Casual dining is in danger - and millennials are to blame.
Brands such as TGI Fridays, Ruby Tuesday, and Applebee's have faced sales slumps and dozens of restaurant closures, as casual-dining chains have struggled to attract customers and increase sales.
"Casual-dining restaurants face a uniquely challenging market today," Buffalo Wild Wings CEO Sally Smith recently wrote in a letter to shareholders.
According to Smith, these sit-down restaurants' struggles can be blamed on a frequently besmirched generation: millennials.
"Millennial consumers are more attracted than their elders to cooking at home, ordering delivery from restaurants, and eating quickly, in fast-casual or quick-serve restaurants," Smith wrote.
While blaming millennials has become a trend to the point of cliché in retail, Smith isn't wrong to zero in on younger customers' changing tastes as a major factor in casual dining's downfall.
legsdiamond Member since May 05th 2011 79618 posts
Mon Jun-05-17 12:08 PM
4. "why go to a chain when you can go to a local pub with good food? " In response to Reply # 0
**************** TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*
6. "how you gonna blame ppl for having a shitty product?" In response to Reply # 0 Mon Jun-05-17 12:37 PM by double negative
those places are a JOKE and they have bad associations
if they wanted to bring in snake people money they would create side brands that were masquerading as indie shops and shut the fuck up about young people not wanting to go and pay a bunch of money for shitty food
i went to redlobster recently with folks randomly and after getting the bill we realized
1. they charge way to much for what the food is
2. for a bit less money we could have gone to an authentic place
also, snake people like city life
casual dining is associated with boring suburban living
legsdiamond Member since May 05th 2011 79618 posts
Mon Jun-05-17 02:13 PM
17. "10 in a 30 mile radius? Yeah.. they are headed in that direction" In response to Reply # 15
Only been a few times. If I'm going out to eat at that price point I'm def not going to a chain.
**************** TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*
legsdiamond Member since May 05th 2011 79618 posts
Tue Jun-06-17 09:26 AM
39. "hmm.. never been to a Hard Rock Cafe.. they looked cheesy" In response to Reply # 37
CheeseCake is the bougie Applebee's IMO.
**************** TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*
**************** TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*
legsdiamond Member since May 05th 2011 79618 posts
Mon Jun-05-17 01:07 PM
12. "These sports bars stay packed tho" In response to Reply # 0
Hickory Tavern, TMac, Duckworths...
Man, Duckworths has a $3.50 any draft special twice a week. I can get a Bells 2 hearted for 3.50??? Shieeeet.
**************** TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*
14. "Damn, people try to shit on millennials for just about anything" In response to Reply # 0 Mon Jun-05-17 01:30 PM by Oak27
It's as if we're not allowed to decide we'd rather cook at home or eat at a local establishment with higher quality food. Instead we get more "blame" resulting in some negative connotation like we are doing something wrong.
Not attracting younger customers, maybe it's not an issue with the customers it's an issue with the business.
I guess the saying needs to be updated to "The customer is always right, unless the customer was born between 1982 and 2004."
23. "all of these places need to step it up..." In response to Reply # 14
they are service microwaved box food and people now are smart enough to know that they can make most of this stuff at home or get it at Wegmans or kroger...
if they really want to blame someone then blame the Food networks that show places that make really good food.
You take the blue pill, the story ends. You wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.
29. "food networks/more locally owned restaurants is definitely a factor" In response to Reply # 23
I live in a city that is very service industry oriented due to its size and per capita restaurants/bars (often cited as #1 if not close to it, though very likely actually isn't since coastal/vacation destinations will always have more food and drink options) and so a lot of people come up through restaurants and bars for their first/college jobs.
It gets instilled in people through their work and all the entertaining shows like Top and Master Chef that show off great food with every day ingredients and make service seem so romantic, the idea of an Applebee's or TGI Friday's is just so alien to myself and everyone I associate with in my age range. It's even to the point where it's hard to convince people to go to a long-running, perfectly good local pizza chain because "all my friends from New York say it's terrible" or "yea but this new by the slice spot really does it right."
Other than a bar, I can't remember the last time I was asked to go to, or really gave a second thought to going, to anything other than restaurants opened in the past 4-8 years by people I've heard a lot about or met and are doing something unique with food in the city.
Plus, I don't really think about brokeness since I've never been much of a saver, but if brokeness is an issue, I can definitely see how the allure of going out to eat loses its luster when the major chains cost the same as the farm-to-table spots, sometimes more, and there's no personality or passion in the food. I've noticed the frozen pizza isle at the grocery store has got real, real lit in the past few years here - if you're the type of person who'd even consider Applebee's for dinner, you've likely realized the supermarket is more bang for your buck and your foodie friends aren't going to clown you for a Digiorno's Rising Crust.
