Leroy Raffel founded Arby’s with his brother, Forrest Raffel, in 1964.
The brothers opened the first Arby’s restaurant in Boardman, Ohio. Their concept centered on roast-beef sandwiches, offering an alternative to the hamburger-focused menus common in American fast food. The name Arby’s came from the initials of the Raffel Brothers, producing the sound “R.B.”
Arby’s expanded through franchising and developed a menu that included roast beef, specialty sandwiches, curly fries, and other quick-service items. Its original focus on sliced roast beef remained the central feature of the brand.
The founders are sometimes confused with other restaurant entrepreneurs, especially Dave Thomas of Wendy’s or Carl Karcher of Carl’s Jr. Arby’s was created by the Raffel brothers, who had experience in restaurant equipment and food service before launching the chain.