Yet another fine dining establishment is struggling

[pubic_assistance]

5 hours ago, Ali Gator said:

So Wendy's isn't growing the chain by opening 140 new locations - it will stay stagnant. That's not good news for chain of burger restaurants, certainly not for their shareholders. They want growth and competition - not staying stagnant. 

Opening 140 new locations that bring profit while closing 140 underperforming locations is not stagnation. It's all about cash flow when you're running a large corporation.

[Ali Gator]

1 hour ago, pubic_assistance said:

Opening 140 new locations that bring profit while closing 140 underperforming locations is not stagnation. It's all about cash flow when you're running a large corporation.

It's not company growth, which is what shareholders are banking on each year. Furthermore, no one knows if these alternate locations will be profitable or not. 

[pubic_assistance]

1 hour ago, Ali Gator said:

It's not company growth, which is what shareholders are banking on each year. Furthermore, no one knows if these alternate locations will be profitable or not. 

Company "growth" is not judged by locations....it's metric is income and profit.

[Ali Gator]

On 11/10/2024 at 9:06 PM, pubic_assistance said:

Company "growth" is not judged by locations....it's metric is income and profit.

Company growth is judged by expansion - adding more locations (not replacing existing locations) is what they are looking for in their quarterly meetings. Stockholders want to hear "We're adding 10 more stores in the Boston metro area in the first quarter of 2025 to bring the total in that area to 13" - not "We're closing 3 stores in the Boston metro area, and relocating them to other locations, so we will continue to have 3 locations in Boston in the first quarter of 2025 ."

[pubic_assistance]

56 minutes ago, Ali Gator said:

Company growth is judged by expansion - adding more locations (not replacing existing locations)

Clearly you don't work in corporate.

Growth is about profit NOT how you make profit

[samhexum]

On 11/3/2024 at 10:08 PM, jeezopete said:

 

 

I have listened to this a few times because he's pretty attractive and it has grown on me.

 I think it's fun and catchy.

 

[samhexum]

On 11/3/2024 at 10:08 PM, jeezopete said:

 

 

On 11/3/2024 at 10:25 PM, PhileasFogg said:

God Bless America!

 

On 11/3/2024 at 10:48 PM, Ali Gator said:

If Walker Hayes asked me to go on a date with him to Applebee's, I wouldn't refuse. But since that won't ever happen , I won't be going to Applebee's any time soon. 

 

[samhexum]

He's a Christian, sober since 2015, and married since 2004. He'll be 45 two days after Christmas, and he and his wife had seven kids, although the youngest died shortly after birth.

[Deadlift1]

Is this what happened with Red Lobster? Boston Market? And non food Sears?

[samhexum]

He knows where his bread is buttered, so to speak. The new version of the song includes a line about hoping Santa leaves him an Applebee's gift card.

I like the shots of him and the family in matching jammies.

[samhexum]

Hooters — famous for dressing its waitresses in tight-fitting T-shirts to sling wings and beer — could be going belly-up.

The casual dining chain is preparing for a potential bankruptcy filing as it works with creditors on a plan to restructure its operations, according to Bloomberg News.
 

 

[samhexum]

Red Robin considers closing 70 locations amid financial woes

The chain on Wednesday announced it is weighing plans to potentially close 70 locations once their lease expires, as it attempts to turn around its operations. The company has already closed one location in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, and recorded a loss of $32.4 million in the quarter in large part from the “review of underperforming restaurants.”

The company plans to sell three properties during the first quarter of fiscal 2025. The sale of those locations is expected to generate $5.8 million, which the company anticipates will be used in part to repay its debt.

While financial results for fiscal 2024 “fell well below” the company’s original expectations, CEO G.J. Hart said the company has made “substantial improvements to the guest experience” to try and drive traffic back to its restaurants. 

 

[+ Gar1eth]

On 12/6/2024 at 10:56 AM, Deadlift1 said:

Is this what happened with Red Lobster? Boston Market? And non food Sears?

I used to love Boston Market back in the late 1990's and early to mid 2000's. Then I moved to an area that didn't have  them and lived there around 8 years. When I moved back to Texas 7 years ago, I would occasionally go there. But there weren't usually any extremely close to me, so I'd have to make an effort.
 

As a disclaimer I am not a business person and have no knowledge of their corporate practices. But one thing I've thought about-back when Boston Market started  in the mid 1980's, I don't think it was that common for grocery stores to sell cooked roasted chicken. Maybe some did-and I'm assuming Costco did. But nowadays you can pick up an entire roasted chicken at Walmart for $4.99. And it's not that bad. They aren't as good as  the ones you could get at Boston Market. But they are close. And you can pick up  whatever fixins you want as a side dish at Walmart too. So I'm thinking there's just no way Boston Market could compete with grocery store prices.
 

I will miss their meatloaf though. 

[pubic_assistance]

On 3/6/2025 at 2:21 PM, samhexum said:

While financial results for fiscal 2024 “fell well below” the company’s original expectations, CEO G.J. Hart said the company has made “substantial improvements to the guest experience” to try and drive traffic back to its restaurants. 

