Employees at a Bennigan's in Plano were greeted by a sign Tuesday on the front door reading "WE ARE CLOSED. THANK YOU." Next door, a Steak & Ale sat empty in a deserted parking lot but there was no sign posted.
All restaurants have been struggling as consumers cut back on discretionary spending to better deal with high gas prices, the weak housing market and inflation
I know that they had been struggling with good food for awhile..but why not blame it on gas prices.
Well with gas prices,a dn their recurring problem with sucking, I can see why.
Tulsa Bennigans closed a few months ago.
Haven't eaten there in years!
Will have to admit that their Monte Cristo sandwich used to be a guilty pleasure for me.
I thought Metro was better.
Bennigans: We're almost as good as Applebeestm
Bennigans & Steak and Ale file for bankruptcy and Casa Bonita re-opens... [xx(]
What is this world coming to?
Oddly enough I noticed the one here in Tulsa at 71st and Yale was closed - of course, I'm so rarely at that intersection, it might have been closed for months and I just realized it.
Been going to the Steak and Ale on 51st Street for thirty-five years. Is it company owned or a franchise? Have had a lot of wonderful times in that place.
considering the place doesn't look like it has been remodeled in decades, I'm guessing franchise.
The Bennigan's here was a franchise. It sucked so bad it wasn't even in my Garmin.
I think the days of mediocre theme restaurants is over. I'm wondering if TGI Fridays will be next. I'm going to bet either chilis or on the border bites it next.
As of late May, there were 58 Steak & Ales, all corporately owned. (//%22http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/073008dnmetbennigans.140b9e44.html%22)
This sucks, I really liked 'Stuck in Hell'
quote:
Originally posted by inteller
considering the place doesn't look like it has been remodeled in decades, I'm guessing franchise.
The Bennigan's here was a franchise. It sucked so bad it wasn't even in my Garmin.
I think the days of mediocre theme restaurants is over. I'm wondering if TGI Fridays will be next. I'm going to bet either chilis or on the border bites it next.
Chili's isn't going anywhere. If another chain is going to fail it will be Applebee's
quote:
Originally posted by wavoka
quote:
Originally posted by inteller
considering the place doesn't look like it has been remodeled in decades, I'm guessing franchise.
The Bennigan's here was a franchise. It sucked so bad it wasn't even in my Garmin.
I think the days of mediocre theme restaurants is over. I'm wondering if TGI Fridays will be next. I'm going to bet either chilis or on the border bites it next.
Chili's isn't going anywhere. If another chain is going to fail it will be Applebee's
no, applebees specializes in mediocrity, they don't suffer from it....hell they embrace it.
chile's and OTB are owned by the same outfit. if business starts to lag in some of their stores where they are close to one another, I bet one gets axed.
I can't wait until EPIC FAIL opens at the old smokey bones location...it is going to give Up The Creek a run for its lack of money.
+1 on epic failure coming to old smokey bones.
I think Chilis will edge out applebees around here. I would bet El Chico would fall before OTB. I've been hoping Chimis would go first however.
quote:
Originally posted by sgrizzle
+1 on epic failure coming to old smokey bones.
I think Chilis will edge out applebees around here. I would bet El Chico would fall before OTB. I've been hoping Chimis would go first however.
lunch joints like chimis seem to be like the cockroaches that infest their stockrooms....you just cant kill them. I mean just look at mexacali....or cattle troughs like Ted's.
quote:
Originally posted by inteller
considering the place doesn't look like it has been remodeled in decades, I'm guessing franchise.
The Bennigan's here was a franchise. It sucked so bad it wasn't even in my Garmin.
I think the days of mediocre theme restaurants is over. I'm wondering if TGI Fridays will be next. I'm going to bet either chilis or on the border bites it next.
We called the Steak and Ale on 51st street around 5:00 p.m. and no answer.
I don't know about you guys but I have pretty much written off chain restaurants (I do Olive Garden every now and then). I prefer little hole in the wall joints especially when it comes to Mexican food. Give me Tacos Don Franciscos at 11th and Pittsburgh...authentic Mexican at cheap prices!
Agreed..I can't recall the last time I went to a chain...ill do bill's bbq in BA..costa azul on 21st...if I do want a nice place..I will hit the restaurant at the Renaissance hotel(went there last weekend..yummm lobster bisque...but that is throwing this off topic :) Back to steak and ale(looks like their website is now offline)
quote:
Originally posted by zstyles
Agreed..I can't recall the last time I went to a chain...ill do bill's bbq in BA..costa azul on 21st...if I do want a nice place..I will hit the restaurant at the Renaissance hotel(went there last weekend..yummm lobster bisque...but that is throwing this off topic :) Back to steak and ale(looks like their website is now offline)
Except, of course, that the Renaissance is owned by John Q. Hammons, a hotel chain.
Personally, I gave up eating chains a long time ago. Too rough on my teeth and digestive system.
I feel sorry for the cooks at these corporate restaraunts. The biggest joy that comes from cooking is using your imagination to invent something, or take a menu favorite to a new level. There is no joy in going from freezer to microwave.