[8] In a 1975 interview, New England franchise vice president M. John Elliott claimed the fish recipe to be the actor's own, brought over from the United Kingdom.

[9] The franchise company was started in Columbus, Ohio, in 1969 as National Fast Food Corp.[10] Its principals at the time included S. Robert Davis, his friend and future Wendy's founder Dave Thomas, and L. S. Hartzog.

Davis was a real estate developer who built and leased several Colonel Sanders Kentucky Fried Chicken properties.

Aided by Arthur Treacher's advertisements, these companies introduced British fish and chips to northeastern America.

[13] The move exacerbated tensions with franchisees — some of whom had already withheld a total of $5 million in royalties for what they perceived to be a steadily declining level of service.

[14] After losing the case to the franchisees and having no way to compensate them, Mrs. Paul's sold Arthur Treacher's to Lumara Foods of America Inc. in March 1982.

In 1993, money from a new group of investors was used to introduce a more modern seafood concept, to buy additional stores, and to move the company from its base operations in Youngstown to Jacksonville, Florida.

"[18] In recognition of the restaurant's survival, Cuyahoga Falls Mayor Don Walters designated June 30, 2021, as Arthur Treacher's Day.

7 in Pomeroy, Ohio, also maintains an attached Arthur Treacher's franchise location, sharing kitchen space with a Hunt Brothers Pizza and a Sub Express.

[21] In February 2023, the restaurant at 12585 Rockside Road in Garfield Heights, Ohio, also owned by Simon,[17] reopened, just in time for the Lenten season.