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What contributes to a successful chain restaurant jumping the shark? PF Chang's
Posted on 9/30/19 at 2:55 pm
Posted on 9/30/19 at 2:55 pm
This weekend we ate at a PF Changs in suburban Portland. It was the first time I've eaten at a PF Changs in at least 5 years.
The workers were schlubby, the clientele was awful (and this is in 85% white or Asian Portland, so that is hard to achieve), and the food was terrible - greasy and cold. We would have left after I visited the bathroom and there was disgusting poop in one of the toilets and it smelled awful, except we were so tired and it was already 10PM and there wouldn't have been any other options.
During the experience, I was thinking back to like the late 1990's when the PF Changs at Lakeside Mall was rocking. You'd see Saints players dining there, everybody would be dressed up. It was the highlight of a Friday or Saturday night, and you'd wait up to an hour for a table. The servers were attractive in their 20's and obviously college students or aspiring to something better in life.
What makes a chain like PF Changs dive so badly over a 25 year span? Is it changing cultures? There is no other casual / relatively upscale Chinese chain restaurant that has replaced PF Changs. Is it the rise of local independent restaurants? The rise of locally owned Thai, Vietnamese, Sushi restaurants as better options for upscale and attractive customers?
TL;DR version - I knew that PF Chang's was "over" before this weekend, but I didn't realize that it had become downright trashy and depressing.
The workers were schlubby, the clientele was awful (and this is in 85% white or Asian Portland, so that is hard to achieve), and the food was terrible - greasy and cold. We would have left after I visited the bathroom and there was disgusting poop in one of the toilets and it smelled awful, except we were so tired and it was already 10PM and there wouldn't have been any other options.
During the experience, I was thinking back to like the late 1990's when the PF Changs at Lakeside Mall was rocking. You'd see Saints players dining there, everybody would be dressed up. It was the highlight of a Friday or Saturday night, and you'd wait up to an hour for a table. The servers were attractive in their 20's and obviously college students or aspiring to something better in life.
What makes a chain like PF Changs dive so badly over a 25 year span? Is it changing cultures? There is no other casual / relatively upscale Chinese chain restaurant that has replaced PF Changs. Is it the rise of local independent restaurants? The rise of locally owned Thai, Vietnamese, Sushi restaurants as better options for upscale and attractive customers?
TL;DR version - I knew that PF Chang's was "over" before this weekend, but I didn't realize that it had become downright trashy and depressing.
This post was edited on 9/30/19 at 2:57 pm
17
Posted on 9/30/19 at 2:56 pm to SirWinston
Chains are dying
Posted on 9/30/19 at 2:58 pm to SirWinston
The pf changs in BR isnt like this. I enjoy their food
Posted on 9/30/19 at 2:58 pm to BeeFense5
It just seems like even so, they don't have to be filthy and disgusting while they die.
I guess it's a bottomless slide - you get less desirable customers. These new customers are fewer in number and they don't tip, so you get less desirable employees. Less desirable employees don't care about how they look or how gross the bathrooms are, so the customer base shrinks even worse.
I guess it's a bottomless slide - you get less desirable customers. These new customers are fewer in number and they don't tip, so you get less desirable employees. Less desirable employees don't care about how they look or how gross the bathrooms are, so the customer base shrinks even worse.
Posted on 9/30/19 at 3:03 pm to SirWinston
quote:
PF Chang's
I don't eat there but only getting 3 1/2 stars on Yelp for a Chinese place is a good baseline.
Posted on 9/30/19 at 3:06 pm to t00f
I know it's not "real" chinese food and I'm all about real sushi and Vietnamese Food, Thai food, etc.
But, the old school PF Changs kung pao shrimp and scallops was (in it's prime) the best Asian fusian dish I've ever had.
Stuff was dynamite. 10/10. Now the same dish (minus the scallops which they've discontinued) is like a 5/10. Greasy, lower quality shrimp, fewer peanuts, gross.
Things change, I get it. We're richer in restaurant choices than ever. Now I know to never go to PF Chang's again.
But, the old school PF Changs kung pao shrimp and scallops was (in it's prime) the best Asian fusian dish I've ever had.
Stuff was dynamite. 10/10. Now the same dish (minus the scallops which they've discontinued) is like a 5/10. Greasy, lower quality shrimp, fewer peanuts, gross.
Things change, I get it. We're richer in restaurant choices than ever. Now I know to never go to PF Chang's again.
