It’s not surprising that the leading fast-food chains build their menus around burgers, chicken, and other beef-based offerings. The drinks-based chains and one pizza chain are, of course, exceptions, but most of the QSR 50 2025: Top 50 Fast‑Food Chains, Ranked by Sales have a menu based on those staples.
McDonald’s: $53.5 billion in U.S. sales (rank #1)
Starbucks: $30.4 billion (rank #2)
Chick‑fil‑A: $22.7 billion (rank #3)
Taco Bell: $16.2 billion (rank #4)
Wendy’s: $12.6 billion (rank #5)
Dunkin’: $12.5 billion (rank #6)
Chipotle Mexican Grill: $11.1 billion (rank #7)
Burger King: $10.98 billion (rank #8)
Subway: $9.65 billion (rank #9)
Domino’s: $9.50 billion (rank #10)
Notice that there’s no seafood chain on the list. Overall, across all restaurant categories, seafood dining has been down.
“It was not a good year for the seafood segment. Even if you factor out Red Lobster, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May of 2024 and saw sales decline by 20.2%, the other 21 seafood chains within the Top 500 brought in $63 million, or about 1.6%, less than they did in 2023, according to Technomic. That’s compared to 3% growth for the industry as a whole,” Nation’s Restaurant News reported.
Only three standalone Arthur Treacher’s Fish & Chips locations remain.Shutterstock
There was a time when Arthur Treacher’s Fish & Chips brought British-style fish and chips all across America. The brand has fallen a long way since its peak with only three standalone restaurants left, but its new ownership has plans.
The brand was acquired by Nathan’s Famous in 2006, according to QSR Magazine. It has attempted to bring it back under a new model selling its food via ghost kitchens.
“Arthur Treacher’s, which was founded in 1969, offers hand-dipped fish, chicken, and French fries. The menu, which has been revamped by Nathan’s Famous, will highlight the brand’s traditional menu items while also featuring upgraded proteins, more contemporary builds, and includes a focus on shrimp,” the company shared in a press release.
More Restaurants
The ghost kitchen brand still exists, and a handful of locations offer it, according to a search on DoorDash.
In addition, Pat Franchise Systems, which operates the three remaining Arthur Treacher Fish & Chips locations Ohio, license the name back from Nathan’s Famous.
Founded in 1969 in Columbus, Ohio, Arthur Treacher’s grew rapidly as a British‑style fish and chips fast‑food chain popular in the 1970s. At its peak in 1979 the chain had roughly 826 restaurants nationwide, according to Money Digest.
Over subsequent decades, the chain’s footprint shrank dramatically as changing consumer tastes and supply challenges hit its business. By the 2010s only a handful of restaurants remained, with reports indicating just a couple of locations before recent revivals, added Mashed.
The chain saw a dramatic contraction over decades after the 1970s due to rising costs, ownership changes, and shifting consumer tastes, reported Money Digest.
As of 2025, there are only three stand‑alone Arthur Treacher’s locations remaining in the U.S., all in Northeast Ohio: Cuyahoga Falls, Garfield Heights, and Cleveland Heights, the franchised version of the brand shared on its website.
It’s fair to say that the brand never really competed with McDonald’s or Burger King directly. It was an alternative to traditional fast food like Chick-fil-A or Taco Bell, but it did not have the staying power of either of those brands.
Amazon Prime members: Do not miss this bonus deal from our sponsor (it could be worth hundreds)
Arthur Treacher’s fell victim to challenges that were somewhat out of its control.
“Just a few years after its rapid rise, however, Arthur Treacher’s was in trouble due to overseas politics. A territorial dispute over fishing rights between Iceland and the U.K. sent the cost of cod soaring, and this drastically affected the price of the chain’s signature dish,” Mashed reported.
That marked the beginning of the chain’s demise.
“As Arthur Treacher’s complicated history reveals, this moment marked the beginning of its long decline. Like many other seafood chains that are disappearing across the country (among them Kona Grill and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.), this restaurant chain couldn’t withstand rising costs and shifting diners habits,” the food website added.
How Arthur Treacher’s responded to rising cod prices also hurt its brand.
“The company made a fateful — and now arguably infamous — move when it replaced the brand’s cod fillets with pollock. The decision saved money, but, according to some, deteriorated Arthur Treacher’s core equity and turned off loyal guests,” QSR Magazine reported.
Ben Vittoria, an Arthur Treacher’s owner, closed one of his stores in June 2021.
“I did not close because business was bad,” Vittoria shared with Cleveland Scene. “Whatever Covid couldn’t do and whatever corporate mismanagement couldn’t do, the recent labor crunch was able to do. It has become increasingly difficult to operate our restaurants.”
New owner Nathan’s Famous has high hopes for its ghost kitchen revival.
“We are thrilled to provide operators across the country with the opportunity to add Arthur Treacher’s to their portfolio,” Senior Vice President James Walker shared in a press release. “Nathan’s Famous and Arthur Treacher’s have a long standing relationship and we have worked diligently to keep the brand’s traditional menu items.”
Related: Struggling bakery, cafe chain quietly closed dozens of locations
=
This story was originally published by TheStreet on Dec 22, 2025, where it first appeared in the Restaurants section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.