email: roadarch@outlook.com

A-Frame Chains & Other Eateries (page 1)

(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)

Heap Big Beef was a nationwide roast beef chain that was established in 1967. Although the company is long gone and none of the locations are still operating, many of the buildings still around. For more, see this website.

Alabama:
Gadsden

Arizona:
Phoenix

former Heap Big Beef
Millbrae, CA
This Heap Big Beef in Millbrae was built in 1968. It has housed El Super Burrito since 1977. This adapted sign is the only one that I know of that still exists. [map]

former Heap Big Beef
Tampa, FL		 former Heap Big Beef
Tampa, FL
The first Heap Big Beef in Tampa shown above now houses Nick's Gyros & Subs. [map]

The second Heap Big Beef in Tampa has housed the Unique Motors used car dealership since 2014. [map]

There was another location in Tampa and also one in St. Petersburg, FL.

former Heap Big Beef
Bloomington, IL		 former Heap Big Beef
Moline, IL
This Heap Big Beef in Bloomington was built in 1968. By 1972, the building was housing The Beef Place. In 1988, the building began housing Dabney's restaurant. It now houses a Mid-West Title Loans. [map]

This Heap Big Beef in Moline was built in 1968. The building now houses Jack Chiropractic. [map]

More Illinois:
Rockford

former Heap Big Beef
Kenner, LA
This Heap Big Beef has housed Bud's Broiler since at least 2007. [map]

former Heap Big Beef
Marlow Heights, MD		 former Heap Big Beef [gone]
Westland, MI
This Heap Big Beef in Marlow Heights housed Jerry's Subs & Pizza when this photo was taken in 2010. By 2012, the building houses Mama's Soul Food. By 2017, the building was housing Paisano's. [map]

This Heap Big Beef in Westland housed the Village Place Coney Island when this photo was taken in 2009. I believe it closed after 2011. The building was gone by 2015.

former Heap Big Beef
Grand Rapids, MI
This Heap Big Beef in Grand Rapids housed the Sunrise Restaurant when this photo was taken in 2011. The front part of the building was an addition to the original building. The "A Meal or a Snack" sign was probably not original either. I have not seen any Heap Big Beef advertisements or vintage photos with that sign or one shaped like that on the building. The Sunrise Restaurant closed in 2012. The building was still vacant in 2015. In 2016, the building reopened as a Grand Coney location. It is now houses Samurai Express. The "A Meal or a Snack" sign is gone now. [map]

Missouri:
Springfield [gone]

former Heap Big Beef
Greensboro, NC		 former Heap Big Beef
Youngstown, OH
This Heap Big Beef in Greensboro housed Ghassan's restaurant from 1975-2020. In 2023, it began housing Mike's Vegan Grill and the building was repainted black and bright green. [map]

This Heap Big Beef in Youngstown housed the Joe Restaurant for about 10 years. It is now housing the Bull & Bear Neighborhood Grille & Tavern. [map]

former Heap Big Beef [gone]
Oklahoma City, OK		 former Heap Big Beef
Rumford, RI
This Heap Big Beef in Oklahoma City was vacant when this photo was taken in 2011. Later that year, the building began housing Mutts Amazing Hot Dogs. The previous tenant was the Sweet Tea restaurant. Before that, it was the Pho 2000 restaurant. In 2019, Mutts closed after the roof was damaged in a storm. In 2020, the building was demolished and the sign was gone.

This Heap Big Beef in Rumford now houses Lovely Nails. [map]

South Dakota:
Sioux Falls [gone]

The Pup 'n' Taco chain was established in Pasadena, CA in 1965. The majority of the restaurants were in Southern California. The chain folded in 1984 when Taco Bell purchased its 99 locations. Three locations in Albuquerque and one in Los Angeles survived and went by the name of Pop 'n' Taco. However, these locations have all closed. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

former Pup 'n' Taco
Albuquerque, NM
2012:
2017: 2024:
This former Pup 'n' Taco in Albuquerque housed Piggy's Hot Dogs & Hamburgers when these photos were taken. The building housed the La Hacienda Express in 2008. By 2014, the building was housing Speedway Subs & More. By 2015, it was housing Blunt Bros. Coffee. In 2023, it began housing Federico's Mexican Food. [map]

former Pup 'n' Taco [gone]
Albuquerque, NM
This former Pup 'n' Taco was still operating as a Pop 'n' Taco in 2009. It closed around 2011 and has been vacant since then. These photos are from 2012. The building was still vacant and the sign was still there in 2014. However, in 2015, it was announced that the building would be demolished and replaced with a bank. The building and sign were still there in 2016. In 2017, the building had been demolished but the sign was still there. The sign was gone by 2018.

former Pup 'n' Taco
Los Angeles, CA		 former Pup 'n' Taco
Los Angeles, CA		 former Pup 'n' Taco
Westminster, CA
The first former Pup 'n' Taco shown above has housed El Compita since around 2008. [map]

The second former Pup 'n' Taco shown above housed King Burger & Carryout when this photo was taken in 2013. By 2015, the building was housing Philly Steak House. By 2016, the building was housing Pizza 7. By 2018, it was housing Grilled Fraiche. [map]

The former Pup 'n' Taco in Westminster has housed an Original Tommy's since at least the 1980s. [map]

former Pup 'n' Taco
Reseda, CA
This former Pup 'n' Taco housed Home Plate Burgers and Fatburger in recent years. The building had been vacant since at least 2014. In 2017, it began housing 102 Smog Check Center. The building appears to be vacant now. For more, see this website. [map]

More A-Frames
(page 2)		 Chip's Der
Wienerschnitzel		 Foxy's, Lodge Coffee Shops
& Hyatt Coffee Shoppes		 Golden Point
Griff's
Burger Bar		 International
House of Pancakes		 Mister Swiss Village Inn
Pizza Parlor		 Whataburger Woody's
Smorgasburger

Eateries Main Page