Pretty much yeah. My mother in law loves applebees, so for her bday we used to end up there. They since tore that one down and now the only location is way across town....which helps us avoid it.
Millennials are killing chains like Buffalo Wild Wings and Applebee's
- Thread starter capitalcityguy
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Pretty much yeah. My mother in law loves applebees, so for her bday we used to end up there. They since tore that one down and now the only location is way across town....which helps us avoid it.
- Mar 27, 2006
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"World's shittiest coleslaw" might be my favorite thing I've read today.
I can picture their advertisement running on KXNO, right now:
"Come to Applebees, home of the Hoiburger, Prohm Steak Burger, and the World's Shittiest Coleslaw! Eatin' good in the neighborhood!"
Also, I think I like it because ranking as the World's shittiest coleslaw is a significant accomplishment unto itself. Even the most ardent coleslaw enthusiast will admit that there are a whole lot of ****** coleslaws out there. So for Applebees to have one ranked the shittiest is a pretty big deal. There are a lot of rungs on that ladder.
For most people they simply don't have the non-chain options where they live. That's a result of urban planning policies (seriously) over generations.
But the "millennials are killing X" is getting old. Every generation has changed things. "Young Adults are killing the neighborhood Milk Man service." "Young adults are killing the top hat industry".
But the "millennials are killing X" is getting old. Every generation has changed things. "Young Adults are killing the neighborhood Milk Man service." "Young adults are killing the top hat industry".
At the risk of getting clobbered, I feel like a minority here who doesn't have a problem with the food at most chains. I realize it is pedestrian, but that must be where my taste buds reside as well. Also grew up in larger family, so we never could afford to eat out....McDonald's was a treat for us. Probably some residuals there.
As I mentioned in my original post, my issue is more concern with local dollars being siphoned off to some corporate headquarters somewhere as well as homogenization of a city's restaurant scene where less and less is local/original.
BTW.....I'll be happy to take any unused gift cards off anyone hands. I'm here to help!
As I mentioned in my original post, my issue is more concern with local dollars being siphoned off to some corporate headquarters somewhere as well as homogenization of a city's restaurant scene where less and less is local/original.
BTW.....I'll be happy to take any unused gift cards off anyone hands. I'm here to help!
I seemed to remember Applebee's being cheaper than they were the last time we went. If I want a chain restaurant, I could go to a real steak house for the price of Applebee's.
I don't think that has anything to do with millennials. In the end, we have too many chains in this country. I hope this will swing to more local places as people get tired of the chains.
I don't think that has anything to do with millennials. In the end, we have too many chains in this country. I hope this will swing to more local places as people get tired of the chains.
Because I saw someone mention it earlier, I'll throw out that I hate Yelp. The "ratings" are garbage - it's the most recent people that are cranky because they expected to be treated like a princess at a $14 pizza place. I've found their ratings usually don't line up with the quality or service of food. I use it just to look up a place on a map - I don't care if it has 1 star or 5.
Who can recommend something better to me?
Who can recommend something better to me?
- Mar 27, 2006
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yeah, a lot of non chains still have kids menus, with plenty of options that are palatable for kids.
With our kids, we try to go online and check their menus. kids menu hamburgers and chicken strips are pretty standard fare no matter where you go, so there usually aren't a lot of surprises.
I'm seeing this as a bonus for the small business entrepreneur. Here in Cedar Rapids, the revitalization of down town, Czech Village, and NewBo has been great for the restaurants who do the sit down fare that's far superior to Applebee's.
I don't think millennials are to "blame". The main point of the article is that demographics and eating habits are changing. No surprise. When I was a kid, Golden Corral/Sizzler ruled the world for my mom and dad.
And those that think the demise of "family" restaurants like Applebee's is going to mean a boon for the local restaurant - nope. These trends of eating at home with parents or ordering via Grubhub or Ubereats is going to hit the local restaurant worse. I myself use Grubhub regularly and can see the issue that lack of alcohol sales will cause a pinch for restaurants since those are high margin sales.
Not sure why a dining world with more Chipotle is anything to get excited about.
And those that think the demise of "family" restaurants like Applebee's is going to mean a boon for the local restaurant - nope. These trends of eating at home with parents or ordering via Grubhub or Ubereats is going to hit the local restaurant worse. I myself use Grubhub regularly and can see the issue that lack of alcohol sales will cause a pinch for restaurants since those are high margin sales.
Not sure why a dining world with more Chipotle is anything to get excited about.
Let's take a step back...
In places where most families live, the suburbs, lots are so large and development so expensive only chain restaurants can afford to build there. The places where start-ups can afford to open are in cities where properties are smaller and there is a greater density of people to sell to. You almost need a "formula" to make it in the suburbs because most people have children or there isn't enough density of people to support a really unique restaurant. There are always exceptions. Look at Ankeny vs Coralville vs West Des Moines vs Cedar Falls. It's all the same stuff for the most part.
Millennials have been moving to cities for a decade and chain places don't do well in cities because the lots are too small to meet their footprint. It's not that millennials are killing these business, it's the business themselves have no appetite for risk or desire to deviate from the "standard". Want to appeal to young people in an urban environment, change your formula.
In places where most families live, the suburbs, lots are so large and development so expensive only chain restaurants can afford to build there. The places where start-ups can afford to open are in cities where properties are smaller and there is a greater density of people to sell to. You almost need a "formula" to make it in the suburbs because most people have children or there isn't enough density of people to support a really unique restaurant. There are always exceptions. Look at Ankeny vs Coralville vs West Des Moines vs Cedar Falls. It's all the same stuff for the most part.
Millennials have been moving to cities for a decade and chain places don't do well in cities because the lots are too small to meet their footprint. It's not that millennials are killing these business, it's the business themselves have no appetite for risk or desire to deviate from the "standard". Want to appeal to young people in an urban environment, change your formula.
Any article with "millennials" in the title is the newest form of click bait.
Unfortunately, my family pretty much has to resort to chain restaurants. Partly because of picky kids as others have mentioned, but mostly because one of said kids has a peanut allergy.
Knowing for sure that a restaurant is "peanut safe" is a difficult thing to surmise in general, but chain restaurants are usually a bit easier to suss-out ahead of time thanks to website info and standardization in food preparation from store-to-store.
Knowing for sure that a restaurant is "peanut safe" is a difficult thing to surmise in general, but chain restaurants are usually a bit easier to suss-out ahead of time thanks to website info and standardization in food preparation from store-to-store.
I think there is truth to that. Also think they put in BWW in title too as it is pretty easy to pile on Applebees (just look # of anti Applebees compared to BWW comments so far) . With BWW in title, there is more of a "whoa?" as I think most see them prospering at the moment...more so than Applebees.
Purely curious, since I use Yelp for food suggestions when I go places, what is bad about Yelp? If it's not the best way to look up different places, I definitely want to know!
Probably more to do with reviews in general. The common person usually only leaves a review if they're extremely satisfied or extremely upset about something (usually the latter), so it's not all that reliable.
Once your provided the location, was any further explanation after that really necessary?
(I'm originally from small town Iowa, so I can say that.)
Mason City was the same way. If it wasn't an old well established restaurant (Northwestern Steak House, The Quarry) it was a chain restaurant.
