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Laughner's Cafeteria
Date EstablishedLocation1888Indianapolis, Indiana
Description
This franchise began in 1888 with the opening of Laughner & Perry Confectionary with a collaboration between William Jonathon Wesley Laughner and William J. Perry. Laughner later bought out his partner in 1892, and in 1900 opened Laughner's Dairy Lunch, also in Indianapolis. Jonathon's brothers, George A., Ora and Elmer, all entered the business. Jonathon and his son Claude opened a restaurant together, and Claude's five children later joined the business. Claude introduced the cafeteria-style restaurant concept in 1920. His sons, Charles, Lloyd, and Richard, formed Laughner Brothers until the last cafeteria closed in 2000.