The first Arby's opened in 1964 in Boardman, OH and featured the Conestoga wagon style buildings and ten-gallon hat signs shown below. That original building is still there. The name was derived from the founders, Forrest and Leroy Raffel: "RB" for the Raffel brothers. The buildings were designed by Wily Christian Riedel. The roofs were originally yellow. By 1970, there were 250 locations. There are now more than 3,000 locations. The covered wagon building was phased out in the mid-1970s. Many have been adapted by other businesses. There are still many of the neon hat signs left other than those shown below. However, many have been replaced with smaller, plastic versions. For more, see this website.

Arby's Huntsville, AL

This Arby's in Huntsville is one of a handful of locations that still uses the covered wagon style building. However, the front of this one had been altered and expanded. This location was an Arby's from 1967-1973. Then from 1973-1985, it was used as a sub shop and two BBQ restaurants. It became an Arby's again in 1985. It had the original tile floor until it was replaced in 2010 [photo thanks Lance George]. The neon Arby's hat had been replaced with a modern one as well. This location closed around 2021 and the building is now vacant. [map]

Arby's South San Francisco, CA
2008:	2014:

This Arby's has an intact covered wagon building. However, the neon hat sign was replaced with a plastic sign in 2014. Many locations across the country still have the original hat signs even if their buildings were replaced or remodeled. This location's original tile floor is also gone. This location had closed by 2017 and the sign was removed. In 2018, the lot was surrounded by chain link fencing. The building was still there in 2022 but it will probably be demolished. For more, see this website. [map]

Arby's [gone] Redondo Beach, CA

This Arby's featured an intact building with Western theme tile floor and neon sign. Just a couple of months after this photo was taken in 2008, the building was demolished.

Arby's Buena Park, CA

This Arby's still featured the original sign, building, and tile floor. This location closed around 2021 and the sign was removed. The building now houses BMC Pho. [map]

former Arby's [gone] Santa Rosa, CA	Arby's Huntington Beach, CA

This former Arby's building housed Mohawk Signs when this photo was taken in 2016. The Arby's sign was long gone. The building was demolished in 2017. This Arby's in Huntington Beach was built in 1969. It still has the original hat sign, covered wagon building, and tile floor. In 2024, it was announced that the building and sign might be replaced with modern versions. Preservationists are trying to prevent that from happening. [map]

former Arby's Riverside, CA	former Arby's Fresno, CA

This former Arby's in Riverside now houses Los Jilberto's Taco Shop. [map] This former Arby's in Fresno now houses a used car dealership. [map]

former Arby's Pomona, CA
2013:	2017:

This former Arby's was built in 1970. It closed in 2012 and the hat sign was removed. The building was still vacant when this photo was taken in 2013. It was still vacant in 2015. By 2016, it was housing a Sprint store and the building had been repainted. In 2021, it began housing a T-Mobile store. [map]

former Arby's Pomona, CA	former Arby's Hayward, CA

This former Arby's in Pomona was built in 1971. It most recently housed the La Tia Mexican Restaurant. The building is currently vacant. [map] This former Arby's in Hayward was built in 1969. In 2024, the building was being renovated for Yoyo's Botaneria Mexicana. [map]

Roberto's Taco Shop Chula Vista, CA
2008:	2014:

This Arby's was repurposed as a Roberto's Taco Shop. Sometime after 2010, the building and sign were spruced up. [map]

former Arby's Van Nuys, CA	former Arby's Sacramento, CA

This former Arby's in Van Nuys now houses a Tacos Mexico. [map] This former Arby's in Sacramento now houses a used car dealership. [map]

former Arby's Pueblo, CO
2004:	2012:

This former Arby's was housing Ms. Paycheck in 2004. By 2012, it was housing Rocco's Riverside Deli. [map]

former Arby's Denver, CO

This former Arby's has housed a used car dealership since at least 2004. [map]

Arby's & Chuck Wagons (page 2)

Arby's & Chuck Wagons (page 3)

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Copyright. All photos at this website are copyrighted and may only be used with my consent. This includes posting them at Facebook, Pinterest, blogs, other websites, personal use, etc. Tips & Updates. If you have suggestions about places that I haven't covered, historical info, or updates about places/things that have been remodeled or removed, I'd love to hear from you: roadarch@outlook.com.