Which fast-food franchise was founded by Dave Thomas?

The fast-food franchise founded by Dave Thomas is Wendy’s.

Thomas opened the first Wendy’s restaurant in Columbus, Ohio, on November 15, 1969. He named the business after his daughter Melinda Lou Thomas, whose childhood nickname was Wendy. The restaurant’s full early name was Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers.

Before launching Wendy’s, Thomas had gained restaurant experience and worked with the KFC system, helping improve several struggling restaurants. That background influenced Wendy’s focus on simple menus, square hamburger patties and a consistently prepared product. The square shape also helped distinguish the chain from competitors.

People sometimes confuse Dave Thomas with a longtime advertising spokesman rather than the company’s founder. He was both: beginning in 1989, he appeared in hundreds of Wendy’s commercials and became one of the most recognizable founder figures in American fast food. Wendy’s first location eventually closed in 2007, but the brand grew into a major international franchise.