Here's Why Denny's Used To Be Called Danny's
There's only one thing better than a good breakfast and that's a cheap one. Over the past decade, casual brunch outings have slowly turned into early-morning social events. And as they have increased, so have their prices. Pancakes and sausage, for example, have always been famous for their sweet-and-salty pairing (yet simultaneously savory taste). Pancakes have reigned as an all-time favorite and are considered a popular breakfast in America.
However, pancakes come at a cost, and sometimes it isn't cheap. In 2020, Mashed reported that pancakes are one of the foods you overpay for at restaurants, despite the relatively low cost of ingredients required. Even IHOP, widely known for its wallet-friendly breakfast, sells fruit-filled pancakes in the double digits. However, one restaurant in England well surpasses that, pricing one stack of flapjacks stuffed with mussels, caviar, and lobster for over $1,000, making it the world's most expensive pancake (per Manchester Evening News).
Thankfully, there's Denny's — master at curating all-day breakfast on a budget. Pancakes, sausage, bacon, hash browns, and eggs are signature Denny's favorites, making it a (literal) grand slam for the breakfast community. But before Denny's introduced the Original Grand Slam in 1977, the restaurant was known for something else entirely, and it's a delicacy that's not even on the menu.
Denny's was once called 'Danny's Donuts'
Danny's Donuts was the 1953 predecessor of Denny's. According to Denny's website, the chain that had its start in Lakewood, California, was once a small shop owned by Harold Butler and Richard Jezak that sold coffee and donuts.
In 1956, a few years after the chain began, Jezak left the business due to traveling issues, per KCET. However, Butler didn't let the failed partnership affect his business and instead turned all restaurants into 24-hour diners named Danny's Coffee Shops. The hours expanded, the menu changed, and the coffee poured. Butler's motto was: "To serve the best cup of coffee, make the best donuts, give the best service, offer the best value, and stay open 24 hours a day," according to the website.
Though all seemed grand for Butler, a looming presence hovered over Danny's Coffee Shops, and that was the weight of a cease-and-desist letter issued by Coffee Dan's. This restaurant, which also served food 24/7, had opened prior to Butler's restaurant and threatened legal action, per The Hill. To avoid this, Butler changed Danny's Coffee Shops to Denny's Coffee Shops in 1959. In 1961, it officially became Denny's.
Considering neither of the original owners went by Danny, you may be wondering where the name came from. According to the Social Security Administration, Daniel was among the most popular names in the 1950s, which is why Butler and Jezak chose it, per Los Angeles Times. Denny was just a byproduct of that.
Grand Slammin' Legacy
The interesting history behind Denny's doesn't end there. "Hammerin' Hank" Aaron, who had surpassed Babe Ruth as the baseball player with the most home runs on April 8, 1974, was the inspiration behind Denny's Grand Slam, according to The New York Times. As noted by the National Park Service, Aaron hit 755 home runs by the time of his retirement and held this record for three decades. He won many awards and eventually became vice president of player development for the Atlanta Braves. In 1977, Denny's introduced its Original Grand Slam to Atlanta residents for the first time.
Since then, Denny's has remained a reliable source for budget-friendly and late-night breakfast outings. Ever wondered why a Grand Slam at Denny's is so cheap? It's because Denny's, like many breakfast diners, sticks to pre-made (even dehydrated) ingredients that mimic their authentic counterparts, such as maple syrup and hash browns. This makes breakfast easy to cook, quick to serve, and available at all times of the day. Meanwhile, Denny's plans to continue its Grand Slammin' legacy and TikTok-inspired menu items.