Burger Chef started in Indianapolis in 1958, founded by brothers Donald and Frank Thomas. The chain originally launched to showcase equipment made by their parent company, General Equipment.
Its signature flame broiler gave burgers a smoky, grilled taste that stood out from competitors. By 1971, Burger Chef had grown to more than 1,200 locations, trailing only McDonald’s nationwide.
General Foods bought the chain in 1968 and pushed further expansion, including into Australia. The international effort ultimately lost significant money for the company…