Chain Restaurants Extremely Popular - Why?

[copperfiend]

Alot of people in Jacksonville love simple, bland name brands. See Target, Chili's, Best Buy, etc. They eat it up like good consumers.

[Steve]

I'd agree with a lot of what is said here, however, this is my #1:  The Suburban, car-based nature of most of Jacksonville.

Frankly, I think it is MUCH easier for a small retailer to open in a high pedestrian traffic atmosphere, because people will be able to walk by and see the place easier.  I've always felt that for a true independent, they have to go above and beyond to get noticed in the burbs, and they have to give it a lot of time, something that many small business owners don't have budgeted to do.

[reednavy]

Chains that NEED to come or expand:
Trader Joe's
Chipotle
upscale dept. stores to SJTC to make it more than an upscale strip mall

[JaxNole]

BTW, I wonder if I'm the only one that feels more guilty sending food back (if/when) necessary at an independent.............

I am with you, but it's rare that I send food back.  I don't recall a negative reaction when I've asked for a medium-rare piece of meat, rather than a medium.

Usually I am offered a free dessert or a free meal because of it.  I decline because my sending it back is an opportunity for the independent to serve what the customer ordered and maybe the kitchen will be more mindful in getting the orders right.

I'm more invested in having our homegrown restaurants succeed than landing another Chili's, Applebees or Olive Garden. 

I'm not a total food snob, though.  I have a weakness for Chinese buffets. 

[geauxtigers31]

As someone pretty new to Jacksonville, and having worked in the restaurant industry all through college, I'd say this is hardly exclusively to Jacksonville. Go to most cities on most Friday/Saturday nights and you'll see lines outside of Chilis and and Applebees and local resturants going out of business right and left. Its not just a resturant thing either, it's the same way Lowes will put a local hardware store out of business or a trader joes/whole foods will put your local health food/import store out of business.

[cityimrov]

So to sum up most the points....
People go eat at chain restaurants because "The Big Flashy Sign & TV" tells them to eat there that way they can do what "everyone else is doing" and be happy and joyous like the "TV Family" who eats there - even if they end up looking and acting miserable when they actually eat there? 

The food quality, service, atmosphere, and price could be a whole lot worse then other choices but people will eat at these places because of a "fake image" vs actually having those things in reality?  I want to say this is "wierd" but judging from the numbers...this is normal. 

*Not to say all chains are bad it's just the feeling that people will ignore the reality of the place and still go there based on some fake reason seems...wierd?

[sheclown]

well put, cityimrov 

[ac]

So when can we expect the MetroJacksonville dining guide and local restaurant directory?

[blizz01]

So to sum up most the points....
People go eat at chain restaurants because "The Big Flashy Sign & TV" tells them to eat there that way they can do what "everyone else is doing" and be happy and joyous like the "TV Family" who eats there - even if they end up looking and acting miserable when they actually eat there?

I really didn't get that conclusion at all although I ate at Bonefish Grill tonight & it was very satisfying - I even used a gift card.  I tried to eat at Primi Piatti last week, but they were closed for vacation  . (I did go to Sumo Sushi instead, though)............

[Ocklawaha]

IDEA!?!

Why not have a burger contest. Everyone go in and photograph the burger on the chain store menu board or promo, then photograph the burger that they actually serve you! I've done this in California with a group of friends and it was a freaking riot!

Just ID the store, location, time of day, and post your photos.

I grew up on Milligans, then Krystal Burgers (same basic thing) and the last few I've ordered the buns are offset by 2 inches.

OCKLAWAHA

[blizz01]

http://thewvsr.com/adsvsreality.htm

[Ocklawaha]

Love the photos blizz01, that's what I'm talking about. We should do our own, who knows, maybe someplace in Jacksonville is where the REAL burger is found?

OCKLAWAHA

[thekillingwax]

Strangely enough, the most well presented burgers are sometimes at chain places. During a couple of rather late trips to Baptist South, I'd get a burger at Applebee's and it wasn't the absolute best thing ever but it was plated beautifully. Going to a burger joint known for their burgers and it's usually a different affair. Cruisers, Five Guys and the like serve you something that looks like hell and tastes like heaven. Hell, at Five Guys they throw your cup of fries into the bag and then toss another cup's worth into the bag loose.

[thekillingwax]

Looking at that horrid food bowl by KFC reminded me of their newest sandwich, The Double Down:
http://www.eatmedaily.com/2009/08/the-kfc-double-down-sandwich-uses-chicken-patties-instead-of-buns/

Two kinds of cheese, bacon, sauce inbetween two boneless fried chicken breasts.

Yikes.

[sheclown]

Count me in. 

We could call it "In search of the ugly burger."