Swamplot Archives by Tag: Franchises and Chain Stores

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Comment of the Day: Superior Locations

March 3, 2009 – 3:51 pm
   

“On one hand, it is ironic that these kids consider one bunch of chain restaurants superior to an identical bunch in another location. But it is also a demonstration of how even in an environment of repetitive conformity, persons especially sensitive to barely visible (and possibly pheromonic) indicators of superiority will seek such places out. It suggests that even if we lived in a Stalinist city of identical concrete apartment blocks, where everyone wore identical Mao suits, there’d still be a cool part of town.” [RWB, commenting on Hey, Hey, Stay Outta Our Chick-fil-A]

3:51 pm | 4 Comments | Read more about Comments, Quicklink, Restaurants
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Monday, March 2, 2009

Hey, Hey, Stay Outta Our Chick-fil-A

March 2, 2009 – 12:13 pm
   

A brief excerpt from that satirical article in the Cinco Ranch High School newspaper that sparked protests from students of neighboring schools at the LaCenterra Shopping Center last Friday: “You can’t help but be a little bit angry when you’re stuck in the Whataburger drive-thru behind an unimaginably large caravan of Katy cars, each sporting at least 12 stickers reminding you of their accomplishments. If they’re so great why can’t they go to their own Whataburger? There’s this feeling in our little corner of the world that just says: This is Cinco. Some believe there is a sense of ownership to the neighboring businesses and restaurants… Cinco’s Mission Burrito. Cinco’s Target. Cinco’s Taco Bell, Whataburger, Sonic. Seeing anything but maroon clad students and parents roaming the aisles seems odd to some. Don’t they have their own places to go? ” [Fort Bend Now]

12:13 pm | 3 Comments | Read more about Master-Planned Communities, Neighborhoods: Cinco Ranch, Quicklink, Restaurants
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Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Bennigan’s Rides into the Sunset

July 29, 2008 – 3:17 pm

Bennigan’s Sign, Houston

In one fell soup, Bennigan’s has apparently shuttered all of its U.S. locations. And the store is taking its sister restaurant, the ailing Steak & Ale, along with it. The chains’ are filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Both are subsidiaries of Metromedia Restaurant Group, based in Plano.

Over at Houstonist, Katherine Shilcutt Gleave surveys the confusion resulting from the unannounced overnight shutdowns:

Houston is home to at least 20 Bennigan’s restaurants in the city and surrounding metropolitan areas. Calls placed this morning by Houstonist to the locations netted the same result each time: a phone ringing off the hook and no answering service. Only one location answered the phone when we called: the Bennigan’s in Greenspoint off Beltway 8. The befuddled-sounding manager at that location politely told us that they were, in fact, closed. He further confirmed that all other Bennigan’s in Houston were closed as well.

Steak & Ale had 6 Houston-area locations.

Photo: Flickr user alex_user

3:17 pm | 5 Comments | Read more about Openings and Closings, Restaurants, Retail
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