Just read in the paper today that one of my favorite seafood restaurants is closing next month- in fact, the building is going to be torn down! I didn’t know they were struggling- the place was swamped last time I ate there! The manager says that they just can’t compete with “the chain restaurants.” Such as (BARF!) Red Lobster??? (which just opened a second branch here, and both branches are always full of screaming brats) Or places like Pappadeaux which charge an arm and a leg? This ticks me off- heaven knows it’s not easy to find good, economical seafood in this part of the world.
Sorry to hear it, ** SweetLucy. ** My favorite resturant closed about a year ago. Unfortunately, it opened back up in a few months with a new owner, and a new menu. It was, honest-to-god, the worst food I have ever consumed. Then it closed again. The newspaper says, yes, once again, it is opening with a new owner/manager. I don’t know if I’m willing to risk it.
Sad to say, but a lot of privately owned places are falling victims to the chains. They have more money, better advertising, and people seem to like the idea of being able to get the same food no matter where they go. (Personally, the thing I like about travel is trying new foods, but that’s another thread.)
I can honestly forsee in the future the possibility that all businesses will be chains. Small businesses just won’t be able to compete. A chain can afford to lose money until all of their competetors are gone, knowing they’ll have all of the customers once the other places are gone. Whereas a Mom and Pop usually makes a small profit, if any, and can’t fight back by cutting prices sharply and launching massive advertising campaigns.
My favorite locally-owned BBQ restaurant in Orlando closed a few years ago.
The reason the small businesses aren’t making it is that we, the consumers, are choosing the chains in more numbers than we’d like to admit.
Bah Humbug