You are too old if you remember.......

[GCrites]

I think the poster is meaning the "colonial" styled spelled out logo from the 1960's, back when all the IHOP's had the tall, steep roofs.

As to the roofs, you mean like this one in Ballston (which has been there at least since the late 1970s)?

Exactly.  At least where I grew up (NEOH) IHOP vanished from the region as Bob Evans came to town and Perkins was expanding.  Pretty much of the tall blue-roof buildings were razed for new retail space.

It seemed to me like Perkins put a lot of effort into being absolutely right next to the interchange. So close in fact that congestion ended up causing it to be too hard to get to their locations as traffic volume increased over the years and their direct entrances had to be eliminated for being too close to the off ramps. Then drivers had to backtrack all the way to some light that was hundreds of feet away from the Perkins location and enter the rear of the lot some convoluted way. Drivers used to be able to get off the off ramp then turn left directly into the Perkins but then had to go all the way to the next light cutting across two or three lanes then turn left. So in like 1980 it was a killer business move but by 2005 it ended up choking them. There are at least two near me that were like that and now you can't tell they were even there as they are now just grass that gets sped past and blends in with the ramp contours. I can think of other eateries that suffered the same fate but the fact that it was so prevalent with Perkins really sticks out to me.

[Rothman]

I think the poster is meaning the "colonial" styled spelled out logo from the 1960's, back when all the IHOP's had the tall, steep roofs.

As to the roofs, you mean like this one in Ballston (which has been there at least since the late 1970s)?

Exactly.  At least where I grew up (NEOH) IHOP vanished from the region as Bob Evans came to town and Perkins was expanding.  Pretty much of the tall blue-roof buildings were razed for new retail space.

It seemed to me like Perkins put a lot of effort into being absolutely right next to the interchange. So close in fact that congestion ended up causing it to be too hard to get to their locations as traffic volume increased over the years and their direct entrances had to be eliminated for being too close to the off ramps. Then drivers had to backtrack all the way to some light that was hundreds of feet away from the Perkins location and enter the rear of the lot some convoluted way. Drivers used to be able to get off the off ramp then turn left directly into the Perkins but then had to go all the way to the next light cutting across two or three lanes then turn left. So in like 1980 it was a killer business move but by 2005 it ended up choking them. There are at least two near me that were like that and now you can't tell they were even there as they are now just grass that gets sped past and blends in with the ramp contours. I can think of other eateries that suffered the same fate but the fact that it was so prevalent with Perkins really sticks out to me.

Hm.  When I lived in WI, Perkins was known for flying larger-than-usual sized American flags out front.  It was unique enough to spot them from a distance, despite any brand signs.

[1995hoo]

I can think of various Perkinses in Florida that are or were on arterial routes nowhere near a highway interchange.

[JayhawkCO]

I can think of various Perkinses in Florida that are or were on arterial routes nowhere near a highway interchange.

The first Perkins I ever remember going to in Hastings, MN is nowhere near a highway too.

[Road Hog]

I can think of various Perkinses in Florida that are or were on arterial routes nowhere near a highway interchange.

I frequented a Perkins across the street from my hotel in Kissimmee in 2006 on my first adult trip to Florida.

It was OK, but couldn't figure out if it was a breakfast place or a lunch place or a dunch place. No Tiger Woods in sight.

(I liked the NY style pizza joint across the street better.)

[formulanone]

The only Perkins I'd ever been to was in Gainesville, Florida; their service was far better than the Denny's, they were rarely too busy/slow and we could eat there for under $20. Haven't eaten at one in twenty years, though.

(I wonder if that's the one regional/national chain restaurant which I'd frequented the most but solely at a single location.)

[1995hoo]

The only Perkins I'd ever been to was in Gainesville, Florida; their service was far better than the Denny's, they were rarely too busy/slow and we could eat there for under $20. Haven't eaten at one in twenty years, though.

