re: I feel bad for people who's dining experiences are Applebees, Olive Garden, etc.

I don't have a problem with chains, per se, but what has started bothering me lately is how it makes every town look the same. When traveling around the country to different towns and cities, it is hard to tell where you are if you looked out the window of your car going down the main street and not at a map. The same signs, the same building construction, it is just all so boring and kinda sad. Of course, this doesn't apply to only restaurants. It apples to all chain retail stores too. I understand why they all exist but sometimes I wish it was a bit different.