Red Barn
Gone since the 1986 bankruptcy, when the final 22 stores were down to New York, Ohio and Washington D.C. A few strays ran on for years under the name 'The Farm.' Often credited with one of fast food's first salad bars — though probably not the very first.
Last verified Nov 7, 2026
The barn-shaped burger chain out of Springfield, Ohio — 'When the hungries hit, hit the Red Barn' — grew to some 300 to 400 restaurants across 19 states, Canada and Australia.
Filed under: Fast Food · the ’70s & earlier
📅 Timeline
- 1961Founded in Springfield, Ohio by Don Six, Martin Levin and Jim Kirst; the barn-shaped building design was filed with the patent office that October.
- 1962Design patent D192,414 granted March 20 for the drive-in barn building itself.
- 1983New York businessman Phillip Kahn purchased the company, with roughly 100 restaurants left of a 300-400 store peak.
- 1986Red Barn Restaurant Inc. filed Chapter 11 on January 29; the final 22 stores were in New York, Ohio and Washington D.C.
❓ People also ask
Why did Red Barn disappear?
Years of ownership churn ended in the January 1986 bankruptcy with 22 stores left. No owner ever revived the chain; a few stragglers ran on for years under the name 'The Farm.'
What was the Big Barney?
Red Barn's double-deck burger — which local historians note predated the Big Mac by several years.
Did Red Barn invent the salad bar?
It's often credited with one of fast food's first, but the Erie County Historical Society calls it 'probably not the first chain to do so.' Take the superlative with a crouton.
🧾 Sources
- UPI, Red Barn files for bankruptcy protection (1986)
- Hagen History Center (Erie County Historical Society), Nostalgia: 'When the Hungries Hit, Hit the Red Barn' (2021)
- USPTO via Google Patents, Design patent D192,414: Drive-in restaurant building (1962)
- blogTO, The history of Red Barn restaurants in Ontario (2025)