Arby’s was founded by Forrest and Leroy Raffel in Boardman, Ohio, in 1964.
The Raffel brothers opened the first restaurant on July 23, 1964. They had experience in the restaurant-equipment business and created a concept centered on roast beef sandwiches rather than the hamburger format dominant at the time.
The name Arby’s comes from the initials of the Raffel brothers: R.B. stands for Raffel Brothers. It is often incorrectly explained as meaning “America’s Roast Beef,” although that phrase became associated with the brand’s products and marketing.
Arby’s expanded as a franchised restaurant chain and became known for roast beef sandwiches, curly fries and other deli-style menu items. The original company name was Arby’s Roast Beef, but the brand later broadened its menu and shortened its public identity to Arby’s.