# Why did the fish fast food chains close?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-fish-fast-food-chains-close/980860>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Tags:** food-cooking\
**Created:** [March 8, 2023, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-fish-fast-food-chains-close/980860 "2023-03-08T07:56:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 8

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**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2023, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-fish-fast-food-chains-close/980860/141 "2023-03-12T10:34:00Z")

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> [@eschereal](#):
>
> The best smelling place in the county was Moby Doug’s down in Des Moinez.

Definitely! I was there many times and even worked in their (short-lived) second location in Mulkiteo. I believe it became Wally’s sometime after Doug died, but I’m not sure when the name change happened.

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2023, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-fish-fast-food-chains-close/980860/142 "2023-03-12T15:01:13Z")

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> [@Helena330](#):
>
> they have a light panko breading

I like breaded fish on sandwiches, and sometimes on tacos or in burritos; but for fish & chips, the fish has to be battered.

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**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2023, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-fish-fast-food-chains-close/980860/143 "2023-03-12T23:49:41Z")

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> [@Die\_Capacitrix](#):
>
> I believe it became Wally’s sometime after Doug died, but I’m not sure when the name change happened.

I’ve been avoiding Wally’s ever since I found out the owners are the parents of Ethan Nordean, prominent Proud Boy and convicted 1/6 insurrectionist.

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**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2023, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-fish-fast-food-chains-close/980860/144 "2023-03-13T00:38:47Z")

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Yeah, that was a lot of drama for Des Moines. I’ve avoided it for the same reason. It’s a shame because the food is fantastic. I liked when they added the sports bar because the wait for a table was never very long after that.

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**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2023, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-fish-fast-food-chains-close/980860/145 "2023-03-13T00:55:09Z")

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The family has disowned essentially Ethan, though, and expressed dismay at his bugfuckery.

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**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2023, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-fish-fast-food-chains-close/980860/146 "2023-03-13T17:23:29Z")

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I’m not sure I believe it. There was such a backlash that it sounded very much like a PR move.

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