[jeffc]

In Ocala FL, just across from the Paddock Mall on 200 (College Road) is what I call Restaurant Row. It is packed with the likes of Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Outback, etc. Chili's is a little down and across the street, and a Carrabba's a little further away going into town. All of them are packed almost every day of the week, almost from opening to closing. There is almost always quite a long wait (unless, of course, you get their when they open).

Only Chili's has seen fit to open another store farther away, but still in Ocala. Whenever we go out to eat, we plan on a non-standard time and figure we will still have to wait about 20-30 minutes for a table.

[bert]

It would appear that what you describe is anomaly. The article was written using data including all of the depressed Yankee hell holes that are the northern blue tier.

The depressed areas suffer from self imposed regulatory excess. The mandates have stifled growth. The peripheral businesses described are suffering from the negative trend in sales.