Florida is the original home of some popular national restaurant chains: Do you know which ones?

The Whopper was calved here. So was the Bloomin’ Onion.

A authorities known for its celebrated cartoon mouse, pristine beaches and chaotic carnal stories besides served arsenic the birthplace of immoderate of the much fashionable edifice and fast-food chains successful the U.S. and beyond.

Here are stories down the much fashionable restaurants that originated successful Florida.

Burger King, Jacksonville (1953)

Two cities assertion Burger King, but astatine slightest some are successful Florida.

The fast-food burger franchise began successful 1953 arsenic Insta-Burger King connected Beach Boulevard successful Jacksonville. Later that decade, 2 Miami-based franchisees bought the financially struggling institution and renamed it Burger King.

The hamburger concatenation was connected its mode successful 1957 erstwhile the Whopper was added to the menu. Burger King deed the nationalist country particularly during the 1970s, erstwhile the concatenation advertised heavy connected tv with its “Have It Your Way” commercials that touted “hold the pickle, clasp the lettuce, peculiar orders don’t upset us.”

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The predecessor of the burger mega-chain Burger King was primitively founded successful 1953 successful Jacksonville, Florida, by relatives Keith J. Kramer and Matthew Burns. They decided to telephone their archetypal determination Insta-Burger King owed to the broilers they purchased to navigator the burgers, called Insta-Broilers. The pursuing year, James McLamore and David Edgerton began opening Insta-Burger franchises successful Miami — they replaced the Insta-Broilers with the occurrence broiler strategy that Burger King is celebrated for. Due to fiscal hardships, Kramer and Burns yet sold the institution to McLamore and Edgerton who subsequently renamed the concatenation Burger King.

Children besides enjoyed a sojourn to BK, receiving a insubstantial crown that adjusted to their caput size. And don’t hide the funky maroon and orangish uniforms (with a goofy-looking chapeau to match) employees wore successful the 1970s, surely helping to physique its brand.

But it was possibly its offering of flame-grilled burgers that kept customers returning, on with its assortment of nutrient offerings including heavy gallic fries and the Hershey’s Sundae Pie dessert.

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In caller years, Burger King added the Impossible Whopper featuring a plant-based, protein-filled patty and 4 versions of the Ch’King Sandwich.

Burger King has much than 18,000 outlets successful 100 countries.

— Dave Osborn, Naples Daily News

Sonny’s BBQ, Gainesville (1968)

Sonny’s BBQ is simply a Southeastern edifice concatenation known for its dilatory fume traditions, Southern hospitality and “Random Acts of BBQ” initiative, wherever it throws astonishment feasts for assemblage members oregon organizations nominated for their bully deeds.

The contented of giving dates backmost to 1968 erstwhile it was founded astatine 2700 NE Waldo Road, Gainesville, by Floyd “Sonny” Tillman and his wife, Lucille.

Over the years, the section associated became a Florida favourite and expanded crossed the authorities and Southeastern U.S. Its archetypal franchisee, John Kirkpatrick, opened an Ocala determination successful 1977, according to the restaurant’s online history.

Less than 5 years later, Sonny’s had 25 restaurants. And by the extremity of 1998, the barbecue staple had welcomed its 100th determination and dispersed to 7 different states: Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, South Carolina, North Carolina and Kentucky.

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The BBQ bosses astatine Sonny’s boast Southern must-haves similar fried okra and maize nuggets and signature pork, beef brisket and condiment disposable done dine-in, takeout, transportation and catering. If you’re inactive hankering aft the nutrient of your meal, don’t worry. Sonny’s isn’t done yet. It offers banana pudding, cocoa spot cookies and cinnamon sweetener doughnut holes with saccharine beverage glaze to capable that other country for dessert.

— Danielle Ivanov, Gainesville Sun

Red Lobster, Lakeland (1968)

Anyone who has made past savored Reb Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits astatine location tin convey this Florida original.

Red Lobster opened successful Lakeland successful 1968 and General Mills 2 years aboriginal acquired the company. The concatenation expanded rapidly, particularly successful the 1980s, and contiguous has much than 700 restaurants worldwide, including astir each U.S. authorities and successful countries including Japan, Mexico, China and others.

The celebrated biscuits — served successful restaurants archetypal successful 1992 — became truthful fashionable that the biscuit premix deed market store shelves truthful consumers tin cook them successful their

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Red Lobster for much than fractional a period has specialized successful of people lobster but besides crab, shrimp and different seafood, portion besides serving up chicken, pasta, steak, salads, dessert and more.

— Dave Osborn, Naples Daily News

Olive Garden, Orlando (1982)

The fashionable Italian edifice concatenation opened arsenic a portion of General Mills successful Orlando.

So Olive Garden was not a emblematic edifice that began from an proprietor oregon two, arsenic General Mills — a multinational shaper that markets branded user foods not based successful the Sunshine State — solely intended to make a concatenation from the get-go.

Even so, Florida tin assertion the archetypal 1 astatine 8984 International Drive on Interstate 4 successful Central Florida, which made consciousness with Disney World nearby.

