Dave Thomas founded Wendy’s in 1969, which means the company has given us five decades of memories at this point. Now, the famous chain with a red-headed little girl on its logo has more than 7,000 locations worldwide. Whether you remember eating a Frosty at the first location in Columbus or digging into your SuperBar plate in the sun-drenched dining area as a kid, these vintage Wendy’s photos are sure to stir up some nostalgia.
Baby Blues
Boy, those baby blue-striped uniforms sure were something, hey? Complete with matching hats. The chili looks fantastic and we love the old fashioned fonts on the bag, too.
And It Was All Yellow
Many people pine for the days of the all-yellow packaging at Wendy’s. It does remind us of eating there when we were kids.
Buffet Bliss
From 1988 to 1998, Wendy’s had a buffet in its dining room at many locations, and we are so sad it’s gone. They always had three different sections: Italian with pastas and sauce, Mexican with build-your-own tacos and nachos, and salad, which was really only good for chocolate pudding and mandarin oranges, at least if you were 10.
Greenhouse Effect
During the SuperBar era, most Wendy’s also had greenhouse-like sunrooms built onto the front of the dining room. Sitting on one of those enjoying your burger and Frosty was heaven — unless it was 90 degrees and sunny out.
Limited Time Only
Like most fast-food chains, Wendy’s has experimented with all sorts of new, limited time only menu items over the years. These stuffed pita sandwiches were from the 1990s, and were probably a response to those diet-crazed times.
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Instant Classic
In 1984, Wendy’s struck gold with a new marketing campaign. Eighty-one-year-old Clara Peller exclaimed, “Where’s the beef?!” in a commercial, and it became an instant classic. It boosted Wendy’s annual revenue by 31% worldwide.
Everything Was Bigger Back Then
Remember Biggie Size? It was the Wendy’s answer to McDonald’s Super Size. You’d get a huge fries and drink, and at some point, it only cost 39 cents to upgrade your combo meal.
Garden Spot
Here’s a glimpse at the SuperBar, complete with Dave Thomas. How much ornamental kale do you think buffets went through just decorating their salad bars?
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Pull and Go Racers
Wendy’s gives away toys in kids’ meals, and some people still collect them (or have them hanging around in the basement somewhere). These racing toys were fun and adorable, especially that burger, complete with square beef patty.
Blast From the Past
This coupon flyer from the early 1990s has some real deals on it. For a buck, you could get chili, a baked potato, a junior bacon cheeseburger, or a Frosty. And the SuperBar was only $3!
An Ohio Institution
This is the first Wendy’s that opened in Columbus, Ohio, in 1969. The chain had its iconic square beef patties and Frostys from the beginning. Unfortunately, this location closed in 2007 and there’s only a historical marker to note the site’s history.
Pieces of Flair
These vintage Wendy’s employee buttons belonged to a former store manager in the 1970s and ’80s, according to the Redditor that posted them. We love the “Twice as juicy!” tagline.
Newspaper Collage
Decades ago, Wendy’s tables used to have this unique old newspaper print on them. It’s made up of vintage newspaper ads and photos so that you’d have something interesting to read while you were eating.
Yes, There Really Is a Wendy
Dave Thomas named the restaurant after his daughter, Wendy. Weirdly, Wendy wasn’t technically her name though, it’s actually Melinda. Wendy was her nickname given to her by her young siblings that couldn’t pronounce her name. This is a picture of Thomas and his daughter, Wendy.
Sun-Bathed Dining
Those sunrooms allowed you — and those (fake?) plants — to soak up some Vitamin D while you ate. And remember the carpet?!
Total 1990s Mood
When someone brought a whole tray of yellow-packaged food to your table, everyone was happy. Even the napkins were yellow.
’70s Style
These Wendy’s employees posed for this photo in the late 1970s, according to the Redditor that posted it. Those striped uniforms and that branded van are amazing.
Arnold Promoting Wendy’s (1979)
“These burgers are here to….PUMP YOU UP!”
Wendy’s The Big Classic (1980s)
The golden age of graphic design!
More From Cheapism
- Wendy’s Closing Hundreds of Locations—Customers Aren’t Surprised — The fast-food chain plans to shut down hundreds of underperforming restaurants, and many customers say declining quality and rising prices make the news unsurprising.
- Wendy’s Cheeseburgers Are $1 on Feb. 15 — With a Catch — A tempting $1 burger deal comes with a few hoops to jump through, showing how fast-food “deals” often require extra purchases or app use to score the savings.
- Wendy’s Is Selling 1-Cent Bacon Cheeseburgers Today — To celebrate National Bacon Day, Wendy’s is offering nearly free burgers—but you’ll still need to order through the app and buy something else to unlock the deal.
