10 fading US restaurant chains

I thought Damons was good food wise but my woman hated the decor which even I admit was depressing.  By the way, I agree, Applebees should be on the list, bad service terrible food.

Some of these chains I never heard of but some of them I had - 3 of them had places where I live and we tried each and our experience was not good and we have never returned to one of their locations no matter where we saw it. The 3 are Damons, Country Kitchen, and Bennigans for me if I have bad service and poor quality food in a franchise restaurant there is no point in going to another one. Unfortunately Stake N Shake will be on this list soon because the one in our town has below average food and horrible service.

Some I have never eaten at but others like Big Boy are an American icon which I hate to see close.  Sometimes I still go there just because.  I also like the Mom & Pop restaurants and really miss the cafeteria style i.e. Blue Boar, etc. They had some good food too, but it was overpriced.

While I enjoy some authentic ethnic foods sometimes (and Louisville Kentucky is FULL of them), there is now a Mexican restaurant on every corner with an Indian restaurant in-between. American food chains are suffering. 

Why is that?

Bob's Big Boy is no surprise! Back in the 90s, while driving down the NJTP we went into this place and walked out.  The people were creepy and not for anything Bob is creepy too.  As we opened the door, the manager ran over and told us they were booked!  Nearly everyone eating 3 or 4 tables, stopped and looked at us as if we were in a 1940 "Jim Crow enhanced" Alabama town!  We said nothing, just got the hell outta there!  LOL!  I'm laughing now, but come to think of it, its really sad.  That place was only about 10 exits from mine.  I swear we saw white hoods coming down that turnpike.  Yikes.  Atlantic City and worth it.  Peaaaace!