Olive Garden has go known for its “endless” soup, salada and breadsticks, on with fashionable pasta dishes including shrimp alfredo, “Tour of Italy” (featuring 3 of Olive Garden’s astir fashionable dishes: chickenhearted parmigiana, lasagna and fettuccine alfredo) and lasagna fritta.

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General Mills successful 1995 spun disconnected its edifice chains to make Darden Restaurants Inc., which is headquartered successful Orlando. The multi-brand edifice operator, successful summation to Olive Garden, owns Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, The Capital Grille, LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, Yard House and Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen.

— Dave Osborn, Naples Daily News

Hooters, Clearwater (1983)

Sure, determination are hundreds of Hooters restaurants crossed the country, but there’s lone 1 Original Hooters, and it tin beryllium recovered connected Gulf to Bay Boulevard connecting Tampa to Clearwater Beach.

Opened by six businessmen “with perfectly nary erstwhile edifice experience,” according to the restaurant’s website, it was incorporated connected April Fool’s Day, 1983, and opened connected Oct. 4 of that year.

This undated photograph provided by Hooters edifice shows the archetypal gathering that housed Hooters successful Clearwater, Fla. Courtesy photograph ' Hooters

The website notes that the “Hooters Six” were L.D. Stewart, a coating contractor; Gil DiGiannantonio, a liquor salesman; “Uncle Billy” Ranieri, a retired work presumption owner; Ed Droste, a existent property executive; Dennis Johnson, a ceramic mason by trade; and Ken Wimmer, a spouse successful the coating concern with L.D. Strange group.

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The Original Hooters operated retired of a ramshackle wood operation earlier being astir wholly demolished and rebuilt successful 2012. Now, it features a caller inside/outside barroom area, a merchandise and to-go area, and a depository dedicated to Hooters history.

Of course, the main attractions, successful summation to the affable unit successful the famed orangish and achromatic outfits, stay the World Famous Wings. On Super Bowl Sundays, for instance, this Tampa Bay Hooters goes done astir 20,000 of ’em.

— Wade Tatangelo, Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Outback Steakhouse, South Tampa (1988)

A planetary edifice concatenation giant, champion known for its signature steaks and Bloomin’ Onion appetizer, Outback debuted successful March 1988 connected Henderson Boulevard successful South Tampa.

The communicative goes that friends Chris Sullivan, Robert Basham, Tim Gannon and Trudy Cooper came unneurotic with “the imagination of opening their ain edifice — a spot casual successful atmosphere, with prime nutrient and work astatine the apical of the list,” according to the restaurants’ website.

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“To guarantee their haven would basal retired from the pack, they chose an Australian taxable to acceptable the relaxed but lively temper of their perfect restaurant.” Their motto? “No rules, conscionable right.”

The archetypal Outback Steakhouse, which opened successful 1988 and has since been remodeled, is astatine 3403 Henderson Blvd. successful South Tampa.

Outback was the archetypal edifice by the proprietors’ Bloomin’ Brands, which is besides inactive based successful Tampa and present owns and operates Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar.

Bloomin’ Brands website notes that it’s 1 of the world’s largest casual eating companies with astir 77,000 employees and much than 1,450 restaurants crossed the globe.

— Wade Tatangelo, Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Rib City Grill, Fort Myers (1989)

What began arsenic section barbecue edifice 32 years agone successful Southwest Florida has dispersed crossed the U.S.

The archetypal Rib City Grill opened connected U.S. 41 successful Fort Myers aft archetypal laminitis Gerry Pastore created the conception of a small, family-style barbecue joint. In aboriginal 1990, Pastore founded a 2nd determination connected Leonard Street successful adjacent Cape Coral.

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The restaurants caught the attraction of Paul Peden, a Fort Myers restaurateur who met with Pastore who nary longer was progressive with the restaurants. Peden yet became a spouse successful Rib City Grill and aboriginal bought the company.

The concatenation grew crossed Southwest Florida and yet to different states, including Colorado, Missouri, Tennessee, Illinois and Virginia.

Rib City Grill offers backyard barbecue classics specified arsenic pulled pork, chickenhearted and babe backmost ribs.

“We instrumentality to what we know, and we nutrient what we accidental we volition — existent barbecue, large ribs and fantabulous service,” Peden told the Fort Myers News-Press successful 2019. “This doctrine became the instauration of our growth.”

— Dave Osborn, Naples Daily News

Metro Diner, Jacksonville (1992)

Credit Guy Fieri with giving Jacksonville-based Metro Diner a boost conscionable erstwhile it was needed most. The archetypal Metro Diner opened successful Jacksonville’s San Marco vicinity successful 1992 successful a determination that had housed diners nether different names since the 1930s and was taken implicit by its existent absorption squad successful 2000.

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But it was a 2010 quality connected “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives,” with Fieri raving astir the “crunchification” of Metro Diner’s signature meatloaf, that brought nationalist attraction to the chain.

Metro Diners, known for its “comfort nutrient with flair,” tin present beryllium recovered astatine much than 50 locations successful 12 states, including 25 successful Florida.

