Everyone loves a juicy burger from Burger King, but for one town in Illinois, that craving has never been easy to satisfy. In Mattoon, a small town in the state, there’s no Burger King at all—and it’s not by accident.
It all goes back to a legal battle that started decades ago, involving a small local restaurant, two determined owners, and one of the world’s biggest fast food chains. This is the fascinating true story of how Burger King was banned from Mattoon, and why that ban still stands today.
A Local Business With Royal Roots
Back in 1952, a couple named Gene and Betty Hoots bought a small ice cream shop called Frigid Queen from Gene’s uncle. They decided to expand it in 1954, adding popular fast food items like burgers and fries. When they needed a name for the new version of their restaurant, they settled on Burger King and even trademarked the name in Illinois.
At that time, the national Burger King chain had just started, but it didn’t open any locations in Illinois until 1961—seven years after the Hoots started their business.
A Trademark Showdown
When the Hoots heard that the big chain was coming to Illinois, they believed their state-level trademark would protect their brand and keep the national Burger King out of the area.
But by 1967, the national chain had already opened 50 locations in Illinois, including one just 40 miles away from Mattoon in the city of Champaign.
The Hoots decided to take legal action. They sued the chain, and surprisingly, the court ruled in their favour. A judge declared that the national Burger King could not open a location within a 20-mile radius of Mattoon.
The Result: A Burger-Free Zone
Even today, in 2025, Burger King still can’t open a location in Mattoon. The court’s decision created a legal boundary that the chain has never crossed.
The Hoots were even reportedly offered $10,000 by Burger King to give up the name, but Betty Hoots told the Illinois Times they told the chain to “get lost.”
Since then, Burger King has grown massively. It now has over 6,800 restaurants in the US, including 319 in Illinois—but still none in Mattoon.
What Happened to the Original Burger King?
After the Hoots retired in 2015, they sold their local Burger King to Cory Sanders, a local businessman. The restaurant continues to operate under the same name to this day, serving customers in the town just like it always has.
Even though it has no connection to the global fast food chain, the Original Burger King in Mattoon has become a symbol of a small business victory against a corporate giant.
The story of Mattoon’s Burger King is truly unique in the fast food world. It’s a rare example of a local business standing its ground and winning against a global brand. Even after decades of expansion and success, the Burger King chain still can’t set foot in Mattoon, thanks to the trademark and legal fight led by Gene and Betty Hoots.
This small-town victory reminds us that even in a world of big companies, determined individuals can still make a big difference—and shape history in their own quiet way.