This describes the Moe’s restaurant close to my home pre-COVID. My wife and I used to go there fairly regularly, but too often they were out of common ingredients like onions, the employees were apathetic, service was slow, and it was dirty. I don’t usually do this, but I actually contacted corporate, politely telling them I wouldn’t return to that location and why and they sent me $20 in vouchers. The location in Little Rock was fine, though the employees were often surly even though they did a good job, it was just the one in Bryant that was bad. They must have gotten a new manager though, because I went to the Bryant location in 2022 and they were great.
I drove by one of my local Boston Markets tonight, and it’s closed. The blinds were all drawn and the signs are gone. I don’t know how long ago it closed up shop, but nothing new has moved into the space, yet.
Funny that Bob Evans is also a chain circling the drain and I have no idea how they are still around
I just went on the Boston Market website and looked under “locations”. There are at least 72 stores out there still operating, if the site’s ujp to date.
Aww! I had no idea. Our local one is always busy and it’s a favorite breakfast spot for us, also good for lunch.
I ran into a similar thing regarding Po’ Folks (a sit-down comfort food restaurant). The ones nearby where I live had been circling the drain and closing for awhile, due to raising prices (and perhaps getting rid of the cutesy “down home” accoutrements on their menus, because their visual equivalent at Cracker Barrel hasn’t hurt them.) But then I saw a Po’ Folks on a road trip and thought “hey, I haven’t had that type of food in awhile, and they’re always empty, so may as well eat there for a change”. Nope, there was a long line out the door.
I ate at one a couple times in the 90s before they all disappeared in the NW after their 98 bankruptcy (found an article that states 56 locations in WA, OR, and ID closed). I seem to remember that it was pretty good, but that is 30 year old memories.
if your cost problem is a “variable cost problem”, a long line of clients does not really help you - as a matter of fact - it only makes things worse …
I’d never heard of Moe’s, so I googled, and they look like a downscale Chipotle’s. There’s a ton of good, cheap Mexican food here in the L.A. area, so maybe they never expanded here?
I just noticed Bob Evans mashed potatoes in our market yesterday. Never noticed them before, and I have no idea who Bob Evans even is. Are they any good?
They’re pretty good, IMO.
Bob Evans is a restaurant chain, with a breakfast focus, akin to Cracker Barrel or IHOP. They also sell refrigerated pork breakfast sausage products in many grocery stores.
Speaking of which, how is IHOP doing? I just know that the location near me closed a few years ago. I think I ate there maybe twice.
It is a bit on the Sunny Side Up for IHOP. (From 2023:)
https://www.nrn.com/finance/ihop-and-applebee-s-customers-are-maintaining-their-average-check-sizes
IHOP’s 10th consecutive quarter of same-store sales gains were driven by the company’s massive menu refresh earlier this year. Both brands’ weekly sales surpassed pre-pandemic highs, with Applebee’s up over $52,000 and IHOP weekly sales at $37,800. This was one of the highlights for Dine CEO John Peyton, who attributed the increase in weekly sales to a significantly larger off-premises business and higher menu prices – which are about 4% higher year-over-year at Applebee’s and about 8% for IHOP.