Red Robin is one of the few "good food/fast service" providers that I would patronize. Like all corporate entities, the rush to grow profits always means "streamlining" which ultimately results in decreasing service. The comment about "improvements to guest experience" is always a matter of being too little / too late. It's like an abusive relationship where the spouse promises to do better if you'd just come back. You know it will be temporary until it happens again.

[+ azdr0710]

On 3/8/2025 at 7:28 PM, Gar1eth said:

I used to love Boston Market back in the late 1990's and early to mid 2000's. Then I moved to an area that didn't have  them and lived there around 8 years. When I moved back to Texas 7 years ago, I would occasionally go there. But there weren't usually any extremely close to me, so I'd have to make an effort.
 

As a disclaimer I am not a business person and have no knowledge of their corporate practices. But one thing I've thought about-back when Boston Market started  in the mid 1980's, I don't think it was that common for grocery stores to sell cooked roasted chicken. Maybe some did-and I'm assuming Costco did. But nowadays you can pick up an entire roasted chicken at Walmart for $4.99. And it's not that bad. They aren't as good as  the ones you could get at Boston Market. But they are close. And you can pick up  whatever fixins you want as a side dish at Walmart too. So I'm thinking there's just no way Boston Market could compete with grocery store prices.
 

I will miss their meatloaf though. 

I remember when it was "Boston Chicken" before it was "Boston Market". I liked the place a lot and I  suppose case studies exist on why it didn't make it. Was it another one of these private equity deals?  

[samhexum]

4 hours ago, azdr0710 said:

I remember when it was "Boston Chicken" before it was "Boston Market". I liked the place a lot and I  suppose case studies exist on why it didn't make it. Was it another one of these private equity deals?  

I loved their sides, especially their rice pilaf.  There was a location with a drive-thru near where I used to work so it was convenient to occasionally pick up dinner on my way home.

I'm sure it was the loss of my business that did them in.

[samhexum]

On 11/3/2024 at 7:43 AM, PhileasFogg said:

I'd do draw exception with characterizing any "chain" restaurant as "fine dining"😕

 

On 11/3/2024 at 10:37 AM, samhexum said:

You've obviously never eaten at Applebees.

 

On 11/3/2024 at 8:08 PM, KrisParr said:

I wanted to take my client out so I asked around for the names of a few “fine dining” recommendations. The unanimous response? Applebees.  The client was pleased. My first and last time.

 

On 11/3/2024 at 10:48 PM, Ali Gator said:

If Walker Hayes asked me to go on a date with him to Applebee's, I wouldn't refuse. But since that won't ever happen , I won't be going to Applebee's any time soon. 

Kids eat free this Easter at participating Applebee’s locations in Queens

Edited April 11 by samhexum
for absolutely NO @%!*ING reason at all!

[samhexum]

The neighborhood will never be the same again...  

High-end Mediterranean restaurant to replace shuttered TGI Friday’s on Austin Street in Forest Hills – QNS

QNS.COM

---

A new high-end Mediterranean restaurant is slated to open at 7000 Austin St. in Forest Hills, taking...

 

[BuffaloKyle]

McDonald's plans to close its CosMc's locations

WWW.RESTAURANTBUSINESSONLINE.COM

---

The fast-food giant will instead introduce beverages from the test concept into “hundreds” of McDonald’s restaurants as a test this

 

[samhexum]

On 11/3/2024 at 7:43 AM, PhileasFogg said:

I'd do draw exception with characterizing any "chain" restaurant as "fine dining"😕

 

On 11/3/2024 at 10:37 AM, samhexum said:

You've obviously never eaten at Applebees.

 

On 11/3/2024 at 8:08 PM, KrisParr said:

Applebees.  The restaurant indeed was new, and my client was pleased. My first and last time.

 

Kids eat free at Queens Applebee’s this July 4th weekend – QNS

QNS.COM

---

This July 4th holiday weekend, Queens families can enjoy a holiday promotion at their local Applebee's.

 

Edited June 30 by samhexum
for absolutely NO @%!*ING reason at all!

[Ali Gator]

One of our first 'Applebee's' opened in the late 80s in an outdoor shopping center which was going under major renovations to attract a 'middle class' shopper and their families. 'Applebee's' was a new name in town (for our area) and seemed like a good fit to help launch the 'new image' of the renovated center. As time has gone on over the past 35 years, the center went from 'middle class' to more 'upper middle class / lower upper class' shopper. There's been a conscious effort to  attract higher end tenants, and Applebee's has been on the chopping block for when their lease ends (problem is they sign long-term leases, not to lose the space. The rumor is the landlords want Applebee's out, and a locally owned high end/ trendy restaurant in, to open their third location. 

As it happened, last Fall the restaurant had a major kitchen fire, and the building is inhabitable. It has to be torn down and rebuilt. It's been made very public that Applebee's wants back in to finish off their lease (I think another ten years was left), while the center is taking advantage of the situation, and won't let them back in (they're negotiating with 'locally owned'  for the property).  At this time, it looks like it's going to court to settle whether Applebee's still has a valid lease there, or not.