Kitchen Investment Group Inc history

1942: The second restaurant is opened; others follow.

In 1958 Johnson decided to franchise the concept, and in the next few years Country Kitchens began to open around the United States.

Blimpie first opened in Hoboken, New Jersey, in 1964 as the nation's first sub-sandwich chain.

In 1968 Country Kitchen Restaurants, Inc. and Northwest Franchise merged to form Country Kitchen International (CKI), and the firm's stock later began trading publicly.

Ground Round is a family style dining chain, founded in 1969 to provide a "'neighborhood pub' experience where everyone, including couples and families, felt comfortable." Like a number of other chains on this list, Ground Round declared bankruptcy relatively recently.

Sale to Carlson Companies in 1977

Damon's was founded in 1979 and is currently based in Columbus, Ohio.

TCBY started in 1981 in Arkansas as "the country's first frozen yogurt shop." The chain was purchased by Mrs.

1983: The new president, Richard Hohman, begins efforts to rev italize the chain.

During 1985 revenues for the entire system reached $153 million, up 5.5 percent from the year before, and 16 new restaurants were opened while only nine closed.

In 1986 the chain had a total of 246 outlets, three of which were owned by the company and the rest by franchisees.

In 1987 Carlson unveiled a new budget lodging concept called Country Inn that featured a Country Kitchen restaurant and a limited service hotel.

In 1991 the company announced that ten franchised restaurants would be added in Puerto Rico, with one opened in a Travelodge hotel in November and another in a closed Wendy's restaurant at San Juan International Airport several months later.

Growth continued over the next several years, with the restaurant tot al sliding back up to 250 by 1996.

For 2000 the system, still with about 250 restaurants, had sales of $223 million.

In 2001, there were 1,777 TCBY locations across the country.

In 2002 a new Wisconsin Cheese Skillets menu was introduced that was a co-promotion with the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board.

2003: Cobranding with Breadeaux Pizza brings new delivery and takeout options.

However, unlike other disappearing restaurants, after its bankruptcy in 2004, the chain was bought by its former franchisees.

2005: The company begins developing the Peppermill Grill casua l dining concept.

The firm integrated the idea into one of its Country Kitchen sites during the year, and began preparations to open a prototype restaurant in Madison in 2006.

Blimpie was purchased by Kahala, a franchising company that also bought Cold Stone Creamery in 2007.

In 2008, the parent company, Metromedia Steakhouses Co., filed for bankruptcy.

The chain, which is part of the struggling full-service barbecue restaurant segment, filed for bankruptcy in 2009.

Don Pablo's> Pct. of stores closed: 71.0%> Total stores: 38> Stores closed: 93> 2011 sales: $81.6 million> Pct. decline in sales: -69.6%