Denny's

Denny's started franchising in 1963, and most Denny's restaurants are now franchisee-owned.{{cite web|url=http://www.dennys.com/#/about/history |title=Home Page – Denny's |publisher=Dennys.com |access-date=August 26, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150821051951/https://www.dennys.com/ |archive-date=August 21, 2015 }} Franchise agreements require 24/7 service in most locations. Because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the restaurant industry in the United States, many Denny's had to close for the first time and may now have limited hours of operation.{{Cite news |last=Haddon |first=Heather |date=2022-03-18 |title=Late-Night Diners Mourn the Loss of Late-Night Diners |language=en-US |work=Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/late-night-diners-mourn-the-loss-of-late-night-diners-11647613715 |access-date=2022-03-19 |issn=0099-9660 |archive-date=March 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319185448/https://www.wsj.com/articles/late-night-diners-mourn-the-loss-of-late-night-diners-11647613715 |url-status=live }}

[[File:Danny's_old.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2|

Original "Denny's" located in Lakewood California (1953)

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The restaurant originally opened as Danny's Donuts by Richard Jezak and Harold Butler. It opened at the intersection of Bellflower and Del Amo boulevards in 1954, Lakewood, California.{{Cite web |date=2014-01-20 |title=When Denny's Was Danny's and Lakewood Was New |url=https://www.pbssocal.org/socal-focus/when-dennys-was-dannys-and-lakewood-was-new |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=PBS SoCal |language=en}} In 1956, a year after Richard Jezak departed from the six-store chain, Harold Butler changed the concept, shifting it from a donut shop to a coffee shop with store No. 8. Danny's Donuts was renamed Danny's Coffee Shops and changed its operation to 24 hours. During the 1950s, Los Angeles architects Armet & Davis created a new prototype building with a boomerang-shaped roof that became a model for stores built nationwide. They also designed a second prototype in 1965 with a zigzag shingled roof. These designs enabled Googie architecture to spread across America. Many Denny's locations were built near freeway off-ramps, leading to increasingly larger signage.Hess 2004, p. 126 In 1959, Butler changed the name from Danny's Coffee Shops, to avoid confusion with the Los Angeles restaurant chain Coffee Dan's, to Denny's Coffee Shops. In 1961, Denny's Coffee Shops was renamed Denny's. The business continued to expand, and by 1981, there were over 1,000 Denny's restaurants in all 50 U.S. states. The company absorbed many former Sambo's restaurants and used their mid-century design in some of their restaurants. In 1977, Denny's introduced the still-popular Grand Slam breakfast. In 1994, Denny's became the largest corporate sponsor of Save the Children, a national charity. All but six Denny's locations closed for the first time ever on Christmas 1988; many restaurants were built without locks, and some had reportedly lost their keys.{{cite news |title=Diner Chain Has to Buy Locks for First Holiday Closing |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=The New York Times |date=December 20, 1988 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/20/us/diner-chain-has-to-buy-locks-for-first-holiday-closing.html?emc=rss&partner=rssnyt |author= |access-date=July 29, 2018 |archive-date=July 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729112152/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/20/us/diner-chain-has-to-buy-locks-for-first-holiday-closing.html?emc=rss&partner=rssnyt |url-status=live }}

Denny's main offices were in La Mirada, California, until 1989. At that time, the office was first moved to Irvine, California, and subsequently moved to the Spartanburg, South Carolina headquarters of the parent company Trans World Corporation (TW Corporation) that acquired Denny's in 1987. In 1992, private equity firm, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts acquired a 47% interest in TW Corporation, later known as The Flagstar Companies, and encouraged the company to sell non-core businesses.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/26/business/company-news-kohlberg-kravis-plans-stake-in-tw.html |title=Kohlberg, Kravis Plans Stake in TW |newspaper=The New York Times |date=June 26, 1992 |author= |access-date=July 29, 2018 |archive-date=July 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729111942/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/26/business/company-news-kohlberg-kravis-plans-stake-in-tw.html |url-status=live }} On July 12, 1997, Flagstar, Denny's parent company, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/12/business/denny-s-parent-makes-bankruptcy-filing.html|title=Denny's parent makes bankruptcy filing|date=July 12, 1997|access-date=March 11, 2023|website=The New York Times|language=en|archive-date=March 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311224040/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/12/business/denny-s-parent-makes-bankruptcy-filing.html|url-status=live}} Eventually, Denny's operations dominated the parent company to such an extent that The Flagstar Companies changed its name again to Denny's Corporation. It trades on the NASDAQ under the DENN symbol.

