One place they are NOT building mega retail: California. I just came back from Sactramento and there are plenty of empty stores.
Even the In and Out we used to go to was slow. I mean no line, most seating available. Three years ago, we would be hawking for an empty table.
It makes sense that Texas is what America used to be.
The reason the In n Out is slower is because they have opened up so many of them in recent years.
When ours in San Jose opened about 10 years ago, it was one of the first in the Bay Area, and now there are a ton of them. It’s just not as special as it used to be. My kids used to love going to In n Out, but they are even tired of eating there.
Retail stores is another story. Lots of them closing!!