Send us a Text Message.A&W Restaurants was founded in 1919 as a root beer stand in Lodi, California, to welcome the troops home after World War I. As America’s oldest franchise restaurant chain, today, there are nearly 450 locations across the U.S. and another 450 in Asia spanning four markets. The chain is 100% franchisee-owned. The brand ensures franchisees have a voice in company decisions that will affect their businesses, and franchisees are represented by the National A&W ...