In 1994, Denny's began renovating its stores with a lighter color scheme; select locations also began serving Baskin-Robbins ice cream for a short time. Houston, Texas, was the test market for the chain-wide renovation.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/36373363/ |title=Restaurant testing new look, menu |date=March 13, 1994 |newspaper=The Galveston Daily News |agency=Associated Press |page=23 |access-date=September 19, 2014 |author= |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |archive-date=July 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713020623/http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/36373363/ |url-status=live }}

Denny's opened its first restaurant in Australia in December 1982, in the suburb of Forest Hill, Melbourne.{{Cite web |url=http://www.whitehorse.vic.gov.au/IgnitionSuite/uploads/docs/Whitehorse%20Post-1945%20Heritage%20Study.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=January 1, 2019 |archive-date=January 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190102051141/http://www.whitehorse.vic.gov.au/IgnitionSuite/uploads/docs/Whitehorse%20Post-1945%20Heritage%20Study.pdf |url-status=dead }} The Australian franchise was owned by Ansett Australia and expanded into other states throughout the 1980s. However, changing tastes of the Australian consumer led to the sale of the chain in 1989{{Cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122265510|title=Restaurant chain sale|date=1989-05-26|work=Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995)|access-date=2019-07-09|pages=17|archive-date=July 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230709021911/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122265510|url-status=live}} and its closure shortly after that.

File:Denny'sdiner.jpg, inspired by 1950s culture (March 2008)]]

File:Restaurante dennys fachada.jpg

File:Denny's Restaurant, Webb County, TX IMG 3175.JPG north of Laredo, Texas, handles a considerable trucker clientele (July 2014)]]

File:Pancake　Denny's Restaurant.jpg

Some Denny's restaurants employ the "diner" concept, using modular buildings resembling classic 1950s diners. In May 1997, the first Denny's Classic Diner was opened in Fort Myers, Florida. The diner concept was created by Ron, Marcia, Marc, and Todd York, the principals of Denny's Franchisee SWFRI, Inc. Today,{{when|date=January 2016}} there are about 40 Denny's Diners in the United States. Additionally, several diners resemble modular buildings but are actually stick construction.{{citation needed|date=December 2015}}

In July 2010, Denny's presence in the United States saw a major expansion when Pilot Flying J started opening Denny's locations inside their Flying J-branded truck stop locations.{{cite news |url=http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/nov/04/dennys-open-flying-j-pasco/ |title=Denny's to open at Flying J in Pasco |newspaper=Tampa Tribune |first=Geoff |last=Fox |date=November 4, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007231610/http://www2.tbo.com/business/breaking-news-business/2009/nov/04/dennys-open-flying-j-pasco-ar-56194/ |archive-date=October 7, 2012 |url-status=dead}} 123 Pilot Flying J conversions were eventually completed.{{cite web |last=Miller |first=John C. |title=To Our Valued Shareholders |url=http://ir.dennys.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=113027&p=irol-reportsAnnual |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130121140945/http://ir.dennys.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=113027&p=irol-reportsAnnual |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 21, 2013 |work=Denny's Corporation 2011 Annual Report |publisher=Denny's Corporation |access-date=June 8, 2012}}

