Conversation so far:
when did the last lyons corner house close
Lyons' Corner Houses first appeared in 1909 and remained until 1977.
Where were Lyons' Corner Houses located?
Lyons' Corner Houses were on or near the corners of Coventry Street, Strand and Tottenham Court Road.

Question: what purpose did the houses serve
Self-contained rewrite: what purpose did lyons' corner houses serve