Posted on 10/27/2023 7:59:05 AM PDT by Phoenix8
O’Charley’s is not alone, judging by the spate of chain restaurant closures this year. Boston Market has closed at least two-dozen stores; Applebee’s is planning dozens of closures; Qdoba intends to shrink by as much as 1.5% annually; and Veggie Grill has closed 40% of its locations in recent months.
But O’Charley’s struggles predate even today’s harsh environment. From 2017 to 2022, systemwide sales fell 34%, and unit count declined by nearly a third, according to data from Technomic.
(Excerpt) Read more at restaurantbusinessonline.com ...
Several have closed in areas outside the ATL metro area. I would have thought the business would be there because they are smaller cities a bit more rural and traditional compared to the fad-chasing of younger or urban diners in ATL. It’s probably a logistics move because it’s harder to support one restaurant here or there fifty miles away. I rarely go out to eat because I am trying to weather inflation in the metro area.
I miss Pre-Chew Charlie’s from the 70s.
Looks like we lost our O’Charley’s, one of the few in Texas.
It was decent food but uninspired, but I would have thought that a liquor license cured all in the restaurant business.
I liked it as a solid place to get a decent meal and watch a game.
They did have a challenge keeping their staff, though.
I help one of my daughters out by watching her boys 2-3 times a week (shhh don’t tell her I’d watch my grand sons for free!!! LOL).
Anyway she and her Husband decided to reward me and the wife back in 2019 by taking us to a French restaurant as I’ve always wanted to try it.
The bill was easily into 3 figures, for 6 people. I can only imagine what it would be now.
All the marginal chain restaurants before Biden Administration that were making it are going bankrupt now. In many of them, the restaurants are cutting corners to keep the costs down so the quality isn't what it used to be.
I really don’t enjoy eating out any more for all the reasons you mentioned. I am a good cook & use fresh ingredients, can get a bottle of wine for what you have to pay for a glass these days, & have a little bistro table/chairs on the front porch for alfresco dining in a beautiful, peaceful setting. If it’s bad weather, dining in front of the fireplace is lovely.
When people ask why I don’t like going out, the reply is I can do poor quality food & crappy service myself, at home, for a lot less money.
“But...but...GDP is 4.9%“
The MSM lets them cook the numbers. Anything to help Traitor Joe.
Exactly!
The democrats $15 minimum wage has no effect ? D’oh
“Forget the Government’s inflation numbers.“
The rats removed food and energy from the calculation and treasonous bastards in the “news” outlets let them get away with it.
“But...but...GDP is 4.9%”
I heard yesterday on Wilkow, I think, that most of the GDP is government spending, not consumer spending.
“Maybe it’s my part of the country but I’m simply not seeing this “robust” economy the national news keeps talking about.”
It’s important to remember that almost all Central Government statistics are now subject to political filtering and “adjusting”. Sadly, so is much of corporate data. Central Government and large corporations work hand in hand to a great extent these days. This was Mussolini’s idea of the perfect model of Fascism.
Lunch for two with tip comes to over $40 here at a cheap diner. Dinner for two starts somewhere around $70. Large pizzas are over $20 at local restaurants.
I can get a giant four meat pizza at Sam’s Club Cafe for $8.99 and take it home. A stuffed grilled ham and cheese sandwich is about a dollar at home. It’s $13 plus tip at a diner. The difference is the frozen, soggy fries that the restaurant includes. I don’t need them.
Fortunately, I can still get a draft beer for $2.50 at my local dive bar.
I am very MAGA.
But this high rate of inflation has roots in the Covid-era spending. Pelosi ran the House of Reprehensibles, and Trump signed the legislation.
So Biden should get a good bit of the blame, but the damage from the Inflation Reduction Act hasn’t really kicked-in yet.
Regards to all
Some of the upper scale grocery stores are putting in food bars. You can buy the entree or the whole meal. I’ve even seen filet mignon be offered at a high end grocery store.
Our local supermarkets are carrying more chicken then beef now.
Govt. inflation numbers are nothing but fantasy. Saw the same thing during Obama’s terms. Their numbers do not reflect reality in any way.
This! Even fast food restaurants are north of $10/meal now.
There is definitely something to what you say, even those who live life with ethics and morality are still motivated by economics, they know interest rates are going higher, they know prices are going higher and by purchasing things today is smart because 6 months from now things will be more expensive.
11 bucks ok IF the cobb salad is a good one, but adding on beverage, tip and tax, it’s gonna add up to 20 bucks per person, so two people is $40.00 ... and then there’s the time and cost to drive, park and return home ...
for $24.00 at costco, we can buy two delicious and healthy lamb shanks cooked sous vide in fig sauce ... each shank gives us two meals (plus bone for the cat), so that’s six bucks per person per meal (plus two bones for the cat) ... well, plus splitting a can of green beans on the side ...
buy a box of canned green beans and put a few lamb shanks in freezer for when i don’t feel like cooking and watch an episode of “Lewis” on Britbox, and it’s a pretty good evening ...
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