In June 2012, Denny's opened a location in the Las Américas International Airport, its first location in an airport and its first in the Dominican Republic.{{cite web |agency=Zacks Equity Research |title=Denny's Enters Dominican Republic |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/dennys-enters-dominican-republic-174516434.html |publisher=Yahoo! Finance |access-date=July 10, 2012 |date=June 27, 2012 |author= |archive-date=January 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121183450/http://finance.yahoo.com/news/dennys-enters-dominican-republic-174516434.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/2012/06/28/denny-comes-to-dominican-republic/ |title=Denny's Comes to the Dominican Republic |publisher=Fox News Channel |date=June 28, 2012 |author= |access-date=August 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911193051/http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/2012/06/28/denny-comes-to-dominican-republic/ |archive-date=September 11, 2016 |url-status=dead }} In July 2012, Denny's announced it had signed an agreement with a franchisee to open 50 restaurants in southern China over 15 years, beginning in 2013. This was Denny's largest international development deal at that time.{{cite news |last=Jones |first=Kristin |title=Denny's Plans China Expansion in 50-Restaurant Deal |url=https://www.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20120709-714145.html |access-date=July 10, 2012 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=July 9, 2012 |url-access=subscription }}{{dead link|date=August 2016}}{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/denny-open-50-restaurants-china-article-1.1112004 |title=Denny's to open 50 restaurants in China |newspaper=Daily News |location=New York |date=July 11, 2012 |author= |access-date=August 29, 2016 |archive-date=September 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911192955/http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/denny-open-50-restaurants-china-article-1.1112004 |url-status=live }} However, the deal was cancelled before any restaurants opened.{{Cite web |date=2013-03-11 |title=Denny's cancels franchise deal in China |url=https://www.nrn.com/latest-headlines/dennys-cancels-franchise-deal-china |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=Nation's Restaurant News |language=en}}

On August 29, 2014, Denny's opened its first location in New York City, with some patrons waiting as long as two hours before its official opening to eat there. Located in Lower Manhattan, the location is designed to be more upscale than the typical Denny's, serves alcohol, and offers a location-exclusive $300 Grand Cru Slam, which is the standard Grand Slam Breakfast served with a bottle of Dom Pérignon.{{cite news |url=https://www.yahoo.com/food/americas-first-fancy-dennys-is-here-96097679206.html |title=We Went to America's First 'Fancy Denny's' |first=Rachel |last=Tepper |date=August 29, 2014 |publisher=Yahoo! News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140830094739/https://www.yahoo.com/food/americas-first-fancy-dennys-is-here-96097679206.html |archive-date=August 30, 2014 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |last=Preston |first=Marguerite |url=http://ny.eater.com/archives/2014/08/new_yorks_first_dennys_photos_opening.php |title=Denny's Makes Its Very Fancy New York Debut on Friday |publisher=Eater NY |date=August 27, 2014 |access-date=August 26, 2015 |archive-date=July 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230709021910/https://ny.eater.com/2014/8/27/6165637/dennys-makes-its-very-fancy-new-york-debut-on-friday |url-status=live }} It closed in January 2018.{{Cite web |last=Upadhyaya |first=Kayla Kumari |date=2018-01-11 |title=The Fancy Denny's That Served $300 Grand Slams Has Closed |url=https://ny.eater.com/2018/1/11/16879424/luxury-dennys-nyc-closes |access-date=2022-11-13 |website=Eater NY |language=en |archive-date=March 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323224717/https://ny.eater.com/2018/1/11/16879424/luxury-dennys-nyc-closes |url-status=live }}

In November 2017, it was announced that Denny's was to open its first UK restaurant in Swansea in December 2017 as part of Parc Tawe's 15 million redevelopment scheme, occupying a 4,000 sq ft unit.{{cite web|url=https://news.commercialpeople.com/american-diner-dennys-chooses-swansea-open-first-uk-restaurant-2113/|title=American Diner Denny's Chooses Swansea to Open Its First UK Restaurant|date=November 22, 2017|publisher=commercialpeople.com|access-date=February 13, 2018|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402140919/https://news.commercialpeople.com/american-diner-dennys-chooses-swansea-open-first-uk-restaurant-2113/|url-status=usurped}} The restaurant opened on Christmas Day 2017 for the homeless people in the city of Swansea, although the official opening to the general public was on December 27.

