Griff's Hamburgers
Griff's Hamburgers, or Griff's Burger Bar, is a regional fast food chain founded in 1960 by Griff's of America, Inc. of Kansas City, Missouri, United States. At one time, they had locations nationwide with the majority in the South near highway exits.[1]
Griff's was named for the founder, HJ Griffith.[2]
The restaurant buildings were of a patented[3] A-frame design,[1] produced by Valentine Diner[4] of Wichita, Kansas. Later restaurants sported more conventional architecture. A bright yellow sign read HAMBURGERS in big block capitals.[5] The restaurants offered both drive-thrus and patio dining.[5]
Most of the stores were located in high traffic locations, such as near a highway off-ramp, or along Route 66.[5] There was one on the corner of Caruthers and Independence in Cape Girardeau, Missouri in the 1960s, catty corner from old Central High School.
Cory Griffin, the Great-Grandson of founder Harold J. Griffith Relocated the Corporate headquarters for Griff's to Dallas, Texas. Stores remain open in Bossier City, Ruston and Shreveport, Louisiana; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Dallas, Fort Worth, Haltom City, Garland, Irving, Mesquite, and San Antonio, Texas.[1] A location in Sedalia, Missouri closed in late 2011, and locations in Colorado closed in 2015.[2][1]. Albuquerque location closed in 2023 due to safety concerns. Google street view shows the building is demolished and the site fenced off as of 2024.
The restaurant chain was featured in multiple installments of the Zippy the Pinhead comic strip; on November 15, 2004,[6] February 10, 2005[7] December 19, 2006,[8] September 2, 2007,[9] and February 3, 2025 [10]
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Griff's Burger Bar". agilitynut.com. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
- ^ a b Jones, Kenn (December 1, 2011). "Griff's Burger Bar says goodbye". sedaliademocrat.com. Archived from the original on March 7, 2014. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
- ^ "Building design patent". agilitynut.com. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
- ^ "Valentine Diners in Wichita, Kansas State Historical Society". kshs.org. Archived from the original on June 16, 2010. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
- ^ a b c Sheehan, Jason (October 2, 2003). "Cheeseburgers in Paradise". westword.com. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
- ^ "Zippy the Pinhead". zippythepinhead.com. November 15, 2004. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
- ^ "Zippy the Pinhead". zippythepinhead.com. February 10, 2005. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
- ^ "Zippy the Pinhead". zippythepinhead.com. December 19, 2006. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
- ^ "Zippy the Pinhead". zippythepinhead.com. September 2, 2007. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
- ^ "Zippy the Pinhead". zippythepinhead.com access-date 3 February 2025. Retrieved 3 February 2025