Arthur Treacher’s – What Happened?
Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips - What Happened?
Who the heck was Arthur Treacher?

Arthur Treacher was a British character actor who was widely known for his butler-type roles in the old Shirley Temple and Mary Poppins movies. When Arthur Treacher’s Fish & Chips was founded in 1969, the above mentioned actor was chosen as the spokesman. Some people speculate that he had a financial stake in the business but that has never been proven.

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Video: 1970 Arthur Treachers Fish & Chips Commercial. FREE 32 ounce soda!

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The Founders

The founders of this great company were S. Robert Davis, L.S. Hartzog and Dave Thomas (who would go on to found Wendy’s later on). Mr. Davis was originally building and leasing properties for Kentucky Fried Chicken but eventually sold these properties outright to KFC for $3 million. Not a bad deal back then!

An Arthur Treacher’s Fish and Chips ribbon cutting ceremony in 1974

British Food

At the time, Americans knew little about food from the UK but Arthur Treacher’s Fish & Chips brought this cuisine to the USA and a craze was started! One could say it was The British Invasion of fast food! A massive publicity campaign was launched and franchises popped up all over the place! Who can forget their incredible FREE 32 ounce Coke with every basket. Great marketing!

Partnerships

While feeling the pressure from such knock-off restaurants like Long John Silver’s, Skipper’s, Captain D’s, Salt’s Fish & Chips and Alfie’s Fish & Chips, Arthur Treacher’s decided that making partnerships with such brands as Arby’s would help. This partnership did not last, however, because companies like Arby’s felt it weakened their own brand

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What The Fish?

After succumbing to enormous pressure from the competition and several ownership changes, Arthur Treacher’s Fish & Chips shell companies filed for bankruptcy. It’s a lot more complicated than that but in the interest of not boring our readers to death with financial and legal details, let’s just say they blew it.

Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips
Is Arthur Treacher’s Fish & Chips still around?

The short answer to this question is yes! There are several cases in which the brand name co-exists with other brands in some locations, there is only one true location left. This location has been around since the 1980s and just celebrated it’s 50th year in business. The owner says customer’s brand loyalty has a lot to do with it. If you are ever in the area, check it out:

Arthur Treacher’s Fish & Chips: 1833 State Rd – Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223

However, it’s important to note that this location is not affiliated with the original Arthur Treacher’s company and operates under a different ownership. Despite this, they still offer the classic menu items that made Arthur Treacher’s a favorite among fish and chip lovers.



It’s a sad tale for such a beloved brand, but the legacy of Arthur Treacher’s lives on through this lone surviving location. For those who have fond memories of enjoying crispy battered fish and hot, salty fries, a visit to this restaurant is a must. Who knows, maybe with enough support, Arthur Treacher’s could make a comeback and reclaim its place among the greats of fast food history.

Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips
Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips
Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips

37 responses to “Arthur Treacher’s – What Happened?”

  1. […] Lum’s hot dog chain was a beloved part of the American landscape. It was not only a popular restaurant for lunch, it was also a favorite “go-to” spot for late-night […]

    1. Eugene Bishop Avatar
      Eugene Bishop

      Can any Arthur treachers fish and chips come back to Cincinnati Ohio

      1. Joseph Focosi Avatar
        Joseph Focosi

        Yes, excellent fish and chips! ALSO phenomenal lemon pie!!

    2. Wayne Avatar
      Wayne

      Lums was great. When I was a kid.my grandmother would take me there and I always insisted on having a table by myself, lol. I was trying to feel independent. Guess who paid for the meal. Yep you’re right!! Grandma!!! lol

    3. Sharon C Tharp Avatar
      Sharon C Tharp

      I was employed by Arthur Treachers in 1974 in Liverpool, NY. Our franchise owned 13 stores in the Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, Utica and surrounding areas. I also became a restaurant owner at a store in Syracuse on Erie Blvd for 10 years. Nothing like our fish, chicken, chips, hush puppies and our beloved “Lemon Luv” pies.

  2. Gary shahan Avatar
    Gary shahan

    Bob Moran from Thorntown Indiana played the Inglish character in the t.v.commurtials

  3. Tony Rucker Avatar
    Tony Rucker

    We had a Lums here in Atlanta years ago. My family Loved that place.

    1. Barry S. Avatar
      Barry S.

      Lums was a great place to grab a “hot dog steamed in beer” and wash it down with a schooner of Miller High Life! I went there frequently in the late 60s and early 70s. No idea why it closed. It served reasonably priced food and beer, and was in a great location just off Peachtree Road and near the very popular and upscale Lenox Square mall. What happened?

  4. Linda Avatar
    Linda

    Everyone I mention Arthur Treachers fish and chips to thinks I’m crazy. It was the best place around to eat. Wish it would come back.

    1. Joan C Avatar
      Joan C

      Same here. Best fish and chips I ever ate

    2. Mark Y Avatar
      Mark Y

      Good fish but I enjoyed Chappys a lot more

  5. Curt W Griffin Avatar
    Curt W Griffin

    I’m a huge fan of Arthur Treacher’s and I live in northeast Ohio close enough to go and eat there on occasion. Recently I talked to there owner/manager and there are now plans in place for two new Arthur Treacher,s coming in 2023. Keep your finger crossed folks that soon America will have a true fish-_n_-chips restaurant back across the country!!!!