In 2022, Denny's acquired Orlando-based chain Keke's Breakfast Cafe for $82.5 million. During an October 22, 2024, investor day, Denny's announced it would expand Keke's nationwide while closing 150 Denny’s restaurants in the following 12–18 months.

At the end of 2023 there were 1,602 Denny's restaurants. With the company owning and operating 66 with the remaining 1,582 under a franchising model; 1,445 of Denny's 1,602 restaurants are located in the United States (including the District of Columbia), 84 in Canada, 15 in Mexico, 15 in Puerto Rico, 12 in Philippines, 7 in New Zealand, 6 in Honduras, 5 in the UAE, 2 in Guatemala, 3 in Costa Rica, 2 in Guam, 3 in El Salvador, 1 in Indonesia, 1 in Curaçao and 1 in the United Kingdom.{{Cite web |title=Denny's Corporation Annual Report |url=https://s29.q4cdn.com/169433746/files/doc_financials/2022/ar/denn-2022-annual-report.pdf}} Denny's previously had a location in Chile.{{Cite web |date=2013-10-14 |title=Denny's Opens First South America Restaurant in Chile |url=https://upstatebusinessjournal.com/retail-hospitality/dennys-opens-first-south-america-restaurant-chile/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=Upstate Business Journal |language=en-US}} The U.S. states with the most Denny's restaurants are California (363), Texas (204) and Florida (124).{{cite web|url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/953918/number-of-dennys-restaurants-us-states/#:~:text=California%20had%20the%20most%20Denny's,204%20and%20124%20restaurants%2C%20respectively. | title=Denny's restaurants by state US 2023 }}

There are also about 578 Denny's restaurants in Japan operated independently under a license by a subsidiary of Seven & I Holdings{{cite news |author= |date=May 10, 1973 |title=Denny's Chain in Japan |page=4 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/133770506 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=July 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004085059/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/djreprints/doc/133770506.html |archive-date=October 4, 2017|id={{ProQuest|133770506}} }} since 1984.{{cite news |author= |date=November 14, 1984 |title=Denny's Says Rights To Its Name in Japan Sold for $25.5 Million |page=1 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/397893709 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=July 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004084922/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/djreprints/doc/397893709.html |archive-date=October 4, 2017|id={{ProQuest|397893709}} }}

The first Denny's restaurant in Japan opened on the first floor of the Ito-Yokado in Kamiōoka (:ja:上大岡), Kōnan-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture on April 27, 1974, however, it closed on March 20, 2017, on account of the demolition of the building of Ito-Yokado.{{cite web |title=デニーズ上大岡店 |url=http://shop.dennys.jp/map/21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312054506/http://shop.dennys.jp/map/21 |archive-date=March 12, 2017 |access-date=2 March 2017 |publisher=デニーズ}}{{cite web |date=June 21, 2014 |title=上大岡にあるデニーズ1号店、「らしさが皆無」なのは本当？ |url=http://hamarepo.com/story.php?story_id=3053 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190227060535/http://hamarepo.com/story.php?story_id=3053 |archive-date=February 27, 2019 |access-date=2 March 2017 |website=はまれぽ.com}}{{Cite web |title=デニーズ：１号店２０日で閉店 ４世代で通う客「寂しい」 |url=https://mainichi.jp/articles/20170318/k00/00e/020/156000c |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=毎日新聞 |language=ja}}

