Wendy's

Wendy's is a chain of fast-food restaurants founded by Dave Thomas and owned by the United States corporation, Wendy's International, Inc. The first Wendy's restaurant was opened in Columbus, Ohio on November 15, 1969, and grew rapidly to open over 3,000 stores by 1985. However, by the mid-80's some Wendy's restaurants became underperforming and closed. By 1989, Dave Thomas came out of retirement and started doing commericals for Wendy's and helped rebuild the restaurant until his death. The restaurant chain was named after Dave Thomas' 8-year old daughter, Melinda, who had the nickname of "Wendy." The corporate headquarters is located in Dublin, Ohio.

Related Topics:
Fast-food restaurant - Dave Thomas - United States - Wendy's International, Inc. - Columbus, Ohio - November 15 - 1969 - 1985 - 1989 - Dublin - Ohio

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Starting on January 9, 1984, elderly actress Clara Peller was featured in the successful "Where's the Beef?" North American commercial campaign for Wendy's. Her famous line quickly entered the American pop culture (it was even used to devastating effect by Walter Mondale in defeating Gary Hart in the Democratic primary election) and served to promote Wendy's hamburgers. Peller, aged 84, was dropped from the campaign in 1985 because she performed in a commercial for Prego spaghetti sauce, saying she "finally found" the beef.

Related Topics:
January 9 - 1984 - Clara Peller - Where's the Beef? - Pop culture - Walter Mondale - Gary Hart - Democratic - Primary election - Hamburger - Prego

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After international expansion in the 1980s, the chain retrenched in the late 1990s. In 1999 it pulled out of London and Hong Kong (the Hong Kong chain, located in Wan Chai, however, has already been closed).{{Inote|Iwon.com|Iwon}}

Related Topics:
London - Hong Kong - Wan Chai

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The chain is also famous for its chili and its Frosty dairy desserts.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~