Paul Cardin (Never Was An Arrow II)
THROWBACK THURSDAY ::: The RED BARN … now MR. SUB ::: 1725 Dundas St E, Mississauga, Ontario.
I THINK THERE IS ONLY ONE former RED BARN IN THE WORLD that still closely resembles the ORIGINAL FORMAT and FACADE. Outside and inside colour scheme.
And it is THIS ONE in Mississauga, Ontario, CANADA.
It has only a few changes (different seating, no Red Barn ads, different wall paint, etc.) The enclosed tunnel to the washrooms was a later (but not too late) addition.
YOU KNOW… AS I WALKED UP to this MR. SUB, just for a second, for me, it becomes a RED BARN!
I have ancient and fond memories of waiting in the wintertime, in our Chrysler Windsor, looking up at the Rexdale Red Barn’s hayloft door, way above me, while my dad went inside to get a barrel of "dignified" chicken.
Red Barn chicken was like KFC, just way better!
The Red Barn used a Henny Penny Pressure Cooker made exclusively for them, and the chicken pieces were bigger than KFC’s (like Mary Brown’s today).
And brace yourselves, folks, you could order THE KEEL of the chicken! Most today have no idea what that even is! And I ain’t gonna’ say …
Well, here goes. I’m going in.
I immediately request a Big Barney, 9 pieces of dignified chicken, and some keels.
The owner, Gus, tells me I need to find a time-machine … because this is a MR. SUB now.
Well, it was worth a try.
Gus is good-natured, and I’m told I'm not the only one who has come into the restaurant, over the years, asking about the Red Barn, so he has a few facts ready for me.
This (former) MISSISSAUGA RED BARN opened in 1965!
The first one in Canada opened in 1963, in Scarborough.
The Mississauga outlet closed in 1975.
It re-opened briefly in the same year as a "Goodies". They had kept all the Red Barn food prep equipment but, sadly, couldn't make it work.
Then it re-opened again, in 1975, as a Mr. Sub.
THANKFULLY, the RED BARN facade is still going strong, for 50 years+ and was blended in with the MR SUB facade which uses almost the same colour scheme!
ATTENTION AMERICANS! If you get a chance, try out a MR. SUB in Canada!
Preferably THIS ONE, for the old-time Red Barn nostalgia!
SUBWAY makes some great subs … but YOU CAN'T BEAT a MR SUB 12" ASSORTED with their trademark "secret sauce”. YOU JUST CAN'T beat that sub!
ALSO, the MR SUB Louisiana Pepper Chicken sub … IS, will always be … out-of-this-world! And no one else has it!
AND ONLY in Canada, YOU'ALL!
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO THE RED BARN RESTAURANT CHAIN?
AS EVERYONE IN CANADA knows … it isn't always THE BEST that wins out!
THINK, CANADA'S Avro Arrow!
The absolute best! But the programme gets scrapped by Canada's Conservative government!
THINK, CANADA'S homegrown, and Howard Hughes favourite, the C-102 Avro Jetliner!!
Perfect AND 7 years before the Boeing 707!!
Aircraft orders on the table, programme and prototype, scrapped by Canada's Liberal government!!
NOW THINK, the RED BARN fast-food chain!
IT AIN'T OVER, 'till it's over.
Well, it’s been over for AVRO CANADA for 55 years.
And its just as over for THE RED BARN RESTAURANT.
IT'S BEEN LIGHTS OUT for the Red Barn System (Canada) Ltd. for 35 years.
Most corporation stores and franchises closed, even before that.
At the time, in the early 60s, the Red Barn was WAY AHEAD of the fast-food competition (McDonalds, A&W, Arby's, KFC, Burger King, and Wimpy's).
Red Barn advertising showcased muppet-like figures in their ads (created by Sesame Street's Jim Henson) long before McDonalds created (rather copied) the concept when they introduced the Hamburgler years later.
Red Barn buildings had that distinctive barn shape appearance.
There was a barn right in the middle of the city or suburbia!
Every kid alive could spot one a mile or two away!!
And when you ordered chicken and fries it came in a BARN-SHAPED container!
And yes, there was the unforgettable barn design painted red and white.