In October 2004, Dateline NBC aired a segment titled "Dirty Dining", in which the ten most popular family and casual dining chains in the United States were examined: Applebee's, Bob Evans, Chili's, Denny's, IHOP, Outback Steakhouse, Red Lobster, Ruby Tuesday, TGI Friday's, and Waffle House. As part of the segment, the producers examined the health inspection records for 100 restaurants over 15 months and totaled all of the critical violations that could result in adverse effects on the customers' health. Denny's had the fewest violations, averaging fewer than one violation per restaurant. Denny's attributes this relative success to its adherence to the principles of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points.{{cite web |last=Thompson |first=Lea |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/6083318 |title=How safe are your favorite restaurants? |work=NBC News |date=October 3, 2004 |access-date=January 6, 2012 |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402165030/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/6083318/ |url-status=dead }}

By 2026, Denny's is trying switching to 100% cage-free eggs.{{Cite web |date=2016-01-13 |title=Denny’s commits to cage-free eggs {{!}} WATTAgNet |url=https://www.wattagnet.com/blogs/hens-and-trends/article/15516428/dennys-commits-to-cage-free-eggs-wattagnet |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=WATTPoultry.com |language=en-us}}

The Humane Society of the United States is shareholder in Denny’s and has tried to make Denny's treat animals, primarily pigs, better and remove them from gestation crates.{{Cite web |last=Equality |first=Animal |date=2024-05-07 |title=Animal Protection News from Animal Equality |url=https://animalequality.org/news/2024/05/07/dennys-faces-mounting-pressure-reuters-reports/ |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=Animal Equality |language=en-US}} However, the company removed its initial commitment and is now facing a public awareness campaign. In 2024, the Humane Society of the United States filed a shareholder proposal requesting that the company reinstate its deadline to eliminate gestation crates from its supply chain.{{Cite web |date=April 4, 2024 |title=Shareholder proposal asks the Company to publish measurable, time-bound targets for eliminating (or at least significantly reducing) gestation crates in its pork supply and regularly report progress meeting them. |url=https://s29.q4cdn.com/169433746/files/doc_financials/2023/ar/DENN-2024-Notice-of-Annual-Meeting-Proxy-Statement.pdf |access-date=April 12, 2024 |website=Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement}}

Denny's has been involved in discrimination lawsuits involving food servers denying or providing inferior service to racial minorities, especially black customers.{{cite news |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q7oDAAAAMBAJ&q=denny%27s+discrimination+1990&pg=PA4 |title=Denny's Restaurants Hit With Discrimination Suit |via=Google News Archive |magazine=Jet |date=April 12, 1993 |pages=4–5 |author= |access-date=January 6, 2012 |archive-date=July 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230709021909/https://books.google.com/books?id=q7oDAAAAMBAJ&q=denny%27s+discrimination+1990&pg=PA4 |url-status=live }}

A 1993 incident occurred when six black United States Secret Service agents visited a Denny's restaurant in Annapolis, Maryland. They were forced to wait an hour for service while their white companions were seated immediately.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ED1VAAAAIBAJ&pg=4399,5737023&dq=denny%27s+discrimination+secret+service&hl=en |title=Secret Service accusing Denny's of discrimination |newspaper=The Robesonian |via=Google News Archive |date=May 24, 1993 |page=A3 |author= |access-date=January 6, 2012 |archive-date=February 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230214172657/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ED1VAAAAIBAJ&pg=4399,5737023&dq=denny%27s+discrimination+secret+service&hl=en |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1994/05/25/6-black-secret-service-agents-to-share-in-settlement-of-dennys-bias-suit/ |title=6 black Secret Service agents to share in settlement of Denny's bias suit |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |first=Michael A. |last=Fletcher |date=May 25, 1994 |access-date=January 31, 2014 |archive-date=February 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201234518/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1994-05-25/news/1994145195_1_denny-restaurant-chain-secret-service-black-secret |url-status=live }}