(I wonder if that's the one regional/national chain restaurant which I'd frequented the most but solely at a single location.)

I believe I've been to three Perkinses. One in Venice, Florida, on the US-41 bypass (nowhere near a highway interchange). We have a friend in the area and when we visit her, she likes to go to Perkins for breakfast. One in Fort Myers, also on US-41 at the corner of Six Mile Cypress (also nowhere near a highway interchange). It's a convenient location when we stay at Fort Myers Beach because it's right on the way to our relatives' house. The third is in Englewood, Ohio, and that one is right off an interchange with I-70. It's convenient to the hotel where we stay when we're in that area.

I think Perkins is better than Denny's both for food and for service. My wife likes it better than Waffle House. I certainly concede Perkins is probably a step up in terms of class and facilities, but they've never come anywhere close to Waffle House hash browns.

[JayhawkCO]

I grew up in the Midwest. I've probably been to 20+ Perkins in my life.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

I grew up in the Midwest. I've probably been to 20+ Perkins in my life.

Minnesota basically adopted Perkins as its own even though it was founded in Ohio. It hasn't been immune to the struggles of other restaurants of its genre, to be sure, but people here over about 25 have fond memories of it.

[JayhawkCO]

I grew up in the Midwest. I've probably been to 20+ Perkins in my life.

Minnesota basically adopted Perkins as its own even though it was founded in Pennsylvania. It hasn't been immune to the struggles of other restaurants of its genre, to be sure, but people here over about 25 have fond memories of it.

On the Minnesota breakfast topic, I miss Embers. That place was delicious.

[kphoger]

The last Perkins I've eaten in was the one in Clear Lake (IA), probably fifteen years ago.  That's practically Minnesota, right?  I think I ordered liver and onions, which I'm guessing they don't even offer anymore.

Speaking of nostalgia over casual dining restaurant chains, I see Ground Round is down to two locations nationwide.

[JayhawkCO]

The last Perkins I've eaten in was the one in Clear Lake (IA), probably fifteen years ago.  That's practically Minnesota, right?  I think I ordered liver and onions, which I'm guessing they don't even offer anymore.

Speaking of nostalgia over casual dining restaurant chains, I see Ground Round is down to two locations nationwide.

Definitely did some kids eat free nights there when they'd have a clown making balloon animals.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

I grew up in the Midwest. I've probably been to 20+ Perkins in my life.

Minnesota basically adopted Perkins as its own even though it was founded in Pennsylvania. It hasn't been immune to the struggles of other restaurants of its genre, to be sure, but people here over about 25 have fond memories of it.

On the Minnesota breakfast topic, I miss Embers. That place was delicious.

The last remaining one at 694 and Central held out until COVID. Their overall final decline to leaving the Fridley location the last one standing was definitely fairly rapid though.

[Rothman]

I grew up in the Midwest. I've probably been to 20+ Perkins in my life.

Minnesota basically adopted Perkins as its own even though it was founded in Pennsylvania. It hasn't been immune to the struggles of other restaurants of its genre, to be sure, but people here over about 25 have fond memories of it.

On the Minnesota breakfast topic, I miss Embers. That place was delicious.

The last remaining one at 694 and Central held out until COVID. Their overall final decline to leaving the Fridley location the last one standing was definitely fairly rapid though.

Holy cow.  I didn't realize they were gone.

[roadman65]

The last Perkins I've eaten in was the one in Clear Lake (IA), probably fifteen years ago.  That's practically Minnesota, right?  I think I ordered liver and onions, which I'm guessing they don't even offer anymore.

Speaking of nostalgia over casual dining restaurant chains, I see Ground Round is down to two locations nationwide.

Definitely did some kids eat free nights there when they'd have a clown making balloon animals.

I thought they had five?  Four in ND and one in OH.

[GaryV]

We liked the Perkins in Houghton, MI when our kids were in MTU. It's now a Culvers.

[kphoger]

I thought they had five?  Four in ND and one in OH.

