chain, founded by Alvin Copeland in 1972, was named after the character Popeye Doyle in "The French Connection" and not after the cartoon character. Eventually, Popeyes management gave in and licensed use of the cartoon character.

Starbucks
The name comes from the "Moby Dick" character Starbuck because it "evoked the romance of the high seas and the seafaring tradition of the early coffee traders," says the company's website.

Subway
On the advice of a friend named Peter Buck, Fred DeLuca started a sandwich shop in 1965 because he wanted to go to medical school. Buck thought it would be a good way for DeLuca to earn the tuition money. Because of his friend's encouragement and financial assistance starting the restaurant, DeLuca named it Pete's Super Submarines. The name was changed to Subway in 1968. DeLuca never went to medical school.

Taco Bell
Glen Bell, the founder, just combined the number one menu item with his last name.

Wendy's
Dave Thomas, who founded the business in Columbus, Ohio in 1969, named it after his daughter, Wendy.

Source: Radio Online


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