In San Jose, California, in 1991, several black teenagers were refused service unless they agreed to pay in advance.{{cite news |url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20D12FB345C0C768EDDAC0894DC494D81 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715020104/http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20D12FB345C0C768EDDAC0894DC494D81 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 15, 2012 |title=Denny's Restaurants to Pay $54 Million in Race Bias Suits |newspaper=The New York Times |first=Stephen |last=Labaton |date=May 25, 1994 |access-date=May 1, 2010 }}{{cite news |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/BG/lib00065,0EADE0D6EECC1478.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708182515/http://docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/BG/lib00065,0EADE0D6EECC1478.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 8, 2012 |title=Boston.com Local Search – Boston Globe Archives |publisher=Docs.newsbank.com |access-date=August 26, 2015}}

In 1994, Denny's settled a class action lawsuit filed by black customers who had been refused service, forced to wait longer, or pay more than white customers. The $54.4 million settlement was the largest under federal public accommodations laws established thirty years earlier.{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22430276.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104035753/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22430276.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 4, 2012 |title=In a Surprising Act of Redemption, Denny's Becomes a Leader in Diversity |newspaper=Washington Informer |url-access= |date=January 20, 1999 |author= |access-date=January 6, 2012}}

In 1995, a black Denny's customer in Sacramento, California, was told that he and his friends had to pay upfront at the counter upon ordering their meals. He questioned the waitress: "We asked the waitress about it and she said that some black guys who had been in the restaurant earlier had made a scene and walked out without paying their bill. So the manager now wanted all blacks to pay up front."{{cite news |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SB&p_theme=sb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB0DB63812257B5&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=Denny's Settles Two Race Suits Sacramentans Share In $46 Million Deal |date=December 12, 1995 |newspaper=Sacramento Bee |via=NewsBank |first=Cathleen |last=Ferraro |page=F1 |url-access=subscription |access-date=August 26, 2015 |archive-date=January 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107185032/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SB&p_theme=sb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB0DB63812257B5&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |url-status=live }}

In 1997, six Asian-American students from Syracuse University visited a local Denny's restaurant late at night. They waited more than half an hour as white patrons were regularly served, seated, and offered more helpings. They complained to management and their server but were forced to leave the establishment by two security guards called by Denny's management. Then, according to the students, a group of white men came out of Denny's, attacked them{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/22/nyregion/syracuse-u-students-fault-police-on-denny-s.html |title=Syracuse U. Students Fault Police on Denny's |newspaper=The New York Times |date=August 22, 1997 |author= |access-date=February 7, 2017 |archive-date=August 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828125158/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/22/nyregion/syracuse-u-students-fault-police-on-denny-s.html |url-status=live }} and shouted racial epithets. Several of the students were beaten unconscious.{{cite news |title=Federal Investigation Finds Fault at Denny's |newspaper=AsianWeek |first=Heather |last=Harlan |date=August 22, 1997}}{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1997/08/22/bias-alleged-at-ny-dennys/dffe0a3b-524b-40df-a8d7-4afce8212da8/ |title=Bias Alleged at N.Y. Denny's |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 22, 1997 |author= |access-date=January 6, 2012 |archive-date=September 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916131412/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1997/08/22/bias-alleged-at-ny-dennys/dffe0a3b-524b-40df-a8d7-4afce8212da8/ |url-status=live }}

