40 Once-Popular American Diners That Are No Longer Around

This is perhaps one of the oldest chains on this list. The Holly Tree Inn chain was a group of cheap eateries founded by Annie Fields, who was the wife of James Thomas Fields, a famous publisher in Boston. The Holly Tree Inn was one of the first chains of its kind, and it opened its inaugural eatery in 1870.

Fields operated The Holly Tree Inn as a non-profit. It was intended to serve inexpensive meals to working, poor women like shopgirls and milliners. Fields served food but absolutely prohibited liquor. With Fields ‘ approval, dozens of Holly Tree Inns were founded in just one year.