By 1978, Burger Chef was making headlines again. They landed a deal with Star Wars, a cultural phenomenon at the time. Suddenly, kid’s meals at Burger Chef came with trademarked toys featuring characters from the iconic movie. The company even launched ad campaigns with the actual Star Wars characters, solidifying their place in pop culture. It was a massive hit with both kids and parents alike.

But even with all these successes, Burger Chef couldn’t sustain its rapid growth. By the early 1980s, they had expanded too quickly. Managing so many locations became a challenge, and profitability began to decline. The competition—primarily from McDonald’s—was fierce, and Burger Chef struggled to keep up.

In the end, the company sold out to the owners of Hardee’s, effectively marking the end of an era. The story of Frank and Donald Thomas and their groundbreaking burger restaurant had come full circle. What started as a simple idea had grown into a fast-food empire, only to fade away as quickly as it had risen. While Burger Chef may no longer exist, its legacy lives on in the innovations it brought to the industry, from the flame-broiled burger to the original kid’s meal that inspired an entire generation.