Good Times Burgers & Frozen Custard

Good Times Burgers & Frozen Custard is an American quick-service restaurant brand based in Golden, Colorado. It developed from the Colorado restaurant business Round the Corner Restaurants, which began in Boulder in 1968 as a chain of gourmet, sit-down hamburger restaurants. Round the Corner later created a separate company to develop a drive-through format, and the first Good Times location opened in Boulder in 1987 under the name Good Times Drive-Thru Burgers. The brand was built around a relatively premium interpretation of fast food, combining made-to-order burgers with drive-through convenience and frozen custard. Its menu has included burgers, fries, frozen custard, and rotating monthly custard flavors. The chain also introduced Bambino Burgers in 2007, small slider-style hamburgers positioned as an additional format within its burger range. Frozen custard has remained a central point of differentiation: vanilla is available year-round, while other flavors rotate over time. Good Times also sells Pawbenders, a dog-oriented frozen treat made with vanilla frozen custard, Milk Bones, and peanut-butter drizzle. A portion of Pawbenders proceeds supports animal-welfare organizations identified by the brand, including the Dumb Friends League, Freedom Service Dogs of America, and the Larimer Humane Society. During the 1990s, the Good Times business became increasingly separate from its predecessor. Round the Corner became a subsidiary of Good Times Restaurants, Inc. between 1990 and 1993 and was spun off as a separate company in 1995. Round the Corner entered bankruptcy proceedings in 1996, with Good Times serving as its only secured creditor. The final Round the Corner restaurant, in Aurora, Colorado, was sold to an independent operator by 2000. Good Times has also used partnerships and portfolio expansion as part of its development strategy. In 2004, it reached an agreement with Taco John's to test co-branded restaurants, including a remodeled Taco John's site in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The relationship later resulted in the two Wyoming Good Times locations in Gillette and Sheridan being associated with Taco John's. In a more significant corporate-development move, Good Times acquired a 48 percent interest in North Carolina-based Bad Daddy's Burger Bar in 2013. Bad Daddy's was characterized as an upscale, full-service, small-format burger concept, and the agreement gave Good Times development rights in Colorado, Arizona, and Kansas. Good Times announced in 2015 that it would acquire the remaining 52 percent of Bad Daddy's for $21 million, expanding its business beyond the core Good Times quick-service chain. The Good Times restaurant footprint has remained concentrated in the western United States rather than becoming a national chain. The reference material reports 31 locations as of July 2023, including 29 in Colorado and two in Wyoming, compared with 38 locations in 2015. The company therefore operates primarily as a regional brand with a strong Colorado identity. On July 30, 2024, the company shortened the public-facing name from Good Times Burgers & Frozen Custard to Good Times. The change simplified the brand name while retaining the restaurant concept associated with burgers, drive-through dining, and frozen custard.

