Denny's History
Harold Butler and Richard Jezak opened a donut stand in 1953 and called it Danny’s Donuts. Butler’s stated promise was “To serve the best cup of coffee, make the best donuts, give the best service, offer the best value and stay open 24 hours a day.” Today that donut stand is a restaurant chain with a slightly different name, over 1,700 locations and a proven reputation for keeping Mr. Butler’s original promise.
1953
Harold Butler and Richard Jezak open Danny’s Donuts in Lakewood, CA.
1956
After Jezak’s departure from the now 6-store chain, Butler created and changed the concept a year later from a donut shop to a coffee shop with store #8. Danny’s Donuts is renamed Danny’s Coffee Shops and changes its operation to 24 hours.
1959
To avoid confusion with LA restaurant, Coffee Dan’s, Butler changes the name from Danny’s Coffee Shops to Denny’s Coffee Shops.
1961
Denny’s Coffee Shops becomes Denny’s. And the rest is history.
1967
Denny’s goes international, opening its first restaurant in Acapulco, Mexico.
1968
Denny’s Stock begins Trading on NYSE under “DEN.”
1977
The Grand Slam® is introduced in Atlanta as a nod to homerun slugger, Hank Aaron.
1968
Big milestone: There are now 1,000 Denny’s across the country.
2010
Added 136 new units, the highest number of domestic opening in history, including 100 Flying J/Pilot Travel Center Conversion sites and 6 university locations.
The $2 $4 $6 $8 Value Menu® make its national debut.Denny’s opens its 1,600th restaurant in September.
2013
Happy 60th Anniversary to Denny’s.
2019
Denny’s launch the 1st restaurant in Jakarta, Indonesia.