- The chain dates back to the 1920s.
- It started as a street vendor with its founder selling out of cart.
- The final locations just closed.
Fast food menus used to be fast because they were simple.
McDonald’s sold hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and french fries, and nothing else, for decades. Keeping your menu simple allowed for more customers to be served quickly.
One of McDonald’s early leaders, Ray Kroc, based the chain’s menu on a fine dining restaurant he had eaten in.
“The stylish simplicity of the food service made a lasting impression on me. They had no printed menu because there were just three entrees: Maine lobster, steak, and roast duckling. Years later I recalled that spare bill of fare in my first motto for McDonald’s, KISS, which meant, ‘Keep it simple, stupid,'” her shared in his book, Grinding It Out, the Making of McDonald’s.
The chain’s early menu actually offered eight items: hamburgers, cheeseburgers, fries, soft drinks, milk, coffee, potato chips, and pie.
That was similar to the model used by Kasper’s Hot Dogs, one of the the nation’s oldest fast-food chains, which recently shut down its final locations.
Kasper’s Hot Dogs has closed for good
“After 95 years, the nostalgic local Kasper’s Hot Dogs chain is no more. Last week, both the location on Oakland’s MacArthur Boulevard and the Concord location closed, Teresa Belfanti, the owner’s daughter, shared with SFGATE.
Fans of the brand, however, have not fully lost the chain as “the Caspers Hot Dogs chain, a separate but very similar business run by members of the same family, still has five remaining restaurants in the East Bay.” the website reported.
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The now deunct Kasper’s chain has taken its website down.
Harold Koojoolian, who was theowner of the Oakland Kasper’s that closed on Oct. 15, also owned the restaurant’s building. He and his wife, Bonnie Koojoolian, were in their 80s and planning to sell the building and retire. That process was sped up when Bonnie suddenly died earlier this year, SFGATE reported.
Kasper’s Hot Dogs: Timeline of key events
- 1920s: Founder Kasper Koojoolian sells hot dogs as a street vendor in Chicago.
Source: themonthly.com - 1930: Koojoolian opens the first brick-and-mortar Kasper’s Hot Dogs in Oakland, California at the corner of Fruitvale Avenue & MacArthur Boulevard.
Source: SFGATE - Late 1930s: Family splits into two separate chains; some cousins continue with the “C” brand (Caspers Hot Dogs) while others keep Kasper’s.
Source: themonthly.com - 1943: The business settles one location on Telegraph Avenue; original founder passes away.
Source: Oakland North - 1947: The business is passed to Kasper’s son-in-law, Harry Yaglijian, who then continues operating the restaurant.
- 2003: The original location (in the Temescal/Telegraph area) closes, citing needed repair work and financial constraints.
Source: Oakland North - 2009 :Community holds events commemorating the restaurant’s legacy; the building is boarded up, but memories remain very present.
Source: Oakland North - October 2025 : The chain closes its final two locations, including Oakland and Concord, marking the end of 95 years in operation.
Source: SFGATE - Post-closure: The Oakland building is sold to a nonprofit (Oakland Trybe) which plans to run a similar food operation + commercial kitchen for community service.
Source: SFGATE
U.S. Restaurant chains still open after 50 years
- White Castle: Founded 1921, first location in Wichita, Kansas; known for small square sliders.
- A&W Restaurants: Founded 1919, origin in Lodi, California; famous for root beer floats and burgers.
- Denny’s: Founded 1953 as Danny’s Donuts, became Denny’s in 1959; nationwide diner chain.
- IHOP (International House of Pancakes): Founded 1958 in Toluca Lake, California; iconic breakfast chain.
- KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): Founded 1930 by Colonel Harland Sanders in Corbin, Kentucky.
- McDonald’s: Founded 1940 in San Bernardino, California. Started as a drive-in, now a worldwide fast-food giant.
- Burger King: Founded 1953 in Jacksonville, Florida; third-largest U.S. burger chain.
- Pizza Hut: Founded 1958 in Wichita, Kansas and is now one of the world’s largest pizza chains.
- Taco Bell: Founded 1962 in Downey, California and now has a global presence.
- Dairy Queen: Founded 1940 in Joliet, Illinois. Famous for soft-serve and fast-food menu.
- Jack in the Box: Founded 1951 in San Diego, California; popular for burgers and breakfast items.
- Hardee’s / Carl’s Jr.: Founded 1941 in North Carolina. Now part of the same parent company today.
- Ponderosa Steakhouse: Founded 1965 large buffet and steakhouse chain (still operating in limited regions).
- Cracker Barrel: Founded 1969. Southern-themed restaurant and gift shop.
