Millennials are killing chains like Buffalo Wild Wings and Applebee's

[capitalcityguy]

hummm...I'm not too proud to eat at either of these places on occasion, but always annoyed at the knowledge that many people won't step inside a restaurant unless it is some highly marketed, safe, national chain (thus hurting local restaurant scene).

While I'm too old to be a millennial (so don't blame me! , I wouldn't lose sleep if these types of places eventually left the landscape. That said, if this is true, it could be another concern for typical suburbia where trends are also spiraling downward for traditional brick and mortar retailers as well....i.e...department stores,malls, and big box stores. Seems there may be a lot of empty commercial buildings on the horizon in some places.

Anyway, here is the BWW/Applebees article:

http://www.businessinsider.com/millennials-endanger-casual-dining-restaurants-2017-5

 

[CY88CE11]

I don't eat at Applebee's because I can never find something on their menu that sounds good, let alone tastes good.

 

[SCNCY]

I know that millennials are trending to living in more urban environments, but I wonder if this is a regional trend. Like are millennials on the east and west coasts more likely to live in urban environments, where the Midwest, Southwest, and Southeast are maintaining traditional purchasing decisions? I am a millennial myself, but on the older side of the spectrum.

But I can agree with eating at non-chain restaurants. I personally will eat at them, but will often look for a local place to eat. If My girlfriend and I go out, it is almost always an independent restaurant. I think my generation is always looking to try something new and explore new experiences as opposed to repeating old ones.

 

[KnappShack]

It's time to thank the Millennials for killing those places.

Moved back to the Chicago world after 20 years. There's a mall I used to shop at that is completely empty now. A couple of anchor stores, but all other shops are gone.

Nothing but mall walkers and empty storefronts. It's a bit....eerie. The plan is to leave the anchors and build a mixed use community where the mall once stood.

The times are a changing

 

[Mr Janny]

I'm not sure why this gets laid at the feet of millennials, other than they're an easy target. Big, mainstream chains like Applebees are bland, slow, and overpriced for what you get. They don't offer as much value to customers, compared to other offerings. I don't think you have to belong to a particular generation to feel that way.

Count me among those that wouldn't really shed a tear if Applebees went away. It's not like it's some time honored, beloved establishment.

 

[CloniesForLife]

That really doesn't surprise me. Those places usually are not any cheaper than local restaurants and the quality is almost always way worse.

 

[rholtgraves]

Seems like they are killing themselves.

 

[CloniesForLife]

But I can agree with eating at non-chain restaurants. I personally will eat at them, but will often look for a local place to eat. If My girlfriend and I go out, it is almost always an independent restaurant. I think my generation is always looking to try something new and explore new experiences as opposed to repeating old ones.

Yeah I love trying new places. If I am travelling I will always risk trying somewhere local over something known.

 

[ForbinsAscynt]

I've known employees of both places. There food is a step above airplane. But yes let's blame a generation on why there restaurants are losing patrons.

 

[wxman1]

Applebee's is our "we have the kids where should we go?" sit down place. Quick, easy, kids won't be too frowned upon and we aren't picky so the food does the trick. The nicer chains and mostly local places are our date nights/going out with friends places.

 

[Mr Janny]

Seems like they are killing themselves.

This. As a business, you don't always have the luxury of standing pat and doing things the way you've always done them. If consumers aren't choosing your product, offer a better product. Sometimes you just have to change your business model.

 

[bos]

As soon as Applebees dropped their onion peels appetizer, they were dead to me.

 

[SCNCY]

Applebees does have a good buffalo wings deal. Unlimted wings with fries so long as you buy a drink. When ever I had a craving for wings, I would go there. Especially when one lived a couple minutes from my old apartment. It did its job in this category.

 

[Judoka]

That really doesn't surprise me. Those places usually are not any cheaper than local restaurants and the quality is almost always way worse.

In the past their selling point was that they were "safe". You knew you wouldn't get the best meal of your life there. But you also knew it would be edible and decent.

But know you can just open up Yelp, post on facebook asking for suggestions, or whatever. You don't need to settle for safe mediocrity when you can spend 30 seconds to find exactly what you're looking for.

 

[cydsho]

We do a Christmas swap where each family (6 total) get a gift card to some place to eat. Caveat is that it cannot be a national chain. We all live in the omaha/lincoln area so it usually works out. It's really made us look for different places to go and helps ID places that are not on our usual radar. There really are some good "local" places to eat.

 

[Judoka]

BWW could probably recover if they improve their quality (both food and employees) but I don't think there's anything that could save Applebee's at this point.

 

[EnhancedFujita]

I'm not sure why this gets laid at the feet of millennials, other than they're an easy target. Big, mainstream chains like Applebees are bland, slow, and overpriced for what you get. They don't offer as much value to customers, compared to other offerings. I don't think you have to belong to a particular generation to feel that way.

Count me among those that wouldn't really shed a tear if Applebees went away. It's not like it's some time honored, beloved establishment.

I don't think it's so much that millennials are to blame as it is that these places got big and popularized by the boomer generation. When my wife and I go to a new town we want to try something local and good, but when we go with our parents we always have to find a chain so that they can know what we are going to get. It kills me to go to a place like NOLA and eat at a Texas Roadhouse or something.

 

[CYphyllis]

As soon as Applebees dropped their onion peels appetizer, they were dead to me.

So Millennial of you, gross.

 

[sunnysideup]

Applebee's is our "we have the kids where should we go?" sit down place. Quick, easy, kids won't be too frowned upon and we aren't picky so the food does the trick. The nicer chains and mostly local places are our date nights/going out with friends places.

This is how I am with BDubs. I like wings and I know I can get better elsewhere but this is a place I can go that the kids like and if they get unruly it's not a huge deal since it's a loud environment. Plus tons of TVs. I would not miss Applebees however. Haven't been to one in years and the last time was only because it was the only restaurant in my hometown open after 10:00pm.

 

[capitalcityguy]

I've known employees of both places. There food is a step above airplane. But yes let's blame a generation on why there restaurants are losing patrons.

Is it blaming them or crediting them...