This post was edited on 9/30/19 at 3:07 pm
Posted on 9/30/19 at 3:08 pm to SirWinston
I have not gone into Lakeside Mall in who in the hell knows how long.
But too many local places to eat Chinese. That said, across the street is Cafe Equator(Thai) which we tear up on a regular basis.
But too many local places to eat Chinese. That said, across the street is Cafe Equator(Thai) which we tear up on a regular basis.
This post was edited on 9/30/19 at 3:09 pm
Posted on 9/30/19 at 3:11 pm to SirWinston
Obviously this is a big generalization, but I think largely accurate. They start out as kind of a chic place that not everyone knows about. Thus, the "upper class" of restaurant patrons are the only ones who initially visit. Eventually, it becomes more popular with the masses. The "unwashed" see it as the "cool" dining experience it may have been 10 years ago went it wasn't so well known and flood in to be a part of the upper class. For their part, the upper class have moved on to newer, cool places that the unwashed don't know about yet.
Think of it like Tommy Hilfiger. For a while is was a brand that seemed only for the "classy" and well-off. Then, every broke dick wannabe started wearing it and it lost it's brand value.
Think of it like Tommy Hilfiger. For a while is was a brand that seemed only for the "classy" and well-off. Then, every broke dick wannabe started wearing it and it lost it's brand value.
Posted on 9/30/19 at 3:17 pm to SirWinston
well portland sucks so this could be part of it
Posted on 9/30/19 at 3:25 pm to SirWinston
I've never eaten at a Changs. If the city is large enough to harbor a Changs, then chances are there's an authentic hole in the wall Asian place that I'd rather eat at.
Posted on 9/30/19 at 3:51 pm to SirWinston
This generation of adults prefers not to go to big chain restaurants for sit down dining because there are usually better options now.
Posted on 9/30/19 at 4:04 pm to SirWinston
I'll occasionally eat at the one in BR as it's right by our office. The service is usually great and I can put down some lettuce wraps. I don't really branch out much on the menu but it's perfect for a fast business casual meal. That Italian place Carrabbas fricking sucks though, don't eat there
Posted on 9/30/19 at 4:06 pm to Ed Osteen
The bionic chain that has seemed to pass the test of time has been J. Alexander’s. Same location by mall of Louisiana for over 20 years and still wildly busy and successful.
This post was edited on 9/30/19 at 4:07 pm
Posted on 9/30/19 at 4:10 pm to Paul Allen
Bon Appetit did a really great writeup on Hillstone, the restaurant group that owns Houstons and a few others. It was about how they've stood the test of time and will likely be around plenty longer.
J Alexander's is very similar in style, so makes sense.
J Alexander's is very similar in style, so makes sense.
quote:
You know who loves a Houston’s? My mother. You know who else? Your date, the client you’re trying to impress, and your impossibly picky friend. How many spots can you say that about?
Posted on 9/30/19 at 4:16 pm to BeeFense5
quote:I'm not sure that chains are necessarily dying, but their clientele is changing. Far less upper middle class folks are frequenting chains now, versus the past. Or, at least that's how I've perceived it. This allows for the restaurant to lower standards. Or maybe it's the other way around, maybe their standards lowered, so they drove off the "better" clientele. It's a chicken or egg scenario.
Chains are dying
Posted on 9/30/19 at 5:34 pm to SirWinston
PF Chang’s is a guilty pleasure of mine. Maybe it’s the nostalgia of the late 90’s Lakeside PF Chang’s, but I’ll still put down their combo fried rice (still my favorite fried rice), lettuce wraps, and Chang’s spicy chicken (this fell the furthest IMO but still edible).
Houston’s and J Alexander’s are legit really good restaurants.
Houston’s and J Alexander’s are legit really good restaurants.
Posted on 9/30/19 at 6:20 pm to SirWinston
I first tried PF Chang's in the 90's. I thought it sucked then and haven't been back since. Same with Cheesecake Factory.
Posted on 9/30/19 at 7:13 pm to SirWinston
They make 15.00 hr no matter what in Portland right? What do they care how your experience is.
Posted on 9/30/19 at 8:29 pm to SirWinston
quote:Wait...whaaa...how...you were at the Ritz and the "Quarters" in New Orleans this weekend.
This weekend we ate at a PF Changs in suburban Portland.
Posted on 9/30/19 at 8:44 pm to SirWinston
Places like Changs are like apartment complexes, they have a life cycle.
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