Good Times emerged from Round the Corner Restaurants, a Boulder, Colorado, hamburger business established in 1968. Round the Corner developed a chain of gourmet, sit-down hamburger restaurants and eventually reached approximately 30 locations across four states. In 1986, the company formed a separate organization to develop a drive-through restaurant concept. That concept opened its first Boulder location in 1987 under the name Good Times Drive-Thru Burgers. The relationship between the two restaurant businesses changed during the 1990s. Between 1990 and 1993, Round the Corner became a subsidiary of Good Times Restaurants, Inc. In 1995, Round the Corner was spun off into a separate company. It filed for bankruptcy in 1996, with Good Times identified as its only secured creditor. By 2000, the last remaining Round the Corner restaurant, located in Aurora, Colorado, had been sold to an independent operator. Good Times consequently became the continuing brand associated with the original business lineage. Good Times developed as a regional drive-through chain focused on burgers and frozen custard. Its menu has included premium-style burgers, fries, and frozen custard, with vanilla served throughout the year and additional flavors rotated periodically. In 2007, the chain introduced Bambino Burgers, a smaller slider-style product comparable in format to the small hamburgers associated with White Castle. The brand also created Pawbenders, a frozen treat for dogs combining vanilla custard, three Milk Bones, and peanut-butter drizzle. The company has stated that a percentage of Pawbenders sales supports animal-welfare groups, including the Dumb Friends League, Freedom Service Dogs of America, and the Larimer Humane Society. Partnerships formed another part of the brand's expansion efforts. In 2004, Good Times and Taco John's agreed to experiment with co-branded restaurants. The test included a major remodeling of a Taco John's building on South Greeley Highway in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Although that particular site later ceased operating as a Good Times/Taco John's co-branded restaurant and the building was rebuilt, the Good Times locations in Gillette and Sheridan, Wyoming, remained co-branded with Taco John's according to the referenced material. Good Times also expanded its corporate portfolio through Bad Daddy's Burger Bar. In 2013, it purchased a 48 percent stake in the North Carolina-based operator and received development rights for Bad Daddy's franchise locations in Colorado, Arizona, and Kansas. Bad Daddy's was presented as an upscale, full-service, small-format burger concept, giving Good Times exposure to a different restaurant category from its drive-through chain. In 2015, Good Times announced that it would acquire the remaining 52 percent for $21 million. The Good Times chain has remained concentrated in the western United States, especially Colorado. The company’s home offices are in Golden, Colorado. The referenced July 2023 figures describe 31 locations, consisting of 29 in Colorado and two in Wyoming, down from 38 in 2015. These figures indicate a compact regional footprint rather than broad national expansion. On July 30, 2024, the company shortened its name to Good Times, removing the descriptive reference to burgers and frozen custard from the public-facing brand name while retaining the established restaurant identity.

1. 2024Brand name is shortened to Good Times

   On July 30, the public-facing name changes from Good Times Burgers & Frozen Custard to Good Times.

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2. 2023Reported footprint reaches 31 locations

   The chain is reported to operate 31 restaurants: 29 in Colorado and two in Wyoming.

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3. 2015Remaining Bad Daddy's interest announced for acquisition

   Good Times announces that it will purchase the remaining 52 percent of Bad Daddy's for $21 million.

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4. 2013Good Times buys a stake in Bad Daddy's

   The company acquires a 48 percent interest in Bad Daddy's Burger Bar and receives development rights in three states.

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5. 2007Bambino Burgers launch

   Good Times introduces smaller slider-style burgers called Bambino Burgers.

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6. 2004Taco John's co-branding experiment

   Good Times enters an agreement with Taco John's to test co-branded restaurant locations.

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7. 1996Round the Corner files for bankruptcy

   Round the Corner enters bankruptcy proceedings, with Good Times as its only secured creditor.

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8. 1995Round the Corner is spun off

   Round the Corner becomes a separate company after having been a subsidiary of Good Times Restaurants, Inc.

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9. 1987First Good Times restaurant opens

   The first Good Times Drive-Thru Burgers location opens in Boulder, Colorado.

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10. 1986Drive-through concept is formed

    Round the Corner creates a company to develop the Good Times drive-through restaurant format.

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11. 1968Round the Corner Restaurants is established

    Round the Corner Restaurants begins in Boulder, Colorado, as a gourmet sit-down hamburger business and later grows to about 30 restaurants in four states.

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A regional, premium-leaning quick-service burger chain combining drive-through convenience with frozen custard and specialty menu items.

• Premium burgersBurgers1987

  Burgers are the core savory offering of Good Times. The brand developed from a hamburger restaurant business and translated that heritage into a drive-through format. Its positioning emphasizes a more premium burger experience within regional quick-service dining.

• Bambino BurgersSlider-style burgers2007

  Introduced in 2007, Bambino Burgers are smaller hamburgers modeled on the slider format. They extend the brand's burger range with a compact portion and provide an alternative to its larger burger offerings.

