Special Reports

The Future 50

This year’s class of America’s up-and-coming chains faces an uncertain future. But as the coronavirus hit, these small and innovative concepts were characteristically quick to adapt, repacking menu items into meal kits, creating pop-up drive-thrus and more. Here’s a look at how they got here, and where they plan to go next.

Special Reports

Future 50 (2020)

Special Reports

Top 500 Chains

May 13, 2020

Special Reports

Timeline: How today’s restaurant industry came to be

By Peter Romeo and Myra Engers Weinberg on Feb. 21, 2019

Here are some key milestones from the last 100 years.

Special Reports

How We Got Here: 1940s

By Peter Romeo on Feb. 19, 2019

The eruption of World War II brought shortages of food, equipment and labor—precisely as demand for meals prepared outside the home soared to 60 million meals per day, triple the prewar level. Some es...

Special Reports

How We Got Here: 1970s

By Peter Romeo on Feb. 19, 2019

The decade kicked off with an industrywide promotional campaign that would live on for years and whose tagline would ultimately be “borrowed” by the city of Chicago for its tourism promotion efforts: “We’re Glad You’re Here.”

Special Reports