Red Barn restaurants were once a common stop for Erie diners.

Red Barn was a fast-food chain with seven Erie County locations, known for barn-shaped buildings and community fundraising; most local outlets closed in the early 1980s.

Red Barn once operated several barn-shaped fast-food restaurants in Erie County and became a familiar local brand. The restaurants sold burgers, chicken, franks and sides and featured barn-shaped packaging and child-friendly giveaways. The Peach Street location at 3424 Peach St. was among the early local outlets, and the chain expanded to a total of seven county locations and nearby towns. The business was active in community fundraising and youth sponsorships before most local restaurants closed in the early 1980s. Key facts: - Red Barn was founded in Springfield, Ohio, in 1961 and at its peak there were seven Red Barn locations in Erie County. - The Peach Street restaurant at 3424 Peach St. was one of the local outlets; other sites opened across Erie and in nearby towns. - Menus included hamburgers (notably the Big Barney), chicken, franks, sides and milkshakes, often promoted at low prices in early advertisements. - The chain used the slogan "When the hungries hit, hit the Red Barn," had a mascot called Hamburger Hungry, and ran giveaways and promotions. - "Red Barn to the Rescue" allowed nonprofits to sell chicken-dinner tickets and keep more than 20% of the profits; the company also sponsored youth sports and local events. - Erie's Red Barn restaurants were owned locally by Russell "Robbie" Robison; five of the county's six remaining Red Barns were closed by Red Barn Restaurants Inc. in February 1981, and the last local advertisement ran in January 1984. Summary: The chain played a visible role in Erie community life through promotions, sponsorships and fundraising, and its closures in the early 1980s left local residents remembering the restaurants. Undetermined at this time.