After the $54.4 million settlement, Denny's created a racial sensitivity training program for all employees. Denny's has also made efforts at improving its public relations image by featuring African-Americans in their commercials, including one featuring Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sanford, actors from the popular The Jeffersons television series.{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/2001/10/01/tidbits.html |title='The Jeffersons' come back for another Denny's round. |work=Tampa Bay Business Journal |date=September 28, 2001 |author= |access-date=August 29, 2016 |archive-date=September 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911130508/http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/2001/10/01/tidbits.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/premium/0286/0286-10391793.html |title=Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sanford. |work=Nation's Restaurant News |date=September 19, 2001 |via=Access My Library |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930211658/http://www.accessmylibrary.com/premium/0286/0286-10391793.html |archive-date=September 30, 2007 }} In 2001, Denny's was chosen by Fortune magazine as the "Best Company for Minorities."{{cite news |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=VP&p_theme=vp&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAFFBE6DAC6D20F&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=High Marks for Diversity Fortune's List of Companies With Best Marks for Hiring And Promoting Minorities Includes Area Shipbuilder |newspaper=Virginian-Pilot |date=October 11, 1998 |page=D1 |first=Christopher |last=Dinsmore |url-access=subscription |via=NewsBank |access-date=August 26, 2015 |archive-date=January 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107185032/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=VP&p_theme=vp&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAFFBE6DAC6D20F&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |url-status=live }} In 2006 and 2007, Denny's topped Black Enterprise's list of "Best 40 Companies for Diversity."{{cite web |title=Awards & Recognition |url=http://dennysdiversity.com/site/pages/awards.html |work=Denny's Diversity Speaks |publisher=Denny's |access-date=June 14, 2012 |date= |author= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110918100814/http://www.dennysdiversity.com/site/pages/awards.html |archive-date=September 18, 2011 |url-status=dead}}

In 2014, a Denny's location in Deming, New Mexico, was subjected to a discrimination claim by an LGBT group, alleging that wait staff used homophobic slurs and refused to serve a group of gay, lesbian, and transgender customers who were attending a gay pride celebration. One year later, Denny's agreed to donate $13,000 to Deming Pride, pay $3,250 to a female customer who was subjected to abusive behavior by wait staff, and retrain its employees about discrimination policies.{{cite news |last1=Ramirez |first1=Chris |last2=Reed |first2=Elizabeth |name-list-style=amp|title=LGBT group resolves discrimination complaint with NM Denny's |url=http://www.kob.com/article/stories/s3827332.shtml |work=KOB Eyewitness News 4 Albuquerque |access-date=June 16, 2015 |date=June 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620051728/http://www.kob.com/article/stories/s3827332.shtml#.V74pEbHeknT |archive-date=June 20, 2015 |url-status=dead}}

In 2017, the staff at a Denny's in Vancouver, British Columbia, was accused of making an Indigenous woman pay for her meal before it was served.{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/first-nations-dennys-restaurant-vancouver-discrimination-1.4411230|title='Treated like a criminal': Yukon Indigenous woman accuses Vancouver Denny's of racism|date=November 21, 2017|publisher=CBC News|access-date=November 21, 2017|archive-date=November 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121185405/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/first-nations-dennys-restaurant-vancouver-discrimination-1.4411230|url-status=live}} After the customer left, restaurant staff called police to report the incident, alleging that the patron had a sharp metal object in her pocket.{{Cite news|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/laurenstrapagiel/dennys-discrimination|title=This Indigenous Couple Says A Denny's Employee Asked Them To Pay For Their Meals Upfront|last=Strapagiel|first=Lauren|date=November 21, 2017|work=BuzzFeed Canada|access-date=November 21, 2017|archive-date=November 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171122003807/https://www.buzzfeed.com/laurenstrapagiel/dennys-discrimination|url-status=live}}

In 2023, the global animal rights group Animal Equality began a public information campaign regarding Denny's failure to eliminate gestation crates for pigs from its supply chain.{{Cite web |date=12 November 2023 |title=Animal rights group holds protest at Denny's headquarters in Spartanburg |url=https://www.foxcarolina.com/video/2023/12/12/animal-rights-group-holds-protest-dennys-headquarters-spartanburg/ |access-date=2024-04-12 |website=Fox Carolina}}

