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Is Walk-Ons Starting To Struggle?

Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:17 pm
Posted by TheMT83
Member since Oct 2023
246 posts
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:17 pm
I know back in 2019 before the pandemic and even 2021 as the majority of the Country reopened Walk-Ons had big expansion plans.

I live in the Orlando area and we had a Walk-Ons open on I-Drive in fall of 2020 (delayed as it was supposed to open April 2020 before the pandemic started) and then another I-Drive opened not far from Disney in 2021.

The location from Disney never seemed that crazy popular but the I-Drive location always seemed relatively busy. The service at the Disney location was always subpar as well but the service at the I-Drive location was always very good. They seemed like different franchises the way they were run but they could've had the same owner. The I-Drive location closed earlier this year and the Disney location just closed last Sunday (8 days ago). I bring this up as there was no warning about either location closing. They both closed overnight.

I would cough it up to the local franchise maybe not being run well, but I know a Walk-Ons in Pensacola also closed earlier this year.

I'll admit they took off a menu item that was my favorite and their prices had gotten really high but that's almost every where. While no one is confusing Walk-Ons for legitimate Louisiana food I think we would all agree it was still a step up from your regular sports bar Hooters/Wing House places where it's going to be burgers and wings. No other sports bar around here in going to have a decent gumbo and definitely will not have boudin balls or po'boys.

I know it was probably hard here in Orlando as Miller's Ale House is pretty well established here. Honestly I've never gotten the appeal. Yes Walk-Ons was overpriced but Ale House is overpriced as well and I think the food there is far more mediocre compared to Walk-Ons.

I also know there was a Chattanooga location that closed. Are these closures isolated or is Walk-Ons starting to struggle as a brand? Is it a case of expanding too quickly?
This post was edited on 11/20/23 at 8:21 pm
Posted by SirWinston
PNW
Member since Jul 2014
81397 posts
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:19 pm to
The one in Roger's, AR has really gone downhill in terms of menu, food quality, talent of waitresses, and business
Posted by Stoic Poser
South LA
Member since Apr 2023
331 posts
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:19 pm to
I don’t think so, Tim
Posted by OysterPoBoy
City of St. George
Member since Jul 2013
35009 posts
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:19 pm to
quote:

I would cough it up to


Posted by wutangfinancial
Treasure Valley
Member since Sep 2015
11079 posts
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:19 pm to
The ones in Arkansas are packed but not surprising given the obesity rates here
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
66763 posts
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:19 pm to
I think they overextended. Even at the original location, the service is not as great as it used to be. Food never was anything special but now it's sometimes cold, takes forever, etc. It seems to be on the slide to me.
Posted by billjamin
Houston
Member since Jun 2019
12400 posts
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:20 pm to
Do we have any data on the size of their chicken finger? Apparently that’s directly proportional to the billions the owners is worth.
Posted by wutangfinancial
Treasure Valley
Member since Sep 2015
11079 posts
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:21 pm to
quote:

The one in Roger's, AR has really gone downhill in terms of menu, food quality, talent of waitresses, and business


I can vouch for this take I was there this weekend. It’s so meh and overpriced.
Posted by Paul Allen
Montauk, NY
Member since Nov 2007
75158 posts
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:23 pm to
quote:

overextended


That’s what led to Planet Hollywood’s demise
Posted by jcaz
Laffy
Member since Aug 2014
15549 posts
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:25 pm to
It’s really sad to see these great chains get greedy and start expanding rapidly. It’s usually always a death sentence
Posted by TheMT83
Member since Oct 2023
246 posts
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:25 pm to
quote:

The one in Roger's, AR has really gone downhill in terms of menu, food quality, talent of waitresses, and business


I agree that the quality had gone down. Here in Orlando I like going there even if it was just to drink because they had Abita Amber and Abita Turbodog. They even had Faubourg for a very short time but I don't drink that beer. Later on they stopped even carrying Abita.

They also had a Crawfish three way menu item I enjoyed that they took off the menu so I would agree the menu has gone downhill. I also noticed they switched their duck andouille gumbo to a more traditional chicken andouille gumbo. Both though were very good, especially here in Orlando. Only place I would find a better gumbo would be at Harry's in St. Augustine/Lakeland or making it from scratch myself.

Sad they seem to be going downhill in general. Again no comparison to true local Louisiana restaurants but it was still a nice place to have in Orlando and I still found it to be a step up from the typical sports bar.
Posted by BigBinBR
Baton Rouge
Member since Mar 2023
4014 posts
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:26 pm to
quote:

I think they overextended.
.

Most are now franchises. It is likely more of a problem with the franchisee than the parent company.
Posted by James11111
Walnut Creek
Member since Jul 2020
4653 posts
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:26 pm to
I've been hearing Walk-ons commercials here in California on Local sports radio.
Posted by TutHillTiger
Mississippi Alabama
Member since Sep 2010
43700 posts
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:26 pm to
Mobile isn’t going to make it
Posted by jmarto1
Houma, LA/ Las Vegas, NV
Member since Mar 2008
33869 posts
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:27 pm to
Part of the business cycle imo. The honeymoon period is ending and now they have to buckle down and run the business. I do think the expansion caused management experience to be spread a bit thin. Bottom line though is they are still doing fine
This post was edited on 11/20/23 at 9:48 pm
Posted by sqerty
AP
Member since May 2022
4878 posts
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:27 pm to
quote:

Walk-Outs
Posted by Twincam
Member since Nov 2021
554 posts
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:27 pm to
They got rid of the gator wrap several months ago. Haven't been back.
Posted by Ingeniero
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2013
18259 posts
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:28 pm to
No one wants to pay $20+tip for some Sysco burger and fries
Posted by TheMT83
Member since Oct 2023
246 posts
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:33 pm to
quote:

I think they overextended. Even at the original location, the service is not as great as it used to be. Food never was anything special but now it's sometimes cold, takes forever, etc. It seems to be on the slide to me.


I think this is the case as well. Especially in 2019 it seemed like they were determined to possibly go national which of course always ends up leading to bland mediocre food.

I think we should've seen it coming when they started expanding significantly north into Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas and North Carolina.

I think it they just kept it regional to Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Alabama and Florida they might not be in this position.
Posted by Volvagia
Fort Worth
Member since Mar 2006
51896 posts
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:33 pm to
quote:

Do we have any data on the size of their chicken finger? Apparently that’s directly proportional to the billions the owners is worth.


Inversely proportional.
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