It’s unfortunate if you’re a happy customer of one of these type places and it closes. That’s happened to me many times, and it’s an inevitable cycle. Consumer tastes change. Other chains come along offering something different, something better, and customers go elsewhere. Once upon a time there were thousands of Howard Johnsons around. In California, I think about chains of the past that had many locations but have dwindled to just a few (if any): Bob’s Big Boy, Sambo’s, Carrow’s, Straw Hat Pizza. Quizno’s Subs, etc. It’s a tough world out there, and if you’re not getting it done for consumers in terms of providing a quality product at the right price, they’ll go elsewhere. I’ve got to give credit to companies like McDonald’s and In-N-Out Burger that seem to consistently get things done over decades. And there’s not necessarily a one-size-fits-all approach to surviving. McDonald’s, for instance, seems to constantly tinker with its menu, while In-N-Out never expands the menu nor really ever changes anything other than maybe swapping out a soft-drink that’s not selling well.
Find your niche, exploit it, own it.................
Quiznos really went under fast. I worked with a guy who had a side hustle of 5 franchise stores, and he took it in the shorts hard dealing with Quiznos corporate as they went under. It ruined him.
On another note, Cali seems to be able to support a million taco shops and can export them. I was in all over the Grand Canyon and Sedona areas a few weeks ago and it was littered with Filiberto’s taco shops.