6. Victoria Station: Dining Inside Boxcars

When it comes to memorable restaurant architecture, Victoria Station remains unmatched. Founded in 1969 by three Cornell University graduates, the chain built its restaurants using actual, decommissioned railway boxcars and cabooses centered around a main lobby. The theme was loosely based on London’s famous Victoria Station, decorated with authentic British railway artifacts and signs.

Families flocked to the unique concept, where diners ate prime rib inside vintage train cars and visited a baggage cart that had been converted into a sprawling salad bar. At its peak, the company operated nearly 100 locations across the country.

Unfortunately, the high costs of maintaining the unique buildings and a sharp decline in the restaurant market led to a 1986 bankruptcy. The last remaining U.S. location—which was not housed in the original boxcars—closed down in Salem, Massachusetts, in 2017.