In June 2017, eight Denny's locations in Colorado, including Colorado Springs and Pueblo, abruptly shut down due to a franchise owner failing to pay nearly $200,000 in back taxes as well as over $30,000 in sales tax from the previous year. In addition, several employees claimed there were issues with accounts not being paid, bounced checks, and paychecks not arriving on time. As a result of the seizure of the eight Denny's locations by the IRS, numerous employees were left without employment and claimed that no advance warning was given regarding the sudden closures. The franchise owner responsible for the closures immediately fled the state of Colorado.{{cite web |author=Morrison, Holly |title=Employees: 8 Denny's locations shut down after lack of paid taxes. |url=http://www.krdo.com/news/talkers/employees-local-dennys-locations-shut-down-after-lack-of-paid-taxes/530163362 |work=KRDO News 13 Colorado Springs |date=June 6, 2017 |access-date=June 6, 2017 |archive-date=June 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606190620/http://www.krdo.com/news/talkers/employees-local-dennys-locations-shut-down-after-lack-of-paid-taxes/530163362 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |author1=Laden, Rich |author2=Bodine, Seth |title=State seizes Denny's restaurants in Colorado Springs for back taxes |url=http://gazette.com/state-seizes-dennys-restaurants-in-colorado-springs-for-back-taxes/article/1604630 |work=Colorado Springs Gazette |date=June 6, 2017 |access-date=June 6, 2017 |archive-date=June 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610071803/http://gazette.com/state-seizes-dennys-restaurants-in-colorado-springs-for-back-taxes/article/1604630 |url-status=live }}

On January 31, 2024, a Denny's location in Oakland, California, permanently closed after 54 years of operation, citing the "safety and well-being" of customers and employees.{{cite news | url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/denny-s-restaurant-oakland-shuts-down-due-crime-18640790.php | title=Denny's on Hegenberger corridor in Oakland shuts down for good due to crime | newspaper=Sfgate | last1=Medina | first1=Madilynne }}{{cite web | url=https://sfstandard.com/2024/01/31/oakland-airport-dennys-closes-crime-plagued-street/ | title=Denny's Closes on Crime-Plagued Street Near Oakland Airport | date=February 2024 }}

{{main|Ghost kitchen}}

With the advent of delivery services such as Grubhub, DoorDash and Uber Eats, Denny's has begun operating many of their own Ghost kitchens, such as The Meltdown, a late-night melt "virtual brand." The Meltdown serves Denny's menu items at an up-charge. Where the "Brisket Melt" is $16.69, The Meltdown's "Giddy Up Melt," was $18.72 in 2024, despite being the same sandwiches. Ghost kitchens have been described as a cynical ploy by big-brand restaurants to garner a new younger consumer base.{{cite web |title=On Your Side: 'Ghost kitchen' restaurant trend |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/on-your-side-restaurant-trend-of-ghost-kitchens/ |website=CBS news |access-date=24 January 2025}}{{cite web |title=Restaurants that Don’t Exist |url=https://gobraithwaite.com/thinking/restaurants-that-dont-exist/ |website=gobraithwaite |access-date=24 January 2025}}

• List of pancake houses

{{Reflist|group=note}}

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{{Refbegin}}

• {{cite book |title=Googie Redux: Ultramodern Roadside Architecture |last=Hess |first=Alan |year=2004 |publisher=Chronicle Books |isbn=978-0811842723 |oclc=249477365 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uYiGA6QNE8sC |page=222 }} (previously published in 1986 as Googie: Fifties Coffee Shop Architecture {{ISBN|978-0877013341}})
• {{cite book |title=Orange Roofs, Golden Arches: The Architecture of American Chain Restaurants |last=Langdon |first=Philip |year=1986 |publisher=Knopf |isbn=0-394-54401-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oDVUAAAAMAAJ }}

{{Refend}}

{{Commons}}

• {{Official website|https://www.dennys.com/|name=Denny's official website}}

{{Fast-food chains of the United States}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Restaurants established in 1954

Category:Companies based in South Carolina

Category:Companies listed on the Nasdaq

Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1997

Category:Fast-food chains of the United States

Category:Pancake houses

Category:Companies based in Spartanburg, South Carolina

Category:1954 establishments in California

Category:Virtual restaurant

Category:Fast-food franchises