The building structure details included glazed bright red bricks (on the exterior and the interior), a high front barn peak, complete with a hayloft door, and the roof was topped off with two rooster weathervanes. The dining area was small and there was a large country scene mural above the order counter.
The innovative Red Barn Chain was the FIRST to have a salad bar. Then a sundae bar.
Hey, Ponderosa, were you taking notes?
The Red Barn not only made hamburgers, but they made fried chicken!
McDonalds still doesn't have fried chicken!
Almost a 60 years later—
The RED BARN made their fried chicken specially, in a closed-top Henny Penny Fryer!
The Red Barn's fried chicken was also way better than KFC's and was even cut up differently than the competition, so you could order the chicken's KEEL as a piece! And everybody did — just 'cause they could — and jus' cause it was the best part of the chicken!
Back in the day, what the Red Barn offered the local kid was far superior, and their variety was far ahead of the competition, I mean McDonalds didn't get ice cream until the late 80s! Twenty years after the Red Barn! And remember they still don't have fried chicken!
The Red Barn chain got sold early, and the original vision was rapidly lost.
And on top of that, corporate advertising evaporated.
One thing that made McDonald's king of fast-food world was their relentless advertising on kid's shows!
The Red Barn had better fare… BUT McDonald’s had more frequent advertising.
AND, in the end, in a move that was never fully comprehended by the franchisee owners … the chain was finally abandoned by its last hospitality owners, the Motel 6.
Franchisee licences were allowed to elapse and then the RED BARNS were legally done.
They couldn't even keep the famous Red Barn name, or look.
MOTEL 6 only wanted the Servomation food business, which was a widespread vending machine and office refreshment company.
That's all they cared about.
The Red Barn was a separate entity BUT under the Servomation umbrella, having been acquired by Servomation, much earlier.
Here's how it went down.
RED BARN TIMELINE
Founded: 1961
Founders: Don Six, Martin Levine, and Jim Kirsch
Owners:
1961 - 1963 Don Six, Martin Levine, and Jim Kirsch
1963 - Late 60s Richard O. Kearns (Foodcraft Management)
Late 60s - Late 70s Servomation
Late 70s - 1986 Motel 6 acquires Servomation and Red Barn.
The Motel 6 executive decides not to promote or advertise for the Red Barn chain, and to allow the 300+ Red Barn franchisee licences to lapse!
Imagine being an franchisee/owner in those circumstances.
If ever there was a time to lawyer up, that was it.
Full support to NO support.
Where do you get the benefits of volume purchasing of meat, poultry, fish and vegetables?
You don't.
Who co-ordinates advertising and promotions for 300+ North American outlets?
No one. There is none.
And by 1986, as the last 15 year license lapses, the RED BARN chain is declared defunct.
Many Red Barn franchisees immediately go under.
Any former RED BARNS left, go independent, with a name change.
Soon, these too, are done.
A handful (10) regroup under "The Farm" banner in Ohio.
The fare is classic "Red Barn" but is now rebranded, "The Farm".
The Big Barney hamburger becomes the Farm Boy. The Barnbuster becomes the Farmbuster. You, get the picture.
The fried chicken is STILL "dignified" the Red Barn way … because it is pressure cooked.
And, yes, you could still order keels! I most definitely remember the RED BARN deep-fried keels from my childhood.
Nobody else fries it that way. But, hey thanks for comin' out KFC, you have a strong second place finish alongside the former Red Barn.
WANT TO TRY RED BARN FOOD?
In 2016, there is ONLY ONE RED BARN left.
That one is in Racine, Wisconsin. It’s called THE FARM.
Located: 3810 Durand Ave Racine, WI 53405-4425
Hours of operation:
Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Friday-Saturday 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Major Holidays : Closed
Phone: (262) 634-1267
Email: info@thefarm.com
WANT TO BUY AN AUTHENTIC RED BARN?
Until December 31, 2015 this one was still operating in Pennsylvania.
It was called The Family Farm, located at 545 E. Main St. Bradford, PA 16701 (814-368-3733).
It just closed now, and is for sale for $200,000 USD, lock, stock, barrel and BARN! Great deal!!
