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10 fading US restaurant chains

These eateries have stumbled over the past decade and may have trouble regaining their footing in a competitive industry.

By Alexander E.M. Hess and Michael B. Sauter

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847Comments
PSBCodedPerfectionSB
Jan 3, 2013 1:51AM
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Ah .. Dang. I was hoping that Applebee's would have made the list! :)
RH Lear
Jan 3, 2013 5:26PM
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My wife and I have become very good at making restaurant quality meals at home. We cook every night, and every meal is served with our favorite wine and followed by dessert if we're in the mood. The food and service are always excellent, and we always sit at our favorite table. As for tips, we exchange them later in the evening...
agnar233
Jan 3, 2013 9:31AM
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I don't think the food is worth the money. I prefer to go to mom and pop type places for unique treats.
Marty McCormack
Jan 3, 2013 11:03AM
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Mom and Pop restaurants always get my money 1st. Chili's should have been first on the list!
GG131
Jan 3, 2013 1:09PM
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These slideshows on this website are terrible

 

FCD
Jan 3, 2013 2:11PM
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I've only eaten at two or three of these on the list; still, I'm sorry to see them go ONLY because so many will lose jobs. But I'm on the list here with those who eat almost entirely at local mom/pop restaurants. The experience is almost always better.  And I feel (rightly or wrongly - you may disagree) that supporting these eateries (as well as shopping at similar type businesses) makes our communtiy stronger which eventually makes our country stronger.
huuh
Jan 3, 2013 3:31PM
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loooove big boy hamburgers. the best.
970chip
Jan 8, 2013 2:17PM
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Too bad KFC wasn't on the list... chicken and the squirts, NO THANKS!
Luke Warmwater
Jan 3, 2013 4:48AM
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I haven't seen a Bennigans or TCBY in years and thought they were long gone from the American landscape. Big Boy is a bit of a surprise. It seems to be doing well where I live although I don't go there much.
2 Beachbums
Jan 3, 2013 7:47PM
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Only one I miss is Bob's Big Boy, was an Icon growing up, spent many a Saturday night there after Cruz'n up and down Whittier Blvd.... I go there tonight if I could find one.
Perifke
Jan 2, 2013 11:18PM
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Why should I care about these Restaurant Chains that serve half arsed food at high prices to the gullible! Local "Mom & Pop outfits" are harder and harder to find, but they actually serve a REAL MEAL for about the same price. Twenty Plus years ago McDonalds Advertised "A Satisfying Meal for Under $5.00 or Your Money Back!", My normal order there was $18.00+! Thanks for all those free meals McDonalds! Right Next Door was "The Prairie Haven", a GP Burger ,1/2 lb of Beef on a Large Bun with Fries and Salad on a PLATTER for $5.00!
Someone (Harleyrice)
Jan 8, 2013 3:34PM
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shocked that Arby's mystery meat emporium not listed.  Maybe if these joints served food that resembeled the pictures shown they could do just fine,
tschaley
Jan 3, 2013 4:48PM
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I can think of at least five more garbage establishments that should be on that list. I prefer to spend my money locally at an establishment who's owner has a face.
jjjoooeman
Jan 3, 2013 2:03PM
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they Kidnapped Big boy  back in the 8o's..held him for ransom...true story...Cleveland ,ohio.
Awake_at_last
Jan 2, 2013 11:55PM
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Never heard of most of those. I live in the NW. I also tend to not eat at chain places.

Is it the food or the economy?

Plains Blue Sky
Jan 2, 2013 9:27PM
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They can close the last Country Kitchen when they pry the egg coated folk from my cold, dead fingers.
Surpshah
Jan 8, 2013 2:48PM
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Blimpie's subs are THE BEST because they do NOT freeze their meats and cheeses like Subway does. Subway subs taste like fake and processed nothing. Their service is very bad. And they charge you for extra anything unlike Blimpie.  It's too bad Blimpies is going away just because of its name.  Blimpie sub are much more healthy than Subway's tiny subs.  Blimpie should come back!
thnkbtt2
Jan 3, 2013 11:53AM
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Sorry to see Tony Roma's and Blimpie on that list. I've enjoyed both back in the day when I lived around them.
Demitrios
Jan 3, 2013 12:22PM
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Mayo and KB from Tenn:  You BOTH failed arithmetic and/or writing/composition in 4th grade!  What Mayo was apparently trying to say was that part of his assumed 15% tip/gross sales - namely 3 of 15 - goes to the support staff - an industry standard - don't be some greedy Mayo!  And KB, sales in this example is not tips - it is the money the RESTAURANT pockets.  Therefore, tips on $200 in sales is assumed to be $30, of which $6 goes to the support staff.  Everyone makes money. 

 

The sad part is that all these jobs are disappearing because of poor management AND lousy service!  "Hi, I'm Kimberly and I'm your server for tonight" is NOT service!

Van Spauld
Jan 3, 2013 12:19PM
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Simple as food price rose those who did not expand their base got left in the dust. As with everything else in America sooner or later we end up with a few giant places with no competition. Take it or leave it so to speak. I have eaten in a few of these places and for the life of me I cannot remember ever being satisfied in any of them.
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