Nedick's facts for kids
Nedick's logo
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| Industry | Restaurant |
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| Genre | Fast food restaurant |
| Fate | Defunct |
| Predecessor | Nedick's Orange Juice Company |
| Successor | Nedick's in 2003 (now defunct) |
| Founded | 1913 in New York City, New York, United States |
| Founders |
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| Defunct | 1980s |
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Area served
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Northeast United States |
Nedick's was a popular American fast-food chain. It started in New York City in 1913. The company's name came from its founders, Robert T. Neely and Orville A. Dickinson. Their very first stand was inside the Bartholdi Hotel in Manhattan.
Nedick's became famous for its special orange drink. Over time, they added other tasty items to their menu. These included coffee, donuts, and hot dogs. Their hot dogs were unique, served with a special mustard relish on a toasted bun.
By the 1950s, Nedick's had grown quite a bit. They opened locations in many cities across the Northeast United States. You could find them in places like Newark, New Jersey, Boston, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C.. Nedick's stores were easy to spot with their orange and white colors. They also had catchy slogans like "Good food is never expensive at Nedick's."
However, in the 1970s, Nedick's faced tough competition. Big national chains like McDonald's and Dunkin' Donuts became very popular. Nedick's eventually closed down in the 1980s. Later, in 2003, there was an attempt to bring Nedick's back. A few new stores opened in New York City, but they also closed after a few years.
Contents
The Story of Nedick's Fast Food
How Nedick's Began in New York
Nedick's was started in 1913 by Robert T. Neely and Orville A. Dickinson. Their first stand was in the Bartholdi Hotel in New York City. They got the idea from a juice stand in Atlantic City called Clements. Nedick's grew quickly, reaching 13 locations by 1917.
By 1927, Nedick's had expanded to 135 locations. They served 25 million customers each year! Most of their sales came from their famous orange drink. They even planned to open a factory to bottle this drink. In 1930, Nedick's started offering hot lunches too.
Facing Challenges and Rebuilding
The Great Depression, a tough economic time, affected Nedick's. By 1934, only 40 locations were left. The company was even sold at an auction for $48,000.
The new owners worked hard to make Nedick's popular again. They used radio ads to promote their orange drink. These ads said the drink had healthy vitamin B1. They even offered cheap breakfast deals to attract more customers. This helped sales triple between 1941 and 1946.
Nedick's in the Mid-20th Century
In 1953, Nedick's had 75 locations. They started fun contests for customers to win prizes. They also gave out special tokens with cigarette purchases. These tokens could be used to buy products at Nedick's.
In 1965, a company called ABC Consolidated Corporation bought Nedick's. They wanted to make Nedick's a national chain. Nedick's was also a sponsor of the New York Knicks basketball team. The team's announcer, Marty Glickman, would even say "Good like Nedick's" after a basket! Nedick's locations were also popular meeting spots. People would often say, "Meet me outside Nedick's."
Why Nedick's Closed Its Doors
In the 1970s, Nedick's faced strong competition. Big fast-food chains like McDonald's and Dunkin' Donuts became very popular. Nedick's also received criticism in 1981 for its food quality at the Central Park Zoo. Because of these challenges, Nedick's stopped operating in the 1980s.
Bringing Back the Nedick's Name
In 2001, a company called Riese Organization bought the rights to the Nedick's name. They wanted to bring the brand back to life. In 2003, three new Nedick's locations opened in New York City. These were at Penn Station, Broadway, and 8th Avenue.
The new stores offered a bigger menu than the old Nedick's. The owners tried to make the new dining experience similar to the original. However, most of the information they found about the old Nedick's was from stories, not official records. All of these new locations have since closed down. Nedick's is no longer listed on the Riese Restaurants website.
