Hilltop Steak House opens in Saugus.

Operated by Frank Giuffrida, it is located on Route 1. The restaurant becomes known not only for its food, but for its “country-kitsch” decor, which includes fiberglass cow statues on the front lawn and 68-foot-tall cactus sign. Giuffrida sells the restaurant in 1988, with the stipulation that he and his family receive free meals and never have to wait in line. The restaurant is purchased by High Country Investor, Inc. in 1997, closes on October 20, 2013, and the building is demolished in 2015. The sign is renovated in 2018 as part of a planned new, mixed-use development.