"Such is the case with Shoney's, a diner chain specializing in popular American breakfast fare. The first Shoney's location opened in Charleston, West Virginia, in 1947 as a small drive-in restaurant. Just five years later, the restaurant was incorporated into the Big Boy Restaurants franchise. However, despite its early decades of success, the chain would soon face allegations of mismanagement and racism, which ultimately led to its long, slow decline."
"Shoney's always served classic American fare, and became known for being a chain restaurant that served hush puppies and meatloaf, along with burgers and fries. But breakfast food was always its specialty. At the height of its popularity, it was famous for its all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet, which at one point featured more than 30 items. As a Big Boy affiliate, Shoney's grew rapidly, building a brand with locations throughout the southeastern U.S."
Shoney's began in 1947 as a small drive-in in Charleston, West Virginia, and soon joined the Big Boy Restaurants franchise. The chain built a reputation for classic American diner fare and an extensive all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet, expanding rapidly across the southeastern United States. Shoney's left the Big Boy affiliation in 1977 and continued independent growth, peaking at about 1,300 restaurants in 34 states around 1998. The restaurant later faced class-action and civil lawsuits alleging racial discrimination, harassment, unfair hiring practices, and wrongful termination, allegations that tarnished the brand and contributed to a prolonged decline to 51 locations.
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