Wimpy Logo

Wimpy is the brand name of a chain of hamburger restaurants based in the United Kingdom. The restaurants were originally called Wimpy Bars and many people still refer to them by this name, despite the fact that the name "Wimpy Bar" was dropped in favor of "Wimpy" many years ago. The current owners of the Wimpy brand operate in several countries under the name of Wimpy International. Image File history File links Wimpy_logo. ... Image File history File links Wimpy_logo. ... A hamburger (or simply burger) is a sandwich that consists of a cooked patty of ground meat that is fried, steamed, grilled, or broiled, and is generally served with various condiments and toppings inside a sliced bun baked specially for this purpose. ...

History

The Wimpy brand was created by Eddie Gold of Chicago in the 1930s. The name was inspired by the character of J. Wellington Wimpy from the Popeye cartoons created by Elzie Crisler Segar. Eddie Gold was running 12 restaurants by the early 1950s, when the concept of fast food came to the attention of the directors of J. Lyons and Co. Lyons licensed the brand for use in the United Kingdom and in 1954 the first "Wimpy Bar" Lyons was established at the Lyons Corner House in Coventry Street, London. Originally the bar was a special fast-food section within the more traditional Corner House restaurants, but the success soon led to the establishment of separate Wimpy restaurants serving only hamburger based meals. By the early 1970s the business had expanded to over a thousand restaurants in 23 countries. Nickname: Motto: “Urbs in Horto” (Latin: “City in a Garden”), “I Will” Location in the Chicago metro area and Illinois Coordinates: , Country United States State Illinois Counties Cook, DuPage Settled 1770s Incorporated March 4, 1837 Government  - Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area  - City  234. ... Face The 1930s (years from 1930–1939) were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles, as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression, also known in Europe as the World Depression. ... J. Wellington Wimpy, or just Wimpy, is one of the characters in the long-running comic strip, Thimble Theater, and in the Popeye cartoons based upon the strip. ... For other uses, see Popeye (disambiguation). ... Elzie Crisler Segar (born December 8, 1894 - died October 13, 1938) was an American cartoonist who created the famous comic-strip character Popeye in 1929. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... Fast food is food prepared and served quickly at a fast-food restaurant or shop at low cost. ... Joseph Lyons and Co. ... Year 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... J. Lyons and Co. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ...

In 1977 the business was acquired by United Biscuits. Wimpy was beginning to lose ground to McDonalds, who had opened their first UK restaurant in 1974 and so the new management of Wimpy began to streamline the business by converting some of the traditional "table service" restaurants to the "counter service" operation style of McDonalds. Another difference between Wimpy and McDonalds was that Wimpy had lacked branches that had a drive through format. In 1989 the business was sold to Grand Metropolitan (now Diageo). Grand Metropolitan had acquired Burger King the previous year and they began to convert the "counter service" restaurants to Burger King restaurants. In 1990 the remaining 220 "table service" restaurants were purchased by a management buy-out backed by 3i. A second management buy-out occurred in 2002. Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... United Biscuits is a European food manufacturer, owned by Finalrealm, a syndicate including Cinven and Kraft. ... McDonalds Corporation (NYSE: MCD) is the worlds largest chain of fast-food restaurants [1]. Although McDonalds did not invent the hamburger or fast food, its name has become nearly synonymous with both. ... A blonde haired, very skilled worker with a 70s look. ... Table service is a form of service in restaurants, pubs, and bars where food or drinks are served to the customers table. ... A drive-thru window at a fast food restaurant. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... Diageo plc (LSE: DGE, NYSE: DEO) is the largest multinational beer, wine and spirits company in the world. ... It has been suggested that Diageo Brands be merged into this article or section. ... Burger King (often abbreviated to BK) is a large international chain of fast food restaurants, predominantly selling burgers, french fries, soft drinks, desserts, and various sandwiches. ... Counter service is a form of service in restaurants, pubs, and bars where food or drinks are ordered at the counter. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... Company Name: 3i PLC Company Logo: Company Type: Public Founded: 1945 Created by a syndicate of several British banks]] Location: [London]], England| Key people: Philip Yea, CEO Baroness Hogg, Chairman Industry = Venture Capital and Private Equity Homepage = [1] 3i Group PLC is a venture capital and private equity firm quoted... Also see: 2002 (number). ...

Although Wimpy has decreased in numbers in the United Kingdom, it is still found in some towns and cities and at the RoadChef motorway services and at Megabowl bowling alleys. However the branches at RoadChefs and Megabowl have a counter service as opposed to a table service format. RoadChef is a company which operates motorway service stations in the UK. See also Category:RoadChef motorway service stations External links RoadChef Categories: Catering and food service companies of the United Kingdom | Corporation stubs ... Megabowls logo. ...

