Editing Burger Chef

{{Short description|Defunct American fast food restaurant chain}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox company
| name           = Burger Chef
| logo           = Burger Chef Logo.svg
| logo_size = 150
| slogan         = 
| type           = [[Subsidiary]]
| fate           = Sold to [[Hardee's]] 
| successor      = [[Hardee's]]
| foundation     = 1954
| defunct        = {{end date and age|1996}}
| location       = [[Indianapolis]], [[Indiana]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| industry       = [[Restaurant]]
| products       = [[Hamburgers]], [[fast food]]
| key_people     = 
| num_employees  = 
| owner = 
| parent         = [[General Foods]] (1968–1982) {{nowrap|[[Imasco]] (1982–1996)}}
| subsid         = 
| brands = 
| website =
}}
'''Burger Chef''' was an American [[fast-food restaurant]] chain. It began operating in 1954 in [[Indianapolis, Indiana]], expanded throughout the United States, and at its peak in 1973 had 1,050 locations, including some in Canada.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NEoUacBq55gC&q=burger+chef+history |title=Lost Indianapolis |first1=John F. |last1=McDonald |first2=John P. |last2=McDonald |name-list-style=amp |publisher=[[Arcadia Publishing]] |year=2002 |series=Images of America |isbn=978-0-7385-2008-7}}</ref> The chain featured several signature items, such as the Big Shef and Super Shef hamburgers.

In 1982, the [[General Foods Corporation]], owners of the Burger Chef trademark and name, divested itself of the restaurant chain, gradually selling to the owners of [[Hardee's]]. 

The final restaurant to use Burger Chef's branding and signage closed in 1996.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Dodds |first1=Eric |title=Mad Men: A Brief History of the Real-World Burger Chef |url=https://time.com/104799/burger-chef-mad-men-history/ |access-date=October 21, 2022 |magazine=Time |date=May 19, 2014 |language=en |quote=In 1996, the final Burger Chef franchise in Cookeville, Tenn. was converted into a "Pleasers" restaurant.}}</ref> Three former locations (in [[Cleveland, Tennessee]], [[South Charleston, West Virginia]], and [[Reidsville, North Carolina]]) continue to sell Burger Chef menu items, but no longer operate under that name.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/p/Suzis-Hamburgers-100063718084788/ |title=Suzi's Hamburgers |via=Facebook |access-date=April 21, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/THECHEFCLEVELANDTENN/ |title=The Chef |via=Facebook |access-date=April 21, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://petesburgers-nc.com/ |title=Pete's Burgers and More |access-date=April 29, 2025}}</ref>  

==History==

In 1954, Frank and Donald Thomas patented the [[flame broiler]] in their parent company General Equipment Corporation and started their restaurant in [[Indianapolis, Indiana]]. In 1957, they opened their first Burger Chef.<ref name="Sanders2009"/>

[[File:Burgerchef 1966 ad.jpg|thumb|90px|Burger Chef advertisement (1966).]]
Burger Chef spread across the United States, following a strategy of opening outlets in smaller towns.<ref name="Sanders2009">{{cite book |first=Scott R. |last=Sanders |title=Burger Chef |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w2S6lzwHOkoC&pg=PA9 |year=2009 |series=Images of America|publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=978-0-7385-6098-4 |page=9}}</ref>

By 1972, its number of locations (1,200) was surpassed only by [[McDonald's]] (1,600).<ref name="Shefrin2015">{{cite book |first=Hersh |last=Shefrin |title=Behavioral Risk Management: Managing the Psychology That Drives Decisions and Influences Operational Risk |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nX8YDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA409 |date=December 14, 2015 |publisher=[[Palgrave Macmillan|Palgrave Macmillan US]] |isbn=978-1-137-44562-9 |page=409}}</ref> They offered a double burger, called the Big Shef, and later the quarter-pound (113 gram) hamburger, Super Shef. Subsequently, they added the Works Bar, where customers added their own toppings to hamburgers.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Robinson |first1=John |title=Burger Chef's Longest-Held Location was in Michigan |url=https://99wfmk.com/burger-chef-in-michigan/ |work=99.1 WFMK |date=March 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211013055317/https://99wfmk.com/burger-chef-in-michigan/ |archive-date=October 13, 2021 |language=en |quote=Burger Chef was also the first to come up with the "works bar" where customers could add their own ketchup, mustard, mayo, and other condiments to their sandwiches.}}</ref>