• Frozen custardFrozen desserts1987

  Frozen custard is one of Good Times' defining menu categories. Vanilla is offered year-round, while additional flavors rotate by month or season. The rotating flavor approach gives the dessert menu a recurring novelty element.

• PawbendersPet treats

  Pawbenders are frozen treats designed for dogs. The product combines vanilla frozen custard, three Milk Bones, and a peanut-butter drizzle. Good Times links the product to charitable support for selected animal-welfare organizations, with a portion of sales proceeds donated.

• French friesSide dishes1987

  French fries are a standard savory side associated with the chain's burger and drive-through menu.

• Pawbenders animal-welfare program

  Colorado · Wyoming

  Good Times promotes Pawbenders as a dog-friendly frozen treat and links sales to support for animal-welfare organizations, including the Dumb Friends League, Freedom Service Dogs of America, and the Larimer Humane Society.

  Outcome. The referenced material does not provide quantified fundraising results.

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• 2024Shorten the brand name to Good TimesStrategy

  The established name explicitly described the chain's burger and frozen-custard categories but was relatively long for consumer-facing use.

  What changed. On July 30, 2024, the company shortened the name from Good Times Burgers & Frozen Custard to Good Times.

  Aftermath. The change created a simpler public-facing brand name; the referenced material does not describe further operational or financial effects.

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• 2015Pursue full ownership of Bad Daddy'sM&A

  After holding a 48 percent stake since 2013, Good Times announced a plan to consolidate ownership of Bad Daddy's Burger Bar.

  What changed. Good Times announced the acquisition of the remaining 52 percent for $21 million.

  Aftermath. The transaction expanded the company's portfolio to include both a regional drive-through brand and an upscale full-service burger concept.

  Purchase price for remaining Bad Daddy's interest. $21 million (2015 announcement)

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• 2013Acquire a minority interest in Bad Daddy's Burger BarM&A

  Good Times pursued exposure to an upscale, full-service burger concept in addition to its own quick-service chain.

  What changed. It acquired 48 percent of Bad Daddy's and received development rights in Colorado, Arizona, and Kansas.

  Aftermath. The investment was followed by a 2015 announcement to purchase the remaining interest.

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• 2004Test co-branded restaurants with Taco John'sStrategy

  Good Times sought to experiment with a partnership format rather than relying exclusively on standalone restaurants.

  What changed. The company agreed with Taco John's to test co-branded restaurants, including a remodeled location in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

  Aftermath. The Cheyenne site later ceased operating as a Good Times/Taco John's co-branded location, while the Gillette and Sheridan locations remained associated with Taco John's.

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• 1986Develop a dedicated drive-through conceptStrategy

  Round the Corner had operated gourmet sit-down hamburger restaurants, but the business created a separate company to pursue a drive-through format.

  What changed. The new concept was developed as Good Times Drive-Thru Burgers and opened its first restaurant in Boulder in 1987.

  Aftermath. Good Times became the continuing regional brand after the Round the Corner business was separated and ultimately exited restaurant operations.

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• 2024Good Times shortens its brand name

  On July 30, 2024, the company shortened the name Good Times Burgers & Frozen Custard to Good Times.

  Leadership change
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• 2023Good Times operates a smaller regional restaurant network

  As of July 2023, the chain was reported to have 31 locations, with 29 in Colorado and two in Wyoming, compared with 38 locations in 2015.

  Other
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• 2015Good Times announces purchase of remaining Bad Daddy's interest

  The company announced a plan to purchase the remaining 52 percent of Bad Daddy's Burger Bar for $21 million.

  M&A
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• 2013Good Times acquires a minority interest in Bad Daddy's Burger Bar

  Good Times acquired a 48 percent interest in Bad Daddy's Burger Bar and obtained development rights for the concept in Colorado, Arizona, and Kansas.

  M&A
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• 2007Good Times introduces Bambino Burgers

  The chain added Bambino Burgers, small slider-style hamburgers that broadened its burger-format offering.

  Product launch
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1. Good Times Burgers & Frozen Custard