On 27 February 2007 Famous Brands, who owns the Wimpy franchise in South Africa, announced that it had acquired Wimpy UK.

International

Wimpy opened in South Africa in Durban in 1967. The business was sold to Bakers SA Ltd in the late 1970s and later to the Steers Holdings Group. In 1976, Wimpy opened their first restaurant in Bogotá, Colombia. There are also branches trading as Wimpy in Cyprus, Kenya and Beirut, Lebanon, India, Nepal, and Bangladesh]. Durban (Zulu: eThekwini (IPA: ) is the second most populous city in South Africa, forming part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ... Steers is a fast-food franchise burger restaurant chain originating from South Africa. ... Year 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Motto: Bogotá, 2600 metros más cerca de las estrellas Bogotá, 2600 meters closer to the stars Localities (localidades) of Bogotá Country Colombia Department Bogotá, D.C.* Foundation August 6, 1538 Government  - Mayor Luis Eduardo Garzón, PDA Area  - City 1,587 km²  (612. ... For other uses, see Beirut (disambiguation). ...

Wimpy used to have many branches in Egypt, it was the first international burger restaurant in Egypt, but it closed its business by 1998.

References in popular culture

• Wimpy was slyly mentioned as just one of a string of businesses, icons, and vignettes implicated in the Americanization of England, in the 1973 Genesis album, Selling England by the Pound, most notably in the opening track "Dancing With the Moonlit Knight," in the line, "Chewing through your Wimpy dreams/they eat without a sound/digesting England by the pound."
• Wimpy was referenced in Jethro Tull's song "Up To Me" from the album Aqualung; "Take you to the cinema/and leave you in a Wimpy Bar/tell me that we've gone too far/well that's up to me"
• A scene in the movie Gregory's Girl took place at the now closed Cumbernauld branch.
• The Song Better Off Dead, from Elton John's 1975 "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" Release, is stated to be about "A Wimpy Bar" on the live recording of the album's performance, available on the 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition release.
• The X-Ray Spex, who were known for their criticism of artificial consumer culture, mention buying a rubber bun from a Wimpy Bar in their 1978 song "The Day the World Turned Dayglo".
• Stanley Moon (Dudley Moore), the lead character in Bedazzled (1967 film), along with his love interest Margaret Spencer (Eleanor Bron) work at a Wimpy Bar in London. Stanley is a grill cook, while Margaret is the waitress.
• In episode 6, season one of Garth Marenghi's Darkplace (2004) after Dr. Lucien Sanchez Matt Berry gives Dr. Rick Dagless, M.D. Matthew Holness an enticing idea for dinner involving a poached egg in some soup, and a pork pie or sausage roll, to which Rick Dagless responds with "I'll get a Wimpy" followed by Dr. Sanchez saying "Suit yourself, Dag"
• In the novel Glue (novel), by Irvine Welsh, the Wimpy is one of the common hang-outs of the teenage characters in the 1980s section.
• In Nick Hornby's High Fidelity, a minor scene takes place in a Wimpy Bar.

Year 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. ... Genesis are an English rock band formed in 1967. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Jethro Tull are a Grammy Award winning English rock band that formed in 1967-1968[1]. Their music is marked by the distinctive vocal style and lead flute work of front man Ian Anderson. ... ‹ The template below has been proposed for deletion. ... Gregorys Girl is a 1981 movie written and directed by Bill Forsyth. ... Cumbernauld (Gaelic: Comar nan Allt) is a new town in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, created in 1956 as a population overflow for Glasgow. ... Sir Elton Hercules[1] John CBE[2] (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947) is a five-time Grammy and one-time Academy Award-winning English pop/rock singer, composer and pianist. ... Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy is the ninth album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1975). ... This article is about the punk band. ... Dudley Stuart John Moore, CBE (April 19, 1935 – March 27, 2002), was an Academy-Award nominated British comedian, actor and musician. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Eleanor Bron (born 14 March 1938) is a British stage, film and television actress and author. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... The cast of Darkplace, from left to right: Todd Rivers/Dr. Lucien Sanchez, Dean Learner/Thornton Reed, Garth Marenghi/Dr. Rick Dagless and Madeleine Wool/Dr. Liz Asher. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Matthew Holness is an English comedian. ... Glue is a novel by Scottish writer Irvine Welsh. ... Nick Hornby (born 17 April 1957 in Redhill, Surrey, England) is an English novelist and essayist. ... High Fidelity is a 1995 British novel by Nick Hornby. ...

External links

• Wimpy International home page
• Wimpy South Africa
• Wimpy Colombia
• Information about starting a Wimpy Franchise
• Restaurant in Chimaltenango, Guatemala