In 1968, [[General Foods Corporation]] purchased the chain and continued its rapid expansion. At the time of the purchase by General Foods, Burger Chef had 600 locations in 39 states.<ref name="wsj-1967oct16">{{cite news |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/133179393 |title=General Foods Says It Plans To Buy Burger Chef Systems |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=October 16, 1967 |page=17 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |url-access=subscription |access-date=July 5, 2017 |archive-date=December 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220063354/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/djreprints/doc/133179393.html |url-status=live |id={{ProQuest|133179393}}}}</ref>

By 1969, international expansion was underway with General Foods building ten Burger Chef outlets in [[Australia]]. The expansion ended in 1975 with a US$1.3 million loss (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|1.3|1975|r=2}}&nbsp;million in {{Inflation/year|US}}). It was stated that Australians disliked the limited burger menu compared to varied options available from [[milk bar]]s.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kent |first1=Thomas |title=NewsBank OpenURL {{!}} NewsBank InfoWeb |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A14DB39C1C40322B4%2540EANX-163979B8ADCBAB42%25402442518-163964BE5E56E259%254038-163964BE5E56E259%2540%2Fhlterms%3A%2522Burger%2520Chef%2522&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&svc_dat=AMNEWS&req_dat=0D1C2A34C3EF45E0 |access-date=April 28, 2020 |work=Houston Chronicle |agency=Associated Press |issue=Section 3 Page 9 |date=April 16, 1975}}</ref> The chain had two [[mascot]]s: Burger Chef, voiced by [[Paul Winchell]], and Jeff (the chef's juvenile [[sidekick]]).<ref name="RetroIndy"/><ref name="winchell_voice">{{cite news |last1=Lileks |first1=James |title=Puzzling Pickles, what's a fun burger? |url=https://www.startribune.com/puzzling-pickles-what-s-a-fun-burger/257973631/ |access-date=February 22, 2023 |work=Star Tribune |date=May 5, 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Burgerchef sign albuquerque.jpg|thumb|150px|Burger Chef sign in Albuquerque, New Mexico (1979).]]
In 1972, the chain introduced the Funburger, a hamburger with packaging that included puzzles and a small toy. The following year, the chain introduced the Funmeal, the first kid’s meal that included a burger, french fries, a drink, a cookie, and a small toy; with expanded packaging that included stories about Burger Chef and Jeff's adventures and friends (including the magician Burgerini, vampire Count Fangburger, talking ape Burgerilla, and Cackleburger the witch), with riddles and puzzles. When McDonald's introduced their [[Happy Meal]] in 1979, the chain sued, but ultimately lost.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tyler |first1=Jessica |title=This defunct burger chain invented much of what you love about fast food |url=https://au.sports.yahoo.com/defunct-burger-chain-invented-much-040700636.html |access-date=October 21, 2022 |work=au.sports.yahoo.com |issue=Business Insider |date=October 28, 2018 |language=en-AU}}</ref>

In 1982, General Foods sold Burger Chef to the [[Canada|Canadian]] company [[Imasco]], which also owned [[Hardee's]], for US$44 million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|44|1982|r=2}}&nbsp;million in {{Inflation/year|US}}).<ref name="nyt-1981dec10">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/12/10/business/hardee-s-to-buy-burger-chef.html |title=Hardee's to Buy Burger Chef |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 10, 1981 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> Imasco converted many locations to Hardee's restaurants and let franchises and locations near existing Hardee's locations convert to other brands.<ref name="RetroIndy">{{cite news |last1=Mitchell |first1=Dawn |title=Burger Chef was 'incrediburgible': RetroIndy |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/news/history/retroindy/2017/09/05/retroindy-burger-chef-incrediburgible/609456001/ |work=The Indianapolis Star |date=September 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121061228/https://www.indystar.com/story/news/history/retroindy/2017/09/05/retroindy-burger-chef-incrediburgible/609456001/ |archive-date=January 21, 2022}}</ref> Remaining restaurants that did not convert to Hardee's or new names and branding simply closed.

