Zippy's facts for kids
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| Industry | Restaurant |
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| Founded | October 17, 1966 |
| Founder | Francis and Charles Higa |
| Headquarters | 1765 South King Street,
Honolulu, Hawaii
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Number of locations
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22 |
Zippy's is a popular fast casual restaurant chain that started in Hawaii. It has 22 locations and serves a mix of American, Japanese, Chinese, and Hawaiian food. This mix is often called "fusion food" because it blends different cooking styles. One of their most famous dishes is their chili.
Contents
How Zippy's Started
On October 17, 1966, two brothers, Francis and Charles Higa, opened the very first Zippy's. It was located on South King Street in Honolulu, Hawaii. The brothers first thought about opening a car wash, but they decided to create a restaurant instead.
At that time, the idea of a "zip code" was becoming very popular. Zip codes helped mail arrive faster and more efficiently. The Higa brothers liked this idea of speed and good service. So, they named their new restaurant Zippy's, hoping it would be just as quick and efficient.
Francis and Charles often bought buildings that stood alone. This allowed them to keep their restaurants open 24 hours a day. This was a great idea because it attracted many customers who wanted food late at night.
When Zippy's first opened, there were many small, family-run restaurants in Hawaii. These were often called "mom and pop" places. There weren't many big fast-food chains from the mainland United States yet. Zippy's, along with a few others like Spencecliff and Andy Wong (Byron's), were some of the first fast-food spots. To stand out, the Higa brothers decided to sell a wide variety of local foods that people in Hawaii loved.
Adding Napoleon's Bakery
On November 19, 1983, Zippy's opened Napoleon's Bakery. They wanted to offer something new and different to their customers. Their goal was to make Zippy's a "one-stop shop." This meant customers could enjoy their dinner and then easily get a delicious dessert right there. Adding the bakery helped Zippy's sales grow even more.
The Higa Family's Legacy
In May 2002, the founders, Francis and Charles Higa, created a company called FCH Enterprise, Inc. This company now owns Zippy's. Francis and Charles had different strengths. Francis helped decide where the company was headed, while Charles handled most of the daily operations. He also managed buying all the food and supplies.
Charles Higa is now happily retired. Sadly, Francis Higa passed away on March 25, 1999. Today, Francis's son, Jason Higa, is the main boss, or CEO, of FCH Enterprises, Inc.
When the Zippy's restaurant in Kaimuki first opened, Charles Higa used to drive huge pots of chili in his own car to the restaurant. Now, a company called Food Solutions International prepares the food in Waipio. From there, the food is sent to all the different Zippy's locations across the islands.
What's on the Menu
Zippy's is famous for being open 24 hours a day. They offer a huge variety of food that mixes American, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and Hawaiian cuisine. People in Hawaii often call this mix "local" cuisine.
One of their most popular dishes since they first opened is their Zip-min noodles. But their most famous food is definitely their chili. Zippy's sells a massive amount of chili every month. They sell it in their restaurants, for fundraising events, and even in grocery stores.
Besides chili, Zippy's also sells many different "plate lunches." A plate lunch usually includes a main dish, two scoops of rice, and macaroni salad. Some popular plate lunches include the Zip Pac, which was first offered in May 1971, and the Surf Pac, which came out in May 1985.
Other Businesses Zippy's Owns
Most Zippy's restaurants also have a separate counter for Napoleon's Bakery inside. This means you can easily grab a pastry or cake after your meal. Some Zippy's locations even have a separate sushi bar where you can enjoy fresh sushi.
See also
- List of restaurants in Hawaii
