Posted on 01/05/2019 5:48:25 AM PST by raccoonradio
...the restaurant will close on Jan. 12 because fewer customers are coming through the doors and costs have risen.
Manager Kenneth Thimothee said the states new minimum hourly wage, which rose from $3.75 to $4.35 for tipped workers and from $11 to $12 for other employees, is partially to blame. And Durgin-Park will not be the only high-profile restaurant that will close this year, said Bob Luz, president and CEO of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association.
Were going to have a number coming up in the not-too-distant future, Luz said, although he declined to say which ones.
Its a confluence of a number of things creating an environment where its nearly impossible for restaurants to remain profitable, he said. Ninety-five cents of every dollar that comes in the door goes out to pay expenses. The rents are crazy, the cost of doing business is skyrocketing, and theres more restaurant seats in the marketplace than ever before.
(Excerpt) Read more at bostonherald.com ...
On another note, I think I've taken my last cruise. The last cruise really pushed the envelope for cutting corners on food quality, entertainment offerings, raising prices, timely repairs, and on things that used to be free or very minimal cost. For awhile, they and restaurants can fill the gap with new customers they attract. The question is how loyal those new customers will be.
And yet everyone will blame it all on the salary increases.
1. Rising costs (including wages, rent, etc.) for the restaurant.
2. Declining discretionary income for prospective customers.
I'm not very old, but I grew up in an era when people hardly ever ate out in restaurants. In my family, we'd do it maybe once or twice a year on special occasions. I think we're going back to those days -- at least for families.
My office is in a pretty wealthy town, and they had a new restaurant a few years ago that was a hot new item. It was written up in the New York Times not long after it opened. Within two years the place was closed. The turnover in this industry is dramatic, and it seems like the only ones that survive for a long time are the ones located in buildings owned by the restaurant owner that can basically run as a "subsidized" operation.
D-P opened 192 years ago.
We had dinner there in the mid-80’s and two years ago.
Not much had changed.
Durgin Park still serves my “benchmark” prime rib.
Once they’re gone, I’ll have to keep looking for that perfect prime rib.
That’ll be fun.
Our family ate dinner there in 1975. We werent able to finish our meal. Everyone got sick. Cant remember what we ate.
There are many great sea food restaurants around. On Cape Cod the region is saturated with them. The 99 has been around for decades. A friend used to own a nice restaurant in Plymouth and that town is good for dining.
In Boston though, there is no real parking and a couple of drinks will set you back more than $20 Bucks. No thanks.
I’ve always wondered what access to fresh seafood would be like. Here in DFW we’re not swimming in it. We do have excellent pizza of varying types. A little joint in Hurst (Ti Amo) makes their White Pizza and it has consistently wowed me for years. iFratelli makes their cracker-like crusted rectangular pizzas (”never trust a round pizza”). My sister dropped off a pepperoni pizza from Fireside Pies while I was at work and it was delicious COLD. It had that “authentic” puffy, slightly charred crust from Italy.
There is a new steak house opening up where Hilltop used to be. The neon green cactus in front has been painstakingly restored to its former glory!
I eat at Durgin Park once or twice a year. It was one of the few places that you can get corn beef and cabbage year round. I know that sounds crazy but that is the new Boston. I think it is the last place serving Boston baked beans. The prime rib was always good and Indian pudding finished off every meal. I think you have to be a third generation local to appreciate Durgin Park and their just isnt enough of us around in Boston. Whenever I took out of towers to Durgin Park they just didnt get it or appreciate it. Durgin Park was always a place that was introduced by your grandparents. And there lies the problem as most people in the city today have grandparents from out of state.
” Nothing like a good Indian pudding to finish off a meal!”
I hate that stuff! My Mom used to make that and it was about the only thing I couldn’t stand. I doubt many Indians ( feather not dot) ever ate it unless they were starving. I can tell you, this Indian won’t eat that lumpy brown snot!
I love Indian pudding!
As part of your wonderful legislative package, I suggest an amendment to include elimination of retirement plans for members of congress and a force them to join the same medical plan offered to enlisted members of the military.
Lumpy? Maybe your mother wasn’t making it right!
Missing Pepe’s since we moved down here to NC.
Theres some good food down here in the Raleigh area. But we’ve yet to find an outstanding pizza place.
Theres some locals that are good, but no Pepe’s.
Oysters and ‘cue can’t be beat. Seafood is hit or miss. People look at you like you have a giant wart on your nose if you ask for whole belly fried clams!
I liked Durgin Park, but I really miss Mondo’s. Hilltop was a bit of a haul, but it did have the giant steers out front.
“I will never understand the enduring appeal of that overpriced junk”
Texas Roadhouse treats veterans well, especially on Veterans Day!
Manager Kenneth Thimothee said the states new minimum hourly wage, which rose from $3.75 to $4.35 for tipped workers and from $11 to $12 for other employees, is partially to blame.
Political cartoon..two young people and a middle aged man:
“I got a raise!”
“I got a raise!”
“I got fired to pay for their raises.”
Nope, that is what it is, lumpy brown snot.
https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/indian_pudding/
“Few desserts look so completely unappetizing yet taste so incredibly good. One bite of this lumpy, brown mush, with a dab of...”
Yum! lumpy brown snot!
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