One of our local Long John Silver's recently shut down, so there is only one left about 30 min away - beyond that I don't know where there are any more of them. Similarly, all the Arthur Treacher's in our area shut down decades ago and we have to drive a ways to get that too. I used to love Long John Silvers in the 80's when my family would take me there - and I would always beg them to get me a side of those "crunchies" - little pieces of fried batter they also sold. I was also a huge fan of their corn on the cob, since it would be cooking all day wrapped up in foil, so when you bit into it, the corn and butter just melted into your mouth. In the mid 90's they started selling a fried shrimp wrap that was *enormous* - I honestly don't know how they were able to sell those things for like $5 and make a profit off of them because there was so much shrimp crammed inside of them. I could seriously only eat half and had to save the rest for later. Sadly they did not remain on the menu very long. I had some of their food in recent years, before our local one shut down, and the food was very freshly cooked and presented nicely, but as an adult now, the MSG and salt in their batter was way too strong and overpowering for me. I would love to seem them get rid of the MSG in it, and lower the salt content.
I have a Long John Silver's right across the street and I love it! The food is a little heavy, but they have an attached A&W and I love the fish filets with a root beer float. I try not to eat there too often because it seems like a heart attack waiting to happen, but every time I go there is a long line.
There's a Long John Silver's down a mile from where I live, but that place has been absolute garbage for years now. It's a seafood chain, so you shouldn't expect quality from most of the stores, and that's why you won't find me at one of their locations anytime soon.
I have to drive for about fifteen minutes to get in the area, but yes, there are still some around where I live. I have also noticed that there are not that many Captain D's around me anymore. I do not know if many of you know what Captain D's is, but it is really just a similar restaurant to Long John Silvers, but a little bit better. That's just my opinion, though.
About 12 years ago the only one in the area opened up. It was a Long Johns Silver/A&W. it didnt last long at all. I have always loved their fish and crumbs! It's so much better than Captain D's!! It was less than a year before it was turned into a Backyard Burger. Which isn't horrible, but still not a Long John Silvers. I think they would have had much better luck if they had left the A&W out of it.
I didn't realize that Long John's Silvers was having trouble. I have in my area and I love it. I think mine also had an A&W, but it seems to have decent business. I doubt it'll close down anytime soon.
There is a Long John Silver's in the town closest to me. It seems to do well, but has been there for so long that I believe they will either do away with it completely or rebuild soon. I would think they would have to. The inside is pretty bad looking and smells of things a restaurant shouldn't smell of. The fish is not as good as it used to be. At least not in this restaurant. And the menu has changed a good bit, too. I did used to love the Long John Silver's restaurants in the seventies and eighties. I, too, remember going there with my family and my mom and I would share a side of the extra crunchies they sold. I remember how good that corn was, too; and if the restaurant here was anything like the ones I remember I wouldn't be saying this, but now days I prefer the Captain D's a little further down the road. Its building has been there nearly as long as the Long John's, but it seems to have aged more gracefully. I don't know when was the last time I saw an Arthur Treacher's, but I'm pretty sure the last one I ate at was in Memphis, TN, many years ago. I wouldn't mind to see one of those pop up around here.
I had no idea some were closing down. Thankfully there is still one open near where I live. I've loved going to eat there, they have some really good fish and I especially love their hush puppies. The only thing that I don't enjoy every time I go there is the long wait after I order the phone. It tends to happen whether I order at the drive thru or inside. It is worth the wait, though. It would be pretty upsetting if they end up closing. The only other place I would enjoy some good fish is at Red Lobster, but they are really expensive.
I'm really surprised to hear from so many of you that there are combo A&W/Long John Silver's restaurants, I've never seen any of those before at all here in Northeast Ohio. The only time A&W did pair up with another restaurant was KFC for a period of time, but that eventually turned back into a full KFC. Also it wasn't the "original" A&W food that they used to sell at their standalone locations - the chili sauce was all sweet and syrupy, the burgers didn't taste the same, the chili cheese fries sucked, etc... Some of our KFC's also became hybrid KFC/Taco Bell's as well for a period of time, but those too went way. I would love for there to be some sort of healthier fast food seafood joint to open up though to replace some of the older ones, such as Long John Silvers, Popeye's, and others - perhaps offering stuff such as grilled fish dishes, salmon patty burgers, baked fries, steamed veggies, etc... I get so tired of the standard fast food fare, and feel better about eating whole filets of fish which are much less processed.