THROWBACK THURSDAY ::: The RED BARN … now MR. SUB ::: 1725 Dundas St E, Mississauga, Ontario.
I THINK THERE IS ONLY ONE former RED BARN IN THE WORLD that still closely resembles the ORIGINAL FORMAT and FACADE. Outside and inside colour scheme.
And it is THIS ONE in Mississauga, Ontario, CANADA.
It has only a few changes (different seating, no Red Barn ads, different wall paint, etc.) The enclosed tunnel to the washrooms was a later (but not too late) addition.
YOU KNOW… AS I WALKED UP to this MR. SUB, just for a second, for me, it becomes a RED BARN!
I have ancient and fond memories of waiting in the wintertime, in our Chrysler Windsor, looking up at the Rexdale Red Barn’s hayloft door, way above me, while my dad went inside to get a barrel of "dignified" chicken.
Red Barn chicken was like KFC, just way better!
The Red Barn used a Henny Penny Pressure Cooker made exclusively for them, and the chicken pieces were bigger than KFC’s (like Mary Brown’s today).
And brace yourselves, folks, you could order THE KEEL of the chicken! Most today have no idea what that even is! And I ain’t gonna’ say …
Well, here goes. I’m going in.
I immediately request a Big Barney, 9 pieces of dignified chicken, and some keels.
The owner, Gus, tells me I need to find a time-machine … because this is a MR. SUB now.
Well, it was worth a try.
Gus is good-natured, and I’m told I'm not the only one who has come into the restaurant, over the years, asking about the Red Barn, so he has a few facts ready for me.
This (former) MISSISSAUGA RED BARN opened in 1965!
The first one in Canada opened in 1963, in Scarborough.
The Mississauga outlet closed in 1975.
It re-opened briefly in the same year as a "Goodies". They had kept all the Red Barn food prep equipment but, sadly, couldn't make it work.
Then it re-opened again, in 1975, as a Mr. Sub.
THANKFULLY, the RED BARN facade is still going strong, for 50 years+ and was blended in with the MR SUB facade which uses almost the same colour scheme!
ATTENTION AMERICANS! If you get a chance, try out a MR. SUB in Canada!
Preferably THIS ONE, for the old-time Red Barn nostalgia!
SUBWAY makes some great subs … but YOU CAN'T BEAT a MR SUB 12" ASSORTED with their trademark "secret sauce”. YOU JUST CAN'T beat that sub!
ALSO, the MR SUB Louisiana Pepper Chicken sub … IS, will always be … out-of-this-world! And no one else has it!
AND ONLY in Canada, YOU'ALL!
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO THE RED BARN RESTAURANT CHAIN?
AS EVERYONE IN CANADA knows … it isn't always THE BEST that wins out!
THINK, CANADA'S Avro Arrow!
The absolute best! But the programme gets scrapped by Canada's Conservative government!
THINK, CANADA'S homegrown, and Howard Hughes favourite, the C-102 Avro Jetliner!!
Perfect AND 7 years before the Boeing 707!!
Aircraft orders on the table, programme and prototype, scrapped by Canada's Liberal government!!
NOW THINK, the RED BARN fast-food chain!
IT AIN'T OVER, 'till it's over.
Well, it’s been over for AVRO CANADA for 55 years.
And its just as over for THE RED BARN RESTAURANT.
IT'S BEEN LIGHTS OUT for the Red Barn System (Canada) Ltd. for 35 years.
Most corporation stores and franchises closed, even before that.
At the time, in the early 60s, the Red Barn was WAY AHEAD of the fast-food competition (McDonalds, A&W, Arby's, KFC, Burger King, and Wimpy's).
Red Barn advertising showcased muppet-like figures in their ads (created by Sesame Street's Jim Henson) long before McDonalds created (rather copied) the concept when they introduced the Hamburgler years later.
Red Barn buildings had that distinctive barn shape appearance.
There was a barn right in the middle of the city or suburbia!
Every kid alive could spot one a mile or two away!!
And when you ordered chicken and fries it came in a BARN-SHAPED container!
And yes, there was the unforgettable barn design painted red and white.
