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Red Lobster dying thanks to changing dining habits
Posted on 5/18/14 at 12:58 am
Posted on 5/18/14 at 12:58 am
Has anyone noticed the "middle" of American life is disappearing? Everything is either WalMart or Rodeo Drive. As Yeats said, "Things fall apart, the center cannot hold".
Will this eventually make the act of dining out an elitist cult for foodies?
America's changing eating habits are killing Red Lobster
Will this eventually make the act of dining out an elitist cult for foodies?
America's changing eating habits are killing Red Lobster
quote:This is from Huffington Post, so naturally the first reply is this:
The cheddar-biscuit purveyor's demise is being hastened by a growing American preference for micro-managing meals that can be scarfed down quickly. The era of families sitting down to a meal conceived by food scientists and prepared in a kitchen they can’t see is fading. That is bad news for a host of other chains, including Olive Garden, which Darden still owns.
"Even as consumer spending has improved, many consumers have still been less willing to spend on sit-down meals," noted a recent report from market research firm IBISWorld. "Instead, consumers have shown a preference for cheaper fast-casual concepts.”
quote:
Twenty years ago or so, I dined at RL frequently--I lived in the midwest at the time, and it was about the only way to get decent seafood for a reasonable price. But then the fish portions got smaller, the steaks and chicken got chewier (I used to get the combo), and the shrimp became more and more tasteless. Bottom line, Red Lobster failed because of corporate greed.
7
Posted on 5/18/14 at 8:37 am to Kafka
Red Lobster is dying because people want better quality food and people would rather spend their money at a locally owned place, than a chain. I don't even understand the reasoning behind opening one in South LA. Our seafood tastes are geared toward gulf seafood, not northern seafood.
Posted on 5/18/14 at 8:43 am to Kafka
In Fayetteville it's always in the top 1-3 highest grossing restaurants, i do not know anybody that goes there, and it's been years since i've been, I'll never understand it. I think they hillbillys from surrounding towns come in and eat there.
Posted on 5/18/14 at 9:10 am to trillhog
Outside of places like Fayetteville , Des Moines, Birmingham, they question isn't why is RL dying, it's why was it alive in the first place?
Posted on 5/18/14 at 9:14 am to andouille
Those commercials are pretty tempting.... We have terrible seafood up here, there are only a couple places to go and out of those only 1 is really good.
Posted on 5/18/14 at 9:37 am to andouille
The red lobster in Baton Rouge was packed the two times I went.
I don't buy it... People love chain restaurants. I tried using an outback gift card on a Saturday in lafayette. There was an hour and a half wait. I can't think of any restaurant in town that isn't a chain that would have that kind of wait.
And lol at the huffpo comments
I don't buy it... People love chain restaurants. I tried using an outback gift card on a Saturday in lafayette. There was an hour and a half wait. I can't think of any restaurant in town that isn't a chain that would have that kind of wait.
And lol at the huffpo comments
Posted on 5/18/14 at 11:36 am to Kafka
quote:
Bottom line, Red Lobster failed because of corporate greed.
Can't say I disagree. RL was a good spot to eat when I was in high school (late 90s).
Now I would be hard pressed to go even with a free GC.
Posted on 5/18/14 at 11:38 am to LSUzealot
quote:
Can't say I disagree. RL was a good spot to eat when I was in high school (late 90s).
Guess that depends on where you lived.
Posted on 5/18/14 at 11:56 am to andouille
quote:
Outside of places like Fayetteville , Des Moines, Birmingham,
Shut the frick up dumbass you don't know what you're talking about
Posted on 5/18/14 at 12:38 pm to Caplewood
Someone got mad
Posted on 5/18/14 at 12:39 pm to Caplewood
quote:
Outside of places like Fayetteville , Des Moines, Birmingham,
Birmingham has some excellent restaurants
Posted on 5/18/14 at 12:43 pm to Kafka
It's dying because their food is hideous and always has been. Third rate seafood does that.
Posted on 5/18/14 at 12:50 pm to Caplewood
Are there black people in the south? Then red lobster will be ok
Posted on 5/18/14 at 1:10 pm to Kafka
Meanwhile, the Red Lobster on Bluebonnet is probably in the top 5 restaurants (in terms of sales) in Baton Rouge.
Posted on 5/18/14 at 1:12 pm to RockyMtnTigerWDE
Restaurants like that are successful because they are safe and have options for families who want go out and eat and not traumatize their kids or grandparents. I mean, I'm sure the French Laundry is great and all, but I don't know how many 11 year olds say "can we go to that place that has the ragout of celery root, glazed chestnuts and golden chanterelle mushrooms? Please!!"
This post was edited on 5/18/14 at 1:13 pm
Posted on 5/18/14 at 1:51 pm to andouille
(no message)
This post was edited on 8/31/19 at 3:00 am
Posted on 5/18/14 at 2:34 pm to kfizzle85
quote:
Birmingham has some excellent restaurants
They may have, but the point being these are 3 inland cities without easy access to fresh seafood and without a dominant food culture. That is a good market for RL, but as was previously stated, RL does well in BR, a lot of people feel comfortable in chains because they know what they will get. It my be very mediocre, but they are OK with mediocre.
Posted on 5/18/14 at 7:48 pm to andouille
quote:
a lot of people feel comfortable in chains because they know what they will get. It my be very mediocre, but they are OK with mediocre.
Exactly. People know what to expect when they go. A lot of people don't want to take a risk on an unfamiliar restaurant, they'd rather be safe and go with what they know.
Personally I find great enjoyment in trying hole in the wall, mom and pop restaurants.
Posted on 5/18/14 at 8:00 pm to andouille
quote:
They may have, but the point being these are 3 inland cities without easy access to fresh seafood and without a dominant food culture. That is a good market for RL, but as was previously stated, RL does well in BR, a lot of people feel comfortable in chains because they know what they will get. It my be very mediocre, but they are OK with mediocre.
This is the third building and attempt in BR. The first was open a few years then abandoned several years then razed and a second RL was built on the same property, open few years, abandoned few years then building razed again. Few years went by and the newest incarnation was built. I don't see these crowds people speak of when I pass by. It has people but I'd be hard pressed to believe they have a waiting list.
And I personally have never eaten at one so I can only assume but I've had my fair share of crappy frozen breaded Asian seafood over the years and I'd be willing to bet my assumption that it blows is correct.
And to above about black people, all the black people I know are eating as good of seafood and fresh fish as I am. Just walk into Tonys at any given time. They aren't lining up at the RL.
Posted on 11/3/14 at 10:24 pm to Kafka
For those of you following the continuing saga of Red Lobster:
Red Lobster admits defeat after failed attempt to appeal to people who didn't like seafood
Red Lobster admits defeat after failed attempt to appeal to people who didn't like seafood
quote:
Struggling restaurant chain Red Lobster is going back to its roots with a new menu that’s set to feature more dishes featuring lobster.
A revamped menu announced on Monday removes several poorly received non-seafood dishes including Spicy Tortilla Soup and a Wood-Grilled Pork Chop.
These non-seafood dishes had been added by the chain's previous owner, Darden Restaurants Inc., in the vain hope of attracting people who don't like seafood as sales declined.
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