    1. Brett Avatar
      Brett

      Hope so 🤞

  6. Dave S Avatar
    Dave S

    I live in a fairly good sized city and there doesn’t seem to be any Fish ‘n Chip places that aren’t priced as if they’re serving British royalty directly. I’d love nothing more than to have a local fish ‘n chips restaurant that actually knows what genuine fish ‘n chips are.

  7. Cindi Addesso Avatar
    Cindi Addesso

    I hope they open one near me (Northern NJ)

  8. Michael Bielicki Avatar
    Michael Bielicki

    We had an Arthur Treacher’s in Marietta, GA. When I was a kid in the early 70’s we loved to go there. It was such a treat. Wish we had one now so I could take my grandkids and relive some memories.

  9. Mark Havelin Avatar
    Mark Havelin

    I was a manager for Arthur Treacher’s, in 1979-80, in the Baltimore area. The downfall of the company came when Mrs. Paul’s bought Arthur Treacher’s. The result of that purchase? The demise of a great restaurant. Not a true fast food restaurant, as food was prepared as it was ordered, but close.

    1. Sharon Tharp Avatar
      Sharon Tharp

      Although that maybe part of the reason the reality was the demand for COD overseas. The price of a COD became exorbitant and Corporate was left experimenting with different types of fish to replace the Cod Block. They settled on deep skinned Alaskan Pollack. However the damage during that process was already done, turning off many customers due to the change in fish.

  10. Ted Avatar
    Ted

    I could have sworn i seen an arthur treachers in a mall recently

  11. Paul Billings Avatar
    Paul Billings

    I vaguely remember seeing a couple of the restaurants in Nashville,in the early 70s.
    Parking lots always had trash in them.
    I don’t recall having any of the food.

  12. Bill Avatar
    Bill

    There is a ‘store’ in a Gas Station in Pomeroy Ohio

    1. david phillips Avatar

      We had one in baltimore md. I guess almost 40 years ago love my hush puppies . Still don’t know what happen ?

  13. […] Here’s a simple but slick version of the fried bologna sammich with American cheese, yellow mustard, mayo, and some crunchy ridged potato chips on plain-old white bread. Yeah baby! […]

  14. Kenneth STOUFFER Avatar
    Kenneth STOUFFER

    We had one in Hagerstown Md in the 80’s
    Truly miss it . This area has 0 fish places to eat. It would thrive here. Long John’s wasn’t comparable and they are long gone too.

  15. Rodger Saunders Avatar

    I ate at Arthur Treacher’s several times in Richmond, Virginia while I was employed at the Laburnum Ave. Long John Silver’s (Oops!) I’ll never forget their Crunch Pup!!! (A fish battered hot dog. A Corn Dog without the corn!) Yummy!

  16. Tey Avatar

    I believe that it died when he died

  17. David Shattuck Avatar

    Arthur Treacher’s has been available in the Rochester, NY area since 2014 at some Salvatore’s Old Fashioned Pizzeria locations. I was very happy to see it reintroduced to the area as I had missed it for many years.

    1. Sue Avatar
      Sue

      I tried it but not the same! Very disappointed

  18. Zod Avatar
    Zod

    The main problem of why Arthur Treachers disappeared is that they could no longer get the cod to make their fried fish. It was getting too expensive so they changed to other types of fish like pollock but that didn’t go over very well with their customers. And like cod, pollock was getting too expensive. After the restaurant changed hands several times, it was closed only tonkeepma couple high performing stores open.

  19. Scott Avatar
    Scott

    I only had the deep fried lemon pie there and it was great, it was even better than McDonald’s deep friend apple and cherry pies.

  20. Charlotte FORSYTHE SNIDER Avatar
    Charlotte FORSYTHE SNIDER

    Love it need to bring them back going to AKRON OHIO in May and headed for Arthur Treachers state rd.

  21. maryanne clark mccuin Avatar
    maryanne clark mccuin

    We had Arthur Treachers in Phoenix back in he 1970’s. I would love for it to come back. I ate there at least once a week.

  22. Alan Cooper Avatar
    Alan Cooper

    Surprised nobody’s mentioned the actual Arthur Treacher who was the announcer and side man (ala Ed McMahon) on the long running “Merv Griffin Show” in the 70s & 80s.

  23. Don socks Avatar
    Don socks

    Sad , I think long john silver just closed at the valley mall in Hagerstown valley mall I heard. Chambersburg just closed aswell. Miss that food!

  24. Diane Barringer Avatar
    Diane Barringer

    Best fish and chips I ever ate. Even better than Gordon Ramsey’s in Las Vegas. Lums was wonderful, too. Wish they’d both come back.

  25. David Peterson Avatar
    David Peterson

    A full bottle of malt vinegar on every table, I would drown my fish and chips. YUM!

  26. Charles M Dancy Avatar
    Charles M Dancy

    I really liked ArthurTreacher’s food! I miss it sooooooo much. There was a guy near Baltimore who had a fish and chips store in Middle River, Md. . He was authorized to use the Arthur Treacher’s batter recipe. He too is gone . Even Captain D’s is gone except for one or two locations. We need fish! Long John Silvers doen’t cut it.

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