Hardee's brought back the Big Shef hamburger for a limited time in 2001, 2007, and 2014 at some Midwestern locations.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hardeesr-brings-back-burger-chefr-big-sheftm-hamburger-for-a-limited-time-in-select-markets-58710217.html |title=Hardee's(R) Brings Back Burger Chef(R) Big Shef(TM) Hamburger for a Limited Time in Select Markets |website=[[PR Newswire]] |access-date=February 6, 2014 |date=April 23, 2007|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ajc.com/blog/atlanta-restaurants/hardee-brings-back-the-burger-chef-big-shef-for-lto/ksA9zmBvgh83DrzMG1QYoK/ |title=Hardee's brings back the Burger Chef Big Shef for a LTO |newspaper=[[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]] |access-date=December 10, 2014 |date=May 19, 2014 |first=John |last=Kessler}}</ref>

===Trademark suit===
In January 2007, River West Brands LLC, of [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], sued Hardee's Food Systems in the US Patents and Trademarks Office, claiming [[abandonment of trademark|abandonment]] of the Burger Chef trademark.<ref name="uspto"/> In 2009, River West Brands dropped its petition for cancellation. Both parties agreed to pay their own attorneys' fees.<ref name="uspto">{{cite web |url=http://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/ttabvue-92046880-CAN-32.pdf |title=Withdrawal of Cancellation |website=[[Trademark Trial and Appeal Board]], US Patent and Trademark Office |date=April 16, 2009 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref>

==Slogans==
*1970&ndash;1971: "There's more to like at Burger Chef."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.trademarkia.com/theres-more-to-like-at-burger-chef-81023449.html |title=There's more to like at Burger Chef |publisher=Trademarkia.com |access-date=August 8, 2013 |date=<!--undated--> |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> and "Burger Chef goes all out to please your family."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1978&dat=19701217&id=wF8iAAAAIBAJ&pg=7077,5250783 |title=Triple Treat Yourself (advertisement) |newspaper=[[Owosso Argus-Press]] |date=December 17, 1970 |access-date=August 8, 2013 |page=22 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref>
*1971&ndash;1976: "You get more to like at Burger Chef."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.trademarkia.com/you-get-more-to-like-at-burger-chef-73094356.html |title=You get more to like at Burger Chef |publisher=Trademarkia.com |access-date=August 8, 2013 |date=<!--undated--> |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19770212&id=CMRaAAAAIBAJ&pg=1309,2512702 |title=Double Delight (advertisement) |newspaper=[[St. Petersburg Times]] |date=February 12, 1977 |access-date=August 8, 2013 |page=9B |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref>
*1976&ndash;1980: "We really give you the works."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.copyrightencyclopedia.com/general-foods-kitchen-cookbook-by-general-foods-corporation/ |title=Burger Chef |publisher=Copyrightencyclopedia.com |access-date=August 8, 2013 |date=<!--undated--> |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> and "Open wide America, you never can forget. You get more to like at Burger Chef."
*1980&ndash;1996: "Nowhere else but Burger Chef."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.trademarkia.com/nowhere-else-but-burger-chef-73332158.html |title=Nowhere else but Burger Chef |publisher=Trademarkia.com |access-date=August 8, 2013 |date=<!--undated--> |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Burger Chef murders]]
* [[List of defunct fast-food restaurant chains]]
* [[List of hamburger restaurants]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|first=John P.|last=McDonald|isbn=978-1-4564-1863-2|date=2011|title=Flameout: The Rise and Fall of Burger Chef|publisher=[[CreateSpace]]}} Self published.<!-- Not a source so passes WP:SPS -->

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?pno=92046880 Hardee's trademark trial] on the US Patent and Trademark Office
* [https://burgerchef.webs.com/ Burger Chef Memories] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320101353/https://burgerchef.webs.com/ |date=March 20, 2022 }}
* [http://jsfburgerchef.homestead.com/ JFS' tribute site]
* [https://www.waymarking.com/cat/details.aspx?f=1&guid=65766bda-9049-4276-9ee6-1fe3ed9e6d1f Burger Chef former locations] at Waymarking.com

{{General Foods}}
{{Fast-food chains of the United States}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Defunct fast-food chains in the United States]]
[[Category:Restaurants established in 1954]]
[[Category:Fast-food hamburger restaurants]]
[[Category:Defunct restaurants in Indianapolis]]
[[Category:Restaurants disestablished in 1996]]
[[Category:1954 establishments in Indiana]]
[[Category:1996 disestablishments in Indiana]]
[[Category:Defunct restaurant chains in the United States]]
[[Category:General Foods]]