This Once-Popular 80s Restaurant Chain Is Making A Major Comeback
Nostalgia fuels so much of what we do. It is the driver behind the value of collectible sports memorabilia and the prices of vintage Pyrex containers, and now, nostalgia is bringing restaurants last loved in the '80s back to life. The Ground Round is making a comeback in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts.
Once upon a time, Tthe Ground Round was a humble happy hour party palace for some and a good spot to get tasty fried foods and cheap "ground round" — its namesake chopped lean beef burger — for families. Diners could eat peanuts and throw shells on the floor or chow down on free popcorn as they waited for their order. The chain first opened in 1969 as a spin-off of Howard Johnson's.
The Ground Round was adored in the '80s, before shifting ownership and acquisitions sucked the company into debt. The year 2004 saw a sudden bankruptcy declaration and a dramatic closure of many Ground Round restaurants during their dinner rush. The Ground Round had 219 locations in 1989; only four remained after 2004. A fifth location has recently opened in Shrewsbury, signaling the brand's return to the casual dining scene. It was opened by a husband-and-wife team who seem committed to bringing the past into the present big time.
The Ground Round had its share of challenges
The Ground Round's early success was based on its good burger and steak deals, plus its cheap drinks. It was a chain of neighborhood pubs, complete with a Bingo the Clown mascot. The Ground Round first opened in underperforming Howard Johnson's restaurant and motel locations, which were once known as the "Host of the Highways." The 1973 oil crisis saw strong performance from The Ground Round, while declining highway travel caused a drop in sales at Howard Johnson's restaurants.
The chain allowed families to host free kids' birthday parties, with video games and cartoons playing on TVs. But when early competitors like TGI Fridays (founded in 1965), Chili's (founded in 1975), Applebee's (founded in 1980) started scooping up customers, The Ground Round went up for bid. The chain ended up under four different owners between 1985 and 1997. The changes led to new concepts being implemented instead of maintaining older restaurants. In 1997, The Ground Round was acquired again, and the new owners attempted to trim down its bloated menu for a relaunch.
The chain's new lease on life didn't last long. On Valentine's Day weekend in 2004, every corporate-owned The Ground Round shut down. Workers were surprised to lose their jobs and to have to ask customers to leave their dinners immediately. A franchisee group of restaurants bought the company out of bankruptcy and attempted to salvage it yet again with the sports bar concept. It didn't work, and many stores continued to close in the following years, leaving only four — until the newest location opened.
What The Ground Round brings to the table as it opens in Shrewsbury
After a soft opening in April 2025, The Ground Round in Shrewsbury is now officially serving diners. Owned by Joseph and Nachi Shea, the restaurant offers a range of burgers and entrees, including the popular Ground Round Steak Tips and Ground Rounder half-pound burger. The couple also offers customers free popcorn (no peanuts).
The new owners have decorated the restaurant with some of its original flair, including a scale that may one day be used for kids paying what they weigh, an old promotion at The Ground Round. There is an emphasis on family fare, with table magicians and balloon artists popping up to entertain the dining crowd. Menu pricing is on the affordable side. "We are looking to build a family-style restaurant and try to bring the idea of family dinners back, family nights out back," Nachi Shea told Community Advocate. "We're looking to utilize a little bit of today's modern technology and efficiency with a hint of nostalgia."
This is a much more intimate investment than past corporations buying up restaurants in large numbers. "We don't have investors or deep pockets," Joseph Shea told WBUR. "We're bootstrapping this." While the couple is exclusively focusing on the Shrewsbury location, who knows where The Ground Round may roll. A once-famous Tex-Mex chain is coming back to life the same way, by starting small. Still, the Sheas don't just own licensing rights for their own restaurant — they own The Ground Round brand.