Old fashioned Arby’s sign. Photo by Jim, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Flickr
Remember when the first Arby’s opened on Route 224 in Boardman? We used to drive over from the West Side to get a bag full of Arby’s on Sunday evenings. At first there weren’t many options other than a regular roast beef sandwich. This was still fast food, but definitely a cut above the hamburger places that were spreading all over the country. And in a blue collar town like Youngstown, it was red meat on a robust bun. A couple would make a good meal for under $2 in the early days.
That Arby’s was literally the first. Arby’s as a fast food chain started in Youngstown in 1964. The name comes from Raffel Brothers (Forrest and Leroy), hence R.B, or Arby’s. It also is the abbreviation of Roast Beef (clever, huh?). The chain spread rapidly, beginning to spread to other states in 1970, by which time they were growing at a rate of 50 stores a year. The menu expanded as well with Beef ‘n Cheddar sandwiches, Curly Fries, and Jamocha shakes, among other things. Eventually they opened up a franchise in Kilcawley Center at Youngstown State, replacing Hardees, which was there when we were students and an entirely forgettable chain as far as we were concerned.
– self-taken photo by the author, Public Domain
In 1976, the corporation was sold for the first of several times, first to Royal Crown Cola, then DWG Corporation owned by Victor Posner, and eventually the parent company of Wendy’s (which began in Columbus, Ohio–we live a stone’s throw from their headquarters). Currently Roark Capital Group has the controlling interest as the majority owner of Inspire Brands.
Arby’s seems to be doing well these days, with James Earl Jones sound-alike, Ving Rhames (a Golden Globe award-winning actor), doing voice-overs on their commercials. We still like to stop by to get a sandwich occasionally, and even though they now have fancier deli style sandwiches, I almost always just get a roast beef sandwich. I always reflect on what that sandwich and I have in common–we were both born in Youngstown!
[This post was updated March 26, 2023, upon news of the death of Arby’s co-founder Leroy Raffel on March 21, 2023 at age 96.]
Bob on Books 
My first real job out of college was at an advertising agency that was the first agency Arby’s ever had. It was called Meek & Thomas when Arby’s hired them, and they were on Belmont Avenue in Youngstown, Ohio. I was always proud when they showed the original Arby’s TV commercials to prospective new clients. So glad the Raffel Bros. hired a local agency to do their work. I think they may have also owned a hot dog place called Jib Jab on South Avenue.
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Yes our little sign shop (Trinkles) did interior signage for Arby’s nationwide for years.
PS Arby’s did not own Jib Jab
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The best things come from Youngstown, Ohio! I wish someone would restore the orginial Arby’s building. It looks pretty bad the way it is. Birds Unlimited is in there now and there are so many overgrown weeds outside….it looks so unloved. Arby’s deserves better than that.
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Looks like Wild Birds Unlimited has gone away, and the building is up for lease.
https://www.google.com/maps/uv?pb=!1s0x8833faf82635e3e1%3A0xe9c59ea21d914c24!3m1!7e115!4s%2Fmaps%2Fplace%2FWild%2BBirds%2BUnlimited%2Byoungstown%2Bohio%2F%4041.0248414%2C-80.6663237%2C3a%2C75y%2C114.3h%2C90t%2Fdata%3D*213m4*211e1*213m2*211sVUVrdtt9W6TwC61IKRIUXQ*212e0*214m2*213m1*211s0x8833faf82635e3e1%3A0xe9c59ea21d914c24%3Fsa%3DX!5sWild%20Birds%20Unlimited%20youngstown%20ohio%20-%20Google%20Search!15sCgIgAQ&imagekey=!1e10!2sAF1QipPTjSIV5RXcNWSNbnLD4jgmRRBS-tJAZkGAAyBE&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwibieukmoj-AhUaj4kEHXnkCa8Qpx96BAhHEA0
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Ving Rhames does the voice overs
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I remember that first Arby’s. We would go there when we wanted something more than a hamburger, as you said. I also remember a call from a young lady (a Chaney girl) late one evening who, using her feminine charms, convinced me to drive to Boardman and get her an Arby’s sandwich. She was very persuasive. Perhaps that is why she went into advertising (see Sallie, above). 🙂
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Arby’s has certainly come a long way. Their Signature Sandwiches are delicious. Our local Arby’s even had a lamb gyro for awhile, which I really liked. Then, of course, they discontinued it. 😟
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I got proposed to at that Arby’s
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Cool!!
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… and let’s not forget those iconic signs by the Peskin Sign Company.
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Indeed, let’s not. Any stories about these?
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Yes Raffle brothers did open Jib Jab.If I remember correctly there was 3 of them.Belmont South Ave and 422 in Girard
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Thanks, Ron!
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1) Dr. Jim Sansone was working (high school) at the first Arby’s and he is the one who invented the Jamocha Shake.
2) Raffel Bros was still going strong 25 years later. They designed a 25 year anniversary campaign which included a Boardman Class of 64 dance concert featuring (honestly) Lesley Gore and a number of lesser lights. Best class reunion ever!
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Great memories!
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At one point Arby’s changed from Argentine beef to a preformed “meat” product. I was told by an employee at their headquarters it was because of an inconsistency in taste of the beef. I believe this was bullshit and they were just trying to save money, I imagine most of the people in this site never had an original Arby’s. I stop and try their sandwich now and then, not the same. Mystery meat has no taste.
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When I was at Stambaugh scout camp on Leffingwell Rd., many times someone would use the pay phone to call an older brother or sister and we’d all order Arby’s roast beef sandwiches. They were way better than camp food.
Later on, after I started driving, I’d stop to get thier “Swiss King”. That was the best sandwich I ever had, but they discontinued it years ago. They have a few Arby’s in Maryland, where I live now, but I’ll never forget the one on 224. Is it still there?
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YES THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE IS STILL THERE IT WAS SOLD AND TURNED INTO ANOTHER BUSINESS CALLED WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED THEY RELOCATED ACROSS RT. 224 UP THE STREET A BIT .
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I AM CURRENTLY PRODUCING A VIDEO SHORT ON YOUTUBE THAT PAIDS TRIBUTE TO ARBY’S 55TH YEAR AS A BUSINESS TITLED BORN IN 1964 THE ARBY’S STORY ON MY NAPE1962 YOUTUBE CHANNEL .
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Great idea.
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Eager to see the Arby’s video. Hope you include its early TV commercials which were produced by a local Youngstown advertising agency (where I once worked). I believe at the time the company was called Meekin Thomas. I joined when it was called Thomas Farragher & Associares, and then it was renamed Ira Thomas Associates.
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