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Wimpy Grills
Date EstablishedLocation1934Bloomington, Indiana
Description
Wimpy began in the United States and later expanded internationally, mainly in the United Kingdom and South Africa. The transition went through changes as a table-service establishment and counter-service establishment throughout its history. The concept originated in Bloomington, Indiana, by Edward Gold in 1934 as Wimpy Grills, with the chain in the United States to eventually have 26 locations in 1947. The name was inspired by the character of J. Wellington Wimpy from the Popeye cartoons. In 1954, Gold sold a license to J. Lyons and Co. to use the Wimpy name in the United Kingdom. On 26 October 1981, Kenneth Howorth, was killed when he tried to defuse a bomb planted by the Provisional Irish Republican Army in the basement of Wimpy's in Oxford Street. In July 1977, the business was acquired by United Biscuits and competition from other chains was ever growing until Wimpy Colombiana Ltd were sold to competitor Presto (Frayco) in 2008, thus ending the history of the chain in the country.
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Cruising through many states of America, remnants of eateries of the past can still be found. Travel back to a stage in time with me to rekindle the memories of food franchises and the lost cuisine of bygone days. We can remember the presence of these dining experiences in their heyday long ago, but still etched in moments and recollections.
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