Why does the Northeast not have any unique fast food chains?

[vdeane]

Wawa ("but they're a gas station like Buc ee's" yeah not one in Gainesville, plus they now offer carhop service at some locations)

Eh, it's still a convenience store.  Like I mentioned, there are a few locations around without gas pumps.  Lots of convenience stores sell hot food.  The fact that it's nicer than most and doesn't have gas pumps doesn't mean that it's suddenly a restaurant.  Especially as there's nowhere to sit and eat your food.

New York is iffy, but while it used to have Roy Rogers at some Thruway service areas, I didn't see any south of Albany when I drove past the service areas there last month.

Those are all gone after the service areas were all renovated and reconstructed, replaced with more upscale options.  And Burger King.  I'm not sure how Burger King counts as upscale, but clearly it must, since that was a major selling point of the project and Burger King became the primary food outlet at so many of them in the process.

[Revive 755]

There's also Portillo's if you're in the Chicago area.

They've gotten well outside of Chicagoland now but seem to be going well outside the Midwest into Florida, Texas, Arizona, and California.

The Beef-A-Roo chain out of Rockford seems to be expanding; it could count in a few years using a stretched definition for the Midwest.

[Road Hog]

Wawa ("but they're a gas station like Buc ee's" yeah not one in Gainesville, plus they now offer carhop service at some locations)

Eh, it's still a convenience store.  Like I mentioned, there are a few locations around without gas pumps.  Lots of convenience stores sell hot food.  The fact that it's nicer than most and doesn't have gas pumps doesn't mean that it's suddenly a restaurant.  Especially as there's nowhere to sit and eat your food.

New York is iffy, but while it used to have Roy Rogers at some Thruway service areas, I didn't see any south of Albany when I drove past the service areas there last month.

Those are all gone after the service areas were all renovated and reconstructed, replaced with more upscale options.  And Burger King.  I'm not sure how Burger King counts as upscale, but clearly it must, since that was a major selling point of the project and Burger King became the primary food outlet at so many of them in the process.

Burger King slid majorly in my FFPR (Fast Food Power Ratings) in the Aughts, but they have bounced back lately. The Texas Double Whopper (which I have actually bought in Arkansas!) is a go-to, and their fries are much better than either Whataburger or McD's. Their breakfast is underrated as well.

[hbelkins]

Unless you count Runza which is hyperlocal to Nebraska (a small handful of locations in Iowa and one in SD), the Midwest doesn't really have much unique since Culver's went national.

Braum's begs to differ.

[lepidopteran]

We have sit-down restaurants.

Bertucci's, Uno Chicago Grill, Friendly's, and the 99 Restaurant are all headquartered in Massachusetts. However, of these four, only the last isn't in a path of decline.

This is a map of Friendly's locations.  Only the ones in green are open.

Another one of my favorites, Long John Silvers, seems to have largely vanished from the northeast.  Only one location left in Maryland, and none in New York State. Pennsylvania has 20, most of which are west of Harrisburg.

[TheCatalyst31]

Unless you count Runza which is hyperlocal to Nebraska (a small handful of locations in Iowa and one in SD), the Midwest doesn't really have much unique since Culver's went national.

Braum's begs to differ.

Only if you count Oklahoma as Midwest, and that's at best a hot take.

[Rothman]

Unless you count Runza which is hyperlocal to Nebraska (a small handful of locations in Iowa and one in SD), the Midwest doesn't really have much unique since Culver's went national.

Braum's begs to differ.

Only if you count Oklahoma as Midwest, and that's at best a hot take.

I was disappointed on a recent trip that they had not gone as far to the northeast as I had expected (e.g. towards the Kansas City area).

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Unless you count Runza which is hyperlocal to Nebraska (a small handful of locations in Iowa and one in SD), the Midwest doesn't really have much unique since Culver's went national.

Braum's begs to differ.

Only if you count Oklahoma as Midwest, and that's at best a hot take.

insert GTA V "ah shit, here we go again" meme

[Scott5114]

Unless you count Runza which is hyperlocal to Nebraska (a small handful of locations in Iowa and one in SD), the Midwest doesn't really have much unique since Culver's went national.

Braum's begs to differ.

Only if you count Oklahoma as Midwest, and that's at best a hot take.

I was disappointed on a recent trip that they had not gone as far to the northeast as I had expected (e.g. towards the Kansas City area).

This is because the "Braum's Zone" is limited to a 330-mile radius of Tuttle, Oklahoma (i.e. everything in the circle on this map). The reason for this zone is because Braum's seeks to have milk in the store within 36 hours of it coming out of the cow. As you can see, Kansas City is just barely within that circle, so perhaps they've decided it's not possible to hit that target in a large city on the edge of the zone once you factor in traffic and such. (Which is a shame, as I would love to have Braum's when visiting Kansas City.)

[roadman65]

I see the northern limits of the circle touch the KS- NE Border.  Yet Salina is the farthest north I've seen of them.  Plus Dodge City is within the radius and they dont market there either.

[Scott5114]

I see the northern limits of the circle touch the KS- NE Border.  Yet Salina is the farthest north I've seen of them. 

Well, yeah, where are they gonna put one north of there, Concordia? Bit small for a brand new place to have to run a truck up from Tuttle every day.

[Rothman]

I see the northern limits of the circle touch the KS- NE Border.  Yet Salina is the farthest north I've seen of them.

Well, yeah, where are they gonna put one north of there, Concordia? Bit small for a brand new place to have to run a truck up from Tuttle every day.

But...the Motherhouse...

[kphoger]

As you can see, Kansas City is just barely within that circle, so perhaps they've decided it's not possible to hit that target in a large city on the edge of the zone once you factor in traffic and such. (Which is a shame, as I would love to have Braum's when visiting Kansas City.)

Same with Little Rock.

I see the northern limits of the circle touch the KS- NE Border.  Yet Salina is the farthest north I've seen of them.

Well, yeah, where are they gonna put one north of there, Concordia? Bit small for a brand new place to have to run a truck up from Tuttle every day.

Yeah, I don't see too many locations within that circle—that aren't right on the edge, anyway—that make me wonder why there isn't a Braum's.  There are even a few in Abilene TX.  Maybe Russellville AR could have one?

[hbelkins]

The one time I ate at a Braum's was in Springfield, Mo.