Apparently this is missing some locations:

https://mygroundround.com/locations/

[Sctvhound]

Growing up Perkins had a few locations locally in the Charleston area. One was right off Rivers Avenue at Ashley Phosphate, but the place was closed as they widened Rivers. They still have their Summerville location.

I remember going there when I was little and loving their grilled cheese sandwich.

[kkt]

Anyone else remember the Oasis, beer, burgers, and pizza at the south end of Menlo Park, California?  I was too young for the beer - parents often took their kids to the O for dinner with their work buddies.  The floor was generally ankle-deep in peanut shells.  Burgers and pizza were great.

[texaskdog]

I grew up in the Midwest. I've probably been to 20+ Perkins in my life.

Minnesota basically adopted Perkins as its own even though it was founded in Pennsylvania. It hasn't been immune to the struggles of other restaurants of its genre, to be sure, but people here over about 25 have fond memories of it.

On the Minnesota breakfast topic, I miss Embers. That place was delicious.

You remember the Embers!

[Sctvhound]

Thinking about things that most people younger than me haven't seen...

K-Mart. When that store in a lot of places was equal or bigger than Walmart. Remember going into there many times in the early 2000s. The James Island location in Charleston on Folly Rd (the old location which became a Bi-Lo and is now a Planet Fitness and an Aldi, another a Gold's Gym) and the West Ashley one (now a car dealership).

North Charleston had one of the last Super K-Marts that existed (their equivalent to Super Walmart). It lasted until 2017 here. Texas Roadhouse was attached to it in an out parcel.

The last one I ever walked into was Marietta, Ohio (right over the Ohio River from Parkersburg, WV). It was very far behind the times even in 2017, but it lasted until 2020.

Remember going in there and seeing $70 video games back when the average price was $45-50.

That's something you don't see much anymore in any store is video game demos. You rarely see that anywhere, in Walmart, Target or even video game stores. Stores also have changed a lot in the last couple of decades but some things don't.

You can still walk into a Walmart in a rural/exurban area and feel like you see the entire community within a 15 minute span. That used to be every mall in the country but outside of a few places it is not like that anymore.

[mgk920]

(apologies if this has already been mentioned in here) Hanging out at the mall with your friends.

Mike

[wxfree]

In stereo
Where available

[thenetwork]

Thinking about things that most people younger than me haven't seen...

K-Mart. When that store in a lot of places was equal or bigger than Walmart. Remember going into there many times in the early 2000s. The James Island location in Charleston on Folly Rd (the old location which became a Bi-Lo and is now a Planet Fitness and an Aldi, another a Gold's Gym) and the West Ashley one (now a car dealership).

North Charleston had one of the last Super K-Marts that existed (their equivalent to Super Walmart). It lasted until 2017 here. Texas Roadhouse was attached to it in an out parcel.

The last one I ever walked into was Marietta, Ohio (right over the Ohio River from Parkersburg, WV). It was very far behind the times even in 2017, but it lasted until 2020.

Remember going in there and seeing $70 video games back when the average price was $45-50.

That's something you don't see much anymore in any store is video game demos. You rarely see that anywhere, in Walmart, Target or even video game stores. Stores also have changed a lot in the last couple of decades but some things don't.

You can still walk into a Walmart in a rural/exurban area and feel like you see the entire community within a 15 minute span. That used to be every mall in the country but outside of a few places it is not like that anymore.

Speaking of Kmarts (most of which NEVER remodeled after the mid-90s) and Walmarts, I just read that Walmart is planning to YET AGAIN perform another remodel of around 600 stores in 2025. 

One of which, is down the street from me and was just "remodeled" 3 or 4 years ago.

Imagine how cheaper their prices could be if they did remodels every 9 or 10 years.

[Mav94]

I remember not just renting movies on VHS, but renting VHS players as well because hardly anyone had a VCR. And you didn't rent them at a video store, you rented them at the library.