Chain Restaurants Extremely Popular - Why?

[Overstreet]

Chain restaurants have mass media advertising.  You pretty much know what you're going to find in a franchise restaurant any where you go. An Olive Garden is the same in Atlanta, Orlando, Panama City, Montgomery, and Nashville. The only difference is the service you get. Much of that depends upon who showed up for work today.

[Ocklawaha]

Chain restaurants have mass media advertising.  You pretty much know what you're going to find in a franchise restaurant any where you go. An Olive Garden is the same in Atlanta, Orlando, Panama City, Montgomery, and Nashville. The only difference is the service you get. Much of that depends upon who showed up for work today.

Not when you travel international, you find some strange things at good old American fast food joints. The Rice Bowl in Papua New Guinea, is really good. The Mickey D's brownie sundays in Colombia are great too. I'm sure there are even more that I haven't seen.

OCKLAWAHA

[Captain Zissou]

WOW, If the Double Down is real, I'm in absolute shock...  I can't believe that they would actually try and push something like that.

[TPC]

I think the reason chain restaurants are popular in Jax is because they outnumber independents.

[BridgeTroll]

Great link Blizz!

[Duke]

I think the reason chain restaurants are popular in Jax is because they outnumber independents.

I agree and I think the fact that they outnumber indies was mentioned earlier in this thread, but building on the fact that they outnumber, you forget that for a lot of people, convenience is key.  It's unlikely (although, I've done it numerous times) that someone would drive across town for a really good meal at a local establishment when chain restaurants can be found in literally every neighborhood or at least a 10 minute ride away from their home.  I've never really understood my friend's fascination with chili's nor applebees for that matter...  I'm a huge fan of Mossfire and The Fox...

[Captain Zissou]

Unless you count the Loop and Firehouse, I don't think I've been to a sit down chain in years.  The one weak spot for me is sandwich shops, they seem too tough to predict for me to just try one out on my lunch break.  Chow Down Alley on Old St Augustine is amazing, but it's extremely rare to find a sandwich shop that is that good.  Anybody know of a good sandwich/lunch spot near Lakewood? 

Additionally, the lure of Chic Fil A is far too much for me to resist.  I wish they would put one closer to San Marco or Downtown.

[JaxNole]

I (and my arteries) are still in awe at the "McGangBang."

Anyone ever order one of these without requiring a quadruple bypass?

[CrysG]

I think that the reason chains do well is because we have a lot of implants in Jacksonville. With the Navy and other jobs that bring a lot of new people to Jacksonville it allows for people to eat out without the fear of the unknown. As someone pointed out Applebee's taste like Applebees wither it's here or in LA, Norfolk or Oklahoma City.

Also some of it's easier because you don't need to learn the menu. You know what the chains serve because they serve the same food no matter where you go.

Another personal reason is accountability. As we learned in another thread, local restaurants don't have a corporate office to complain to, if say they allow their servers to skip paying customers. You take the chance of poor service with mangers/owners who don't care. 

[blizz01]

You know, something else too - Jax has children - lots of 'em.  And we tend to start families early here for some reason - that's been mentioned before.  Just about every chain caters to that - whether it's Kid's Night, discounted, or even free meals - & in today's society, people want to feel like they were hooked up somehow.

[A-Finnius]

"McGangBang."



What the Hell is that?

[blizz01]

McGangBang
1 DBL CHEESE @ $1.00
1 SPICY CHICKEN @ $1.00
---------------------------
Best $2.14 you'll ever spend!

[copperfiend]

And we tend to start families early here for some reason - that's been mentioned before.

For reasons unknown to me, it is a topic that some on this board continue to bring up.

[blizz01]

For reasons unknown to me, it is a topic that some on this board continue to bring up.

To clarify, my statement was not meant with any negative connotation, in fact there is probably some validity to it, and assuming so, that certainly feeds a target demographic.  There is certainly no shame in being perceived as a family friendly city.  I suppose the discussion is balanced more with regard to "date night", i.e. taking kids out of the equation.

[copperfiend]

Not directed at you but it has been brought up as a negative by some on this board in reference to the city's lack of nighlife.