The building structure details included glazed bright red bricks (on the exterior and the interior), a high front barn peak, complete with a hayloft door, and the roof was topped off with two rooster weathervanes. The dining area was small and there was a large country scene mural above the order counter.
The innovative Red Barn Chain was the FIRST to have a salad bar. Then a sundae bar.
Hey, Ponderosa, were you taking notes?
The Red Barn not only made hamburgers, but they made fried chicken!
McDonalds still doesn't have fried chicken!
Almost a 60 years later—
The RED BARN made their fried chicken specially, in a closed-top Henny Penny Fryer!
The Red Barn's fried chicken was also way better than KFC's and was even cut up differently than the competition, so you could order the chicken's KEEL as a piece! And everybody did — just 'cause they could — and jus' cause it was the best part of the chicken!
Back in the day, what the Red Barn offered the local kid was far superior, and their variety was far ahead of the competition, I mean McDonalds didn't get ice cream until the late 80s! Twenty years after the Red Barn! And remember they still don't have fried chicken!
The Red Barn chain got sold early, and the original vision was rapidly lost.
And on top of that, corporate advertising evaporated.
One thing that made McDonald's king of fast-food world was their relentless advertising on kid's shows!
The Red Barn had better fare… BUT McDonald’s had more frequent advertising.
AND, in the end, in a move that was never fully comprehended by the franchisee owners … the chain was finally abandoned by its last hospitality owners, the Motel 6.
Franchisee licences were allowed to elapse and then the RED BARNS were legally done.
They couldn't even keep the famous Red Barn name, or look.
MOTEL 6 only wanted the Servomation food business, which was a widespread vending machine and office refreshment company.
That's all they cared about.
The Red Barn was a separate entity BUT under the Servomation umbrella, having been acquired by Servomation, much earlier.
Here's how it went down.
RED BARN TIMELINE
Founded: 1961
Founders: Don Six, Martin Levine, and Jim Kirsch
Owners:
1961 - 1963 Don Six, Martin Levine, and Jim Kirsch
1963 - Late 60s Richard O. Kearns (Foodcraft Management)
Late 60s - Late 70s Servomation
Late 70s - 1986 Motel 6 acquires Servomation and Red Barn.
The Motel 6 executive decides not to promote or advertise for the Red Barn chain, and to allow the 300+ Red Barn franchisee licences to lapse!
Imagine being an franchisee/owner in those circumstances.
If ever there was a time to lawyer up, that was it.
Full support to NO support.
Where do you get the benefits of volume purchasing of meat, poultry, fish and vegetables?
You don't.
Who co-ordinates advertising and promotions for 300+ North American outlets?
No one. There is none.
And by 1986, as the last 15 year license lapses, the RED BARN chain is declared defunct.
Many Red Barn franchisees immediately go under.
Any former RED BARNS left, go independent, with a name change.
Soon, these too, are done.
A handful (10) regroup under "The Farm" banner in Ohio.
The fare is classic "Red Barn" but is now rebranded, "The Farm".
The Big Barney hamburger becomes the Farm Boy. The Barnbuster becomes the Farmbuster. You, get the picture.
The fried chicken is STILL "dignified" the Red Barn way … because it is pressure cooked.
And, yes, you could still order keels! I most definitely remember the RED BARN deep-fried keels from my childhood.
Nobody else fries it that way. But, hey thanks for comin' out KFC, you have a strong second place finish alongside the former Red Barn.
WANT TO TRY RED BARN FOOD?
In 2016, there is ONLY ONE RED BARN left.
That one is in Racine, Wisconsin. It’s called THE FARM.
Located: 3810 Durand Ave Racine, WI 53405-4425
Hours of operation:
Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Friday-Saturday 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Major Holidays : Closed
Phone: (262) 634-1267
Email: info@thefarm.com
WANT TO BUY AN AUTHENTIC RED BARN?
Until December 31, 2015 this one was still operating in Pennsylvania.
It was called The Family Farm, located at 545 E. Main St. Bradford, PA 16701 (814-368-3733).
It just closed now, and is for sale for $200,000 USD, lock, stock, barrel and BARN! Great deal!!