Millennials are killing casual dining chain restaurants

[Displaced Bama Fan]

Damn millennials.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/comp...ild-wings-and-applebees/ar-BBBUk1X?li=BBnb7Kz

According to Smith, these sit-down restaurants' struggles can blamed on the most-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.

 

[CajunCrimson]

Yep.....they can't break away from their technology long enough to have a real meal. I see it too. Our Mellow Mushroom just closed.....we are sooooo heavy on Fast-Casual now -- Subway created this monster 30 years ago. Everything is a Subway clone now.

 

[Displaced Bama Fan]

Even places like Panera Bread are introducing "free delivery" for the millennials.

 

[CajunCrimson]

Even places like Panera Bread are introducing "free delivery" for the millennials.

Was in Louisville last week, and they have a new concept called "Panera to Go" -- stand alone - no seating. Pick up -- or they have a fleet of 10 delivery vehicles -- willing to delivery one sandwich at a time.

With growth in Grubhub, Uber Eats, Doorstep Delivery, Waitr, and the 75 other "we'll delivery one sandwich to your house for $3" -- restaurants are going to change quite a bit over the next 10 years.

 

[2003TIDE]

Uber Eats has a lot of these restaurants as options now

 

[CajunCrimson]

Uber Eats has a lot of these restaurants as options now

And yes, the restaurants will take the business (with a 30% commission - mind you) -- but the wait staff is getting killed. They won't be able to maintain it over time. There are chains that are converting from Sit-down to "Fast Casual" -- because of it.

 

[GrayTide]

While I agree that the millennials have a huge impact; I would also say a lot of baby boomers have not helped these restaurants' plight. I live in a decent size community (30,000 population) located on an interstate highway. We no longer go to the restaurants to dine in, but call for a take out order. We prefer this because of crowds, noise and costs. I enjoy a glass or two of wine with my meal as does my wife. This adds up quickly at $8-$10 per glass. This translates into a $60-$75 meal including tip and this ain't Ruth Cris or Mortons. More so than the cost is the noise and wait, would rather pick up, drink my own wine and save a few bucks. FWIW, if you observe most of the people at these sit down restaurants a good 75% or more should not be there.

 

[CajunCrimson]

While I agree that the millennials have a huge impact; I would also say a lot of baby boomers have not helped these restaurants' plight. I live in a decent size community (30,000 population) located on an interstate highway. We no longer go to the restaurants to dine in, but call for a take out order. We prefer this because of crowds, noise and costs. I enjoy a glass or two of wine with my meal as does my wife. This adds up quickly at $8-$10 per glass. This translates into a $60-$75 meal including tip and this ain't Ruth Cris or Mortons. More so than the cost is the noise and wait, would rather pick up, drink my own wine and save a few bucks. FWIW, if you observe most of the people at these sit down restaurants a good 75% or more should not be there.

Meaning, they can't afford it?

 

[Tide1986]

And yes, the restaurants will take the business (with a 30% commission - mind you) -- but the wait staff is getting killed. They won't be able to maintain it over time. There are chains that are converting from Sit-down to "Fast Casual" -- because of it.

But even fast casual places have jars/cans for tips or include tip lines on their tickets. Weird if you ask me.

 

[Displaced Bama Fan]

We used to eat out a lot more than we do now. Obviously, as we've gotten older we've been a little more sensitive to money issues with us about to have our second college bound son (graduates today!!!).

 

[Tide1986]

While I agree that the millennials have a huge impact; I would also say a lot of baby boomers have not helped these restaurants' plight. I live in a decent size community (30,000 population) located on an interstate highway. We no longer go to the restaurants to dine in, but call for a take out order. We prefer this because of crowds, noise and costs. I enjoy a glass or two of wine with my meal as does my wife. This adds up quickly at $8-$10 per glass. This translates into a $60-$75 meal including tip and this ain't Ruth Cris or Mortons. More so than the cost is the noise and wait, would rather pick up, drink my own wine and save a few bucks. FWIW, if you observe most of the people at these sit down restaurants a good 75% or more should not be there.

My house is certainly the most comfortable place for me to have a meal. There is only one restaurant near me that offers its own delivery service (not counting the typical pizza delivery services), and I'm not interested in using the third-party delivery services. If only my wife "had time" to cook more often then she does.

 

[Crimson1967]

Dining trends change over time and no business is guaranteed to last forever. I don't see this as a big deal.

I recently went online to place an order to pickup. It said there was a $3 charge. It was not a delivery, I still had to drive down there and get it. I decided to wait while I was there.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Tide1986]

Dining trends change over time and no business is guaranteed to last forever. I don't see this as a big deal.

I recently went online to place an order to pickup. It said there was a $3 charge. It was not a delivery, I still had to drive down there and get it. I decided to wait while I was there.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Did they call it a convenience charge?

 

[92tide]

just based on my experience, a big chunk of the casual dining chains serve (imho) horrible food fairly consistently.

 

[CrimsonNagus]

You know what I hate about many of these casual dining restaurants like Red Robin, Chilis, Buffalo Wild Wings, etc. They all blast there music at insane volumes to the point where it is tough to carry on a conversation. I don't get it, it's dinner not a concert. Buffalo Wild Wings was the worst and I've never gone back because of the loud music. Who in there right mind enjoys that kind of noise during a meal?


The poster formerly known as RollTide1017

 

[2003TIDE]

IMO they suffer from the same problem as malls and box stores. Market oversaturation. Everyone likes blaming millennials, but there are too many restaurants out there. 60% of restaurants fail in the first 3 years anyway

 

[Displaced Bama Fan]

IMO they suffer from the same problem as malls and box stores. Market oversaturation. Everyone likes blaming mellennials, but there are too many restaurants out there.

And as demographics shift, many of the restaurants in those areas close or change as well.

 

[Bama Reb]

Was in Louisville last week, and they have a new concept called "Panera to Go" -- stand alone - no seating. Pick up -- or they have a fleet of 10 delivery vehicles -- willing to delivery one sandwich at a time.

With growth in Grubhub, Uber Eats, Doorstep Delivery, Waitr, and the 75 other "we'll delivery one sandwich to your house for $3" -- restaurants are going to change quite a bit over the next 10 years.

And I still can't get a pizza delivered to my house. Just because I live 15 miles from town, that's no reason!

 

[bama2112]

Yep.....they can't break away from their technology long enough to have a real meal. I see it too. Our Mellow Mushroom just closed.....we are sooooo heavy on Fast-Casual now -- Subway created this monster 30 years ago. Everything is a Subway clone now.

We have a 17 year old daughter and I am ready to hire someone to do an intervention between her and the phone. Kids today go into withdrawal if they cant tweet, snapchat or fandangle every move they make. How do they have time to sit down at dinner and have a conversation with each other. Uber eats is now delivering McDonalds in the Atlanta area.

 

[Displaced Bama Fan]

We have a 17 year old daughter and I am ready to hire someone to do an intervention between her and the phone. Kids today go into withdrawal if they cant tweet, snapchat or fandangle every move they make. How do they have time to sit down at dinner and have a conversation with each other. Uber eats is now delivering McDonalds in the Atlanta area.

21, 18, & 15 yr old sons here. I feel your pain.