Cafeteria-style restaurant

History

By the 1960s, cafeteria-style restaurant chains dominated the culture of the Southern United States, and to a lesser extent, the Southwest and Midwest. There were numerous prominent chains, many of which (such as S&W Cafeteria, Furr's, and Wyatt's Cafeteria) closed in the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s due to competition from fast food chains, all-you-can-eat buffets and other casual dining establishments.