Red Barn was an American chain with restaurants here in Toronto as well. This remaining building (now a Mr. Sub) is on Dundas east of the 427. I remember a rumour (probably disinformation from the competition) that they had been "caught" selling horse meat in their burgers...A quick search of the internet revels that this rumour is well spread.
From Wikipedia:
The Red Barn restaurant was a fast-food restaurant chain that was founded in 1961 in Springfield, OH by Don Six, Martin Levine and Jim Kirsch. In 1963, the small chain was purchased by Richard O. Kearns, and the offices moved briefly to Dayton, OH, followed by a move in August 1964 to Fort Lauderdale, FL. In the late 1960s Servomation bought the company followed by Motel 6 in the late 1970s. The new owners ceased advertising for the chain and the franchise leases were allowed to expire with the last of the leases expiring around 1986. At its peak, Red Barn had 300-400 restaurants in 19 states as well as outlets in Southern Ontario, elsewhere in Canada, and in Australia.[1]
Following the shutdown of operations, most of the Red Barn buildings were converted for other uses. A few of the chain restaurants were renamed "The Farm" in various states and continued serving the same menu items that were available when they were under their Red Barn franchise.
A vintage television commercial:
There is some discussion that these puppets were created by Jim Henson but I've found nothing to substantiate this claim.
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I always wondered what this building was before it was a Mr. Sub. Now I know!
ReplyDeleteI distinctly remember reading in the newspaper (either the kw record or galt newspaper) back in 1971 or 1972 that the red barn had indeed been charged with using horse meat instead of beef in their "hamburgers". It was not a rumour. I was an avid red barn fan at the time. The horse meat fiasco was the reason I became a vegetarian right then and there, and have been one since. :)
ReplyDeleteI remember this too
DeleteThe French don't seem to mind...
ReplyDeleteOdd, horse meat is considered a delicacy in most parts of the world.
ReplyDeleteAlthough my main staple of food has had to have gone moo at onw time.
I remember Uncle Bobby shilling for the Red Barn with "Come to the Red Barn, yum, yum." to the tune of "Shave and a Haircut, two bits"
ReplyDeleteThere was another one out in Scarborough that was a record store. That was almost 20 years ago that I saw it though. I live in New Brunswick now.
ReplyDeleteThere was one on the west side of Yonge st.between Finch & Steeles around '65 -'68 near a Canadian Tire I miss the 15 cent Burgs...
ReplyDeleteI loved the chicken served in a little cardboard barn. Had it often.
Deletejust south of finch actually between can tire and loblaws where i worked.
DeleteI still have my Red Barn red bow tie from the Yonge/ Finch location where I worked in the '60s
DeleteMy first job (part time while in high school during the mid-'70s) was at the Red Barn located at the corner of Lawrence and Pharmacy in Scarborough. It was the local fast food joint of choice years before McDonalds came to Canada.
ReplyDeleteI always went to the same Red Barn. Sure miss those days.
DeleteI Remember It
DeleteI lived across the corner from that one. I was around 4-5. Could see it from a bedroom window. Loved it! 🤷🏻♂️
DeleteThe one in Scarborough was located at Brimley and Eglinton, north-east corner where there is now a No Frills that used to be a Sayvette.
ReplyDeletewent to that one all the time, Sayvette had a walk way over Danforth, grew up on Trudelle thought it was closer to Danforth than Brimley, liked the food
DeleteActually it was right at the corner of Brimley & Eglinton. Next to it was Busy Bee grocery store and Sayvettes department store (which was at the corner of Danforth & Eglinton). I worked at the Brimley location for 3 years (owner was Wally Berseth).
DeleteI Loved The Red Barn Burgers
ReplyDeleteWas it a Zounds Record store for awhile after being a Red Barn?
ReplyDeleteNo Zounds was east of the Elane plaza closer to the McDonald's by McCowan.
DeleteI think so.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone remember the relish they used on their burgers? And seems to me that they were 21 cents back in the day.
ReplyDeleteThere used to be one on n/w corner of Islington Ave @ Rexdale Blvd. Now a Harvey's location.
ReplyDeleteworked at the one at markham and lawrence in 1970, used to throw 24 patties on the grill when the movies let out, some good times, also sold a few tabs over the counter
ReplyDeleteI Remember It
Deletelol...I remember too cederbrae and tabs
DeleteI worked in that same Red Barn in The Sixties. The owner was a crabby Scotsman named John Fairburn. And he hired a chap from Newfoundland named Alec Watts. Mr. Watts was the manager and a complete moron. But I did like Mr. Fairburn.
ReplyDeleteYes. Right beside the theatre and across from the Cederbrae Mall
ReplyDelete👍🏻I remember that one too! 🤷🏻♂️😂
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ReplyDeleteRed Barn Restaurant, London ON...this building was relocated. You may be interested to know that it is now located at 30758 Kerwood Rd, Arkona (a scenic 25 minute drive from London). AND THE PROPERTY IT SITS ON IS FOR SALE starting Monday on realtor.ca. The 78 acre property (15 acres workable and rented to a farmer) has a modest house overlooking Adelaide Creek (suitable for canoeing/kayaking), a few fruit trees, and the large barn (all steel construction...which I think would make a great BARNDOMINIUM conversion). List price $ 990,000.00. Contact Robin Tiller (info@robintillerproperties.com) for more information on this beautiful opportunity.
ReplyDelete30758 KERWOOD ROAD, ARKONA
MLS 40104260
$ 990,000.00
my first job was at Red Barn rest. on king st. west in Oshawa in 1972 i loved working there would love to work there again i try to get hired at other burger places have not been hired yet something I would enjoy.
ReplyDeleteHere's a cool story...I bought a 10 acre property in Prince Edward County which had 2 houses on it. The 'cottage' as we call it was a Red Barn. Previous owner bought one, shipped and placed it on foundation and made it into a 2 story home! Steel blue colour and even has the original vane!
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know if there was a Red Barn on Avenue Rd, north of Lawrence Ave? I vaguely remembered a building like that when I was a kid, back in the early 70's.
ReplyDeleteI remember the Red Barn at Keele and Wilson. they would give a free meal on your birthday. Any restaurants do that now??
ReplyDelete