Another Wine Blog - Latest Comments in Bennigan’s Closing – Who Gives a $#@&?

Re: Bennigan’s Closing – Who Gives a $#@&?

Joe Power — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 21:22:06 -0000

While I agree with many of your points, overall we will just have to agree to disagree about the damage done by chains, and especially by Wal-Mart. I realize that free-market Libertarians such as the (exceptionally funny) South Park folks need to deny the unfair and downright evil practices of Wal-Mart to be able to cling to their political beliefs, but that doesn't actually change what they do.

Besides, isn't the lesson of South Park that Chef has salty balls? :)

Re: Bennigan’s Closing – Who Gives a $#@&?

Faye — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 19:47:30 -0000

I will still disagree - I don't think these chains have driven out the real restaurants. If you are someone who prefers the chains, then you really aren't happy with any kind of variation or originality, and you probably wouldn't be happy with the privately-owned restaurants even if that were all that was available. Much in the same way some people prefer to shop at Wal-Mart - they want a wide variety at low prices, and for them that is more important than locally-owned, or smaller variety but possbily higher quality (or whatever criteria they are using to judge).

I know many people who don't want variety in their food. They want the same thing, every time, regardless of what city they are in. My DH is one of them. He would rather eat at the same chain all the time and know exactly what he is going to get rather than run the risk of getting something that he doesn't like. With the restaurants we go to, he always gets the same thing - he's not interested in broadening his horizons. Whatever - that's his choice, and he's entitled to it. That's not my cup of tea, so there is a lot of compromising. :)

I am just never a fan of the 'we have to stop them from ruining us' argument. It removes all personal responsibility from the equation. As we learned from South Park, 'the heart of Wal-Mart is me.'

Re: Bennigan’s Closing – Who Gives a $#@&?

Joe Power — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 19:25:03 -0000

Hi Faye! Thanks for the stopping by and commenting.

These places have driven out small, individually owned restaurants. Just like Walmart, they can't be dismissed with a shrug and a "What can you do? That's what people want."

You make a very valid point about bad economic times being the wrong time to open a new restaurant, but if you go back and read what I wrote, I was suggesting that perhaps these current dark times will be followed by better ones that, if we are lucky, will allow for the return of real restaurants.

However, I am fully in agreement with you on one point. I like when there is more of the good stuff for me, too. Cheers!

Re: Bennigan’s Closing – Who Gives a $#@&?

Faye — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 18:04:27 -0000

Many people (who are not me) prefer these places. And as far is I am concerned, they are the culinary equivalent of white zinfandel. I don't want it, but if someone else does, so be it. Just leaves more of the good stuff for me.

And if you believe there is a soft economy, that will actually diminish the number of new mom-and-pops. Restaurants are very tricky businesses with very tight margins. If people are spending less on eating out, that's the absolute wrong time to open your own restaurant.