— Tom Szaroleta/Florida Times-Union

Firehouse Subs, Jacksonville (1994)

Chris Sorensen and Robin Sorensen were Jacksonville firefighters, conscionable similar their dad, erstwhile they opened their archetypal Firehouse Subs determination astatine Crown Plaza successful suburban Jacksonville successful 1994.

The chain, known for its tasty subs and firehouse-decorated restaurants, present has astir 1,200 locations successful 46 states, including astir 170 successful Florida. In a 2016 interrogation with CNBC, Robin Sorensen said helium and his member had little than $100 successful their checking accounts erstwhile they opened their archetypal restaurant.

They started the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation successful 2005 to supply funding, instrumentality and acquisition for archetypal responders.

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— Tom Szaroleta/Florida Times-Union

Hurricane Grill & Wings, Fort Pierce (1995)

The archetypal Hurricane Grill & Wings opened on Seaway Drive connected Hutchinson Island successful Fort Pierce successful 1995 arsenic Chris’ Hurricane Bar and Grill aft laminitis Chris Russo, who was lone 22 years aged astatine the time.

The astir fashionable paper items were chickenhearted wings and acold beer. By 2008, the edifice concatenation had expanded to 30 locations successful Florida, Georgia and Nevada. Now, it has grown to 71 locations successful 15 states, including Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina and Texas.

Its existent office is West Palm Beach. It’s celebrated for its assortment of 35 flavors for chickenhearted wings; immoderate signature sauces are Roasted Garlic Inferno, Coco Loco, Gold Rush, Cyclone and Kogi Secret Weapon.

— Laurie K. Blandford, TCPalm/Treasure Coast Newspapers

Bonefish Grill, St. Petersburg (2000)

Bonefish Grill founders Tim Curci and Chris Parker — “fueled by their shared emotion for catching, cooking and serving caller fish,” according to the restaurant’s website — opened its archetypal determination successful St. Petersburg successful January 2000.

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The pursuing year, it was acquired by the Tampa-based Bloomin’ Brands, and implicit 2 decades has go 1 of the biggest seafood chains successful the country.

As its sanction suggests, Bonefish Grill is known for its wood-grilled fish, on with different seafood selections specified arsenic its Bang Bang Shrimp appetizer tossed successful a creamy, spicy sauce. It’s besides known for its cocktail offerings, stating that its hand-crafted martinis are “shaken nary little than 20 times.”

Today, the concatenation has astir 200 locations successful 31 states, according to its website’s directory, though its location of Florida inactive has by acold much locations than immoderate different state.

— Jimmy Geurts, Sarasota Herald-Tribune

PDQ, Tampa (2011)

Co-founded by erstwhile Tampa Bay Buccaneers main fiscal serviceman Nick Reader and Outback’s Bob Basham, this chicken-centric concatenation opened its archetypal determination successful Tampa successful 2011.

According to PDQ’s website, Reader wanted a fast-food spot that was caller and helium felt bully astir feeding to his children, portion Basham was successful hunt of caller spirit and inspiration. They recovered what they were looking successful a North Carolina vicinity associated called Tenders, making a woody connected the spot with the restaurant.

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When they opened their archetypal Tampa edifice connected Halloween weekend, “car lines wrapped astir the building, and folks kept coming backmost for more.”

Since then, PDQ has opened dozens much locations passim Florida — including astatine Tampa International Airport, Raymond James Stadium and Amalie Arena — arsenic good arsenic states specified arsenic North Carolina, New Jersey and New York.

Along with chickenhearted tenders, nuggets, sandwiches and salads, PDQ serves handspun shakes.

— Jimmy Geurts, Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Ford’s Garage, Fort Myers (2012)

What began arsenic a downtown Fort Myers edifice moved rapidly successful a mates years, faster than a 1969 Boss 429 Mustang.

Ford’s Garage softly opened successful 2012 and, a mates years later, thing happened: A fewer retired executives from Naples stopped by and noticed the item and attraction enactment into the restaurant, from the achromatic Model T suspended supra the barroom (which honks OOGA with steam spewing from its tailpipe) to the branded Ford’s Garage logo connected burger buns.

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Ford Motor Co. reached retired astir partnering with the restaurant, and the 2 forged a unsocial relationship. Ford’s Garage became the archetypal and lone edifice to beryllium allowed rights to Ford’s iconic blue-oval logo, arsenic good arsenic different of the automotive giant’s marque imagery, including archived humanities photos, images of vehicles and existent Model Ts.

There’s present 16 Ford’s Garage restaurants successful 3 states including 1 successful St. Augustine, adjacent to a Ford dealership on Interstate 95. Other ones successful Florida are successful Brandon, Cape Coral, Countryside, Estero, Kissimmee, Lakeland, Orlando, Sarasota, St. Petersburg, Wellington, Wesley Chapel and Westchase.

But what astir the food? Ford’s Garage offers a vareity of burgers, on with bulb rings served connected a piston rod, “Edsel’s Hot Pretzels” with dip sauce, loaded mac & food varieties, desserts similar the caramel pome cooky skillet and more.

— Dave Osborn, Naples Daily News

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