Posted on 11/10/2005 6:41:15 AM PST by TheForceOfOne
OGUNQUIT, Maine --Voters in this seaside town on Tuesday became the latest community to ban so-called "formula" restaurants.
Supporters of the chain restaurant ban put the measure on the ballot because they didn't want their town to turn into just another congested strip of Dunkin' Donuts, Subways, Applebee's and Burger Kings.
The measure, which was approved 506-207, prohibits formula restaurants, defined as establishments with the same name, employee uniforms, color schemes, architectural design, signage, or similar standardized features as another restaurant regardless of location or ownership.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
The less-government-regulation/control side of me is appalled by this.
OTOH, the what-goes-around-comes-around part of me is squealing with glee.
The chain restaurants have long been in bed with the big government nanny types. Case in point, smoking bans in bars and restaurants. The chains push for them knowing they can handle the initial resistance, but small town mom & pop places can't. Smoking bans are a means of the chains controlling/limiting their competition.
It's a shame this didn't happen before they got their way and got a smoking ban passed in Maine.
Only if they ban mailorder shipments as well. Otherwise an underground economy of "blackmarket" chain merchandise would arise.
The bigger question is how close is the nearest outlet mall.
Actually this is not socialism. This is fascism. Fascism is where the government maintains the fiction of private property, but burdens it with so many regulations that the government exercises effective ownership of it.
If one of the local resturants decides that it has a winning business and wants to expand and franchise, will they have to close their original location?
I agree, this is bad precedent.
Ogunquit: Been there and kept driving.
I do not think much of this either. But it is the will of teh people. They did vote on it, so I respect it.
Lessee here ... you got four walls AND a roof to this restaurant? Ovens? Chairs AND tables? And you serve food on plates?
I remember a restaurant in Tallahassee that was a lot like this ... we're gonna have to shut you down.
The locals note that it you drop your wallet in Ogunquit, best to kick it to Saco before picking it up.
"A good ol' home town chicken fried stake with that sausage gravy, is it better at applebees??? "
I've never understood the claim that smoking bans (on all bars and restaurants) reduces business.
I can see bars losing cigarette sales and maybe customers don't stay so long, but some may actually order another drink since they don't have the cigarette to fumble with. In a restautrant, there is nothing to be "gained" by having a smoker sit at a table for 20 minutes after a meal drinking free refills of coffee, etc. That station is not generating any additional revenue.
If all businesses have to comply, there is no difference in service. Do people really avoid seeing live music because they can't have a smoke? Do they really start cooking more at home? There are needs that are not met by having that cigarette.
None of this means that I support smoking bans (it should be up to the business owner) but I've never understood the argument.
I lived in a town that banned fast food restaurants. The Dog and Suds was allowed to be there because they prepared their food for each order. The restaurants were excellent. However, not being able to grab a quick burger was a pain.
Now that I think about it. We ate lot better and I cooked a lot more when we lived there. Dining out was expensive.
I've never been there, and I can understand people not wanting their town to look like Las Vegas with all the signs etc. but this is where zoning comes into play, keeping business and residential areas separate.
What happens if one of their local restaurants get successful? If the owner wants to open in a new location, the first thing he will have to do is close the original restaurant!
People seem to have this idea that chains arise when some guy in a blue suit in New York comes up with a marketing concept and gets financing for a thousand restaurants scattered around the nation.
But if you look at the history of a lot of these franchises (KFC, Don Pablo's, Carl's Jr., etc., etc.) the history was one restaurant that worked very well and the owner decides to open a few more and it grows from there.
Ya I know... I just tread a little lightly on subjects like this because there are not too many ways anymore to stay small if you will. If this little twon can do without the major labels, I say let them do it. It's almost like the Amish situation. They are making it with their hands heads and sweat... I think that is missed in our culture. I making sense?
forgot the Am...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.