Lum's

Lum's was an American family restaurant chain based in Florida with additional locations in several states. In 1955, Cliff Perlman was a U.S. Army vet and small-time lawyer in Miami. He and his brother put up $6,000 to purchase a 16-seat diner on the main drag in the middle of Miami Beach. The joint's specialty was hot dogs steam-cooked in beer. The place was named Lum's.

Six years later, the Perlmans were taking their pioneering fast-casual franchise public on the New York Stock Exchange. At its height, the Lum's fast food chain claimed 450 locations around the country, as far as Hawaii and Puerto Rico. It's no wonder the company was a hit. What could be more American than hot dogs and beer? Lum's specialty cost just 35¢. An extra nickel got you Sherry Flavored Sourkraut on top.

The simple menu also offered fried seafood, hot roast beef sandwiches, a "Submarine" (their quotes) and burgers. The international beer selection was another unique hook, as one could wash down those hot dogs with brews from Japan, Denmark, Mexico, Ireland, Germany and the Philippines. This was far from common in a big chain in the early 1970s.

In 1971, the Perlmans dumped Lum's off to the chairman of Kentucky Fried Chicken. KFC bigwig John Y. Brown oversaw Lum's for most of the 1970s. While his chicken chain flourished, Lum's struggled. In 1978, the number of Lum's was down to 273. A Swiss chain called Wienerwald purchased Lum's. Yet, the many locations were too much for Wienerwald to handle. In 1982, Lum's filed for bankruptcy. The chain largely vanished.

This Gildan Unisex Basic Softstyle t-shirt is made of a thicker, heavier cotton, but it's still soft and comfy. And the double stitching on the neckline and sleeves add more durability to what is sure to be a favorite!

• 100% ring-spun cotton
• 4.5 oz/yd² (153 g/m²)
• Pre-shrunk
• Shoulder-to-shoulder taping
• Quarter-turned to avoid crease down the center

Size guide