I don’t know how long it’s been since the last time you went out to eat at a casual dining chain, but the landscape sure has changed – and not for the better. First off, I’m going to do my “old man” rant on QR codes. Now, I do technology as a profession, so I understand that it does help in some cases. I also understand that the younger generation has no problem adapting to these advances, but I’d like…
As I grow older, I find that more and more things tend to annoy me when I’m out and about. I’ve always been sarcastic (which my own daughters now give back to me in spades – I guess they have been paying attention), but it seems to me as if society as a whole has become more impolite, self-centered, and “me”- centric. Either that or I’m slowly turning into my own father (yikes!). Here’s what I mean. Let’s start with…
Perhaps you’ve seen examples of this in your town. A big shopping plaza filled with several big-box stores opens up to great fanfare, then as the years go by, the stores close one-by-one, leaving large, abandoned buildings and deserted parking lots to litter the landscape. Do you know what I mean? I’ll use some examples from the largest town near me – Hagerstown, MD (population @40,000). It’s at the intersection of two major highways, I-70 and I-81. You’d think that…
I’ll admit, due to the pandemic, it’s been a summer to remember (or forget, depending on your point of view). With all of the social distancing, rules, and just plain fear of catching the COVID-19 virus keeping customers away, running a business during the past six months has been anything but easy. Today, I’ll focus on restaurants and other food eateries, one of the hardest hit sectors in the recent economic downturn. ‘Business Insider’ recently reported that as many as…
For those of you familiar with my blog, you may remember a few months ago I spoke about the coming of BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse to Hagerstown. It’s located in the space formerly occupied by the Sear’s Automotive Plaza at the Valley Mall. In my previous post (click here if you want to review it), I offered dire predictions for their business model – based upon their menu size, price point, and local clientele. I appear to have been mistaken….
I talk often in this blog about the difficulties that local restaurants have in staying open in the four-state area. Truth be told, the restaurant business is one of the toughest out there – no matter what the address, and most people just don’t realize what it takes to not only make a great restaurant, but what it requires day in and day out for it to remain successful. I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve heard people…
What’s happened to all the “fine dining” choices in Hagerstown? “LJ’s”? Gone. “Aqua 103”? Being “re-launched”. “Family Meal”? Didn’t make it 6 months. These days, it’s easier to spot a Sasquatch or an “I’m with Hillary” bumper sticker than it is to sit down to a linen tablecloth when dining out in the county seat. Don’t get me wrong, I like a good Legion Steak Feed or hog butchering as much as the next guy, but there are times when…