The Chicago-based John R. Thompson company, one of the largest early 20th century fast food chains. Thompson's restaurants "On the Avenue of Flags". A Century of Progress, Chicago, Illinois. 1934. "Behind the two magnificent restaurants pictured here lies a history of accomplishment proudly paralleling "A Century of Progress". John R. Thompson established his first restaurant in 1891. Today, forty-three years later, the Company bearing his name owns and operates 116 Pure Food Restaurants serving more than a million meals a week in 36 principal American cities."