18. "gen-x and i think it's kind of a joke now" In response to Reply # 0 Mon Jun-05-17 02:55 PM by Flash80
i kinda contemptuously look down one my one homey who goes there. dude just loves to watch the game at the packed, ghetto ass applebees though.
if the chain is struggling, it's because they're understaffed and the service fucking sucks (though i'd probably not be motivated to bust my ass either if i had to routinely serve niggas leavin' a $2 tip on a $40 bill.) at least that's how i remember it the last time i ate at one.
legsdiamond Member since May 05th 2011 79618 posts
Mon Jun-05-17 02:58 PM
19. "It's been so long... do they have more than 2 TV's now?" In response to Reply # 18
Who the fuck goes to Applebee's to watch sports?
**************** TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*
legsdiamond Member since May 05th 2011 79618 posts
Tue Jun-06-17 07:48 AM
34. "True.... Here is my list of chains that don't suck" In response to Reply # 33
Qdoba Chik fil a Wendy's Outback Steak Zaxbys Arby's Popeyes Dominos pizza. I rarely eat it but damn, it wasn't bad last time I had it
**************** TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*
The Wordsmith Member since Aug 13th 2002 17070 posts
Tue Jun-06-17 11:11 AM
40. "I'm a Gen X'er and even I'm not tryna mess with Applebee's." In response to Reply # 0
If I'm gonna pay for microwaveable food, I can go to the frozen section of the grocery store. Eating out, I want my meals being cooked on a stove or in an oven. I don't want to go out for microwaved food.
43. "This one time, in Applebee's....." In response to Reply # 0
I was trying to show my girl how charming I could be... I was being all nice to the waitress...joking and shit...just being a jovial ass good dude.. You know...charming....
Yeah, that shit backfired big time lol....
Yada yada yada....haven't set foot inside of an Applebee's since 1998...
60. "i'm dyin + feel you. i can never mention Wet N' Wild (md), Bahama Mamas" In response to Reply # 50
(the drainks and the place). prolly some more shit.
this before sinbad said how you had to have the laser eyes, scan quick and save it to the memory bank.
i had on some wraparound shades and was naive as a two year old playing peekaboo (ie, if i can't see you, you can't see me).
stared a bit too hard at some jawn (she wadn't een that fine, it's just that she had the hair peeking out the bottom of the swimsuit and i was kinda wondering, how that work?).
BUSTED.
i will never ever bring that shit up again.
and we went on a anniversary trip to the bahamas and we took some bootleg ass booze cruise (ni&&as hijacked us from the hotel -- found out later this wasn't the official joint). we on some raggedy ass lil motorboat w/ a buncha white ppl, between the diesel fumes and the waves, i'm type nauseous, and drinking the 'free' bahama mamas is making me forget that (plus my home trainin).
i got no recollection of getting back to the hotel. she said i was performing an shit till i passed out. she ended up having to clean up earl from the hotel bathroom. a ninja almost got left in bahamas.
========================================= I'm an advocate for working smarter, not harder. If you just focus on working hard you end up making someone else rich and not having much to show for it. (c) mad
legsdiamond Member since May 05th 2011 79618 posts
Tue Jun-06-17 12:37 PM
49. "Umm, you were really feeling yourself. " In response to Reply # 43
**************** TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*
legsdiamond Member since May 05th 2011 79618 posts
Tue Jun-06-17 12:48 PM
53. "This morning I made 2 small sammiches for lunch " In response to Reply # 51
My wife walked in and said "ahhh that sammich is for me?"
Young me woulda been like "uhh, no.. these are mine but I can make you one"
**************** TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*
legsdiamond Member since May 05th 2011 79618 posts
Wed Jun-07-17 09:16 AM
64. "last night the bartender was messy as fuck" In response to Reply # 54
we stopped for a quick one and the bartender says "well, I remember your face so I know you want a second round"
my wife's antenna went up.
wife:How many times have you been here?
me: huh
wife: huh, uh nah.. you heard me
me: without you? 2 or 3 times in the last 3 years... but who can forget a face like this?
wife: this guy...that was a good one.
I have no idea why that bartender said that shit. I never go in there and the last time was at 5 pm to pick up wings while I had my kid in tow.
**************** TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*
legsdiamond Member since May 05th 2011 79618 posts
Wed Jun-07-17 09:16 AM
65. "stunting has changed the game" In response to Reply # 61
**************** TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*
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