posted on Aug, 30 2021 @ 11:44 PM
a reply to:
Zanti Misfit
Buffet, soup/salad bar, breakfast/lunch/pizza bar...basically any self-serve concept is done due to Covid. I have a hard time seeing the open
air/watch while they make concepts lasting like Subway, Chipotle, Hot Head Burrito, Jersey Mikes, etc. because the customers are “too close” to
the food.
As it is, dine in is tenuous at best, or just non-existent at too many fast food locations still. Going over to the Dayton area, dine in is rather
limited to Bob Evan’s menu level of chain restaurants.
But it is more than just Covid or even simple economic downturn at play here. Eating out was never healthy but was part of an event like shopping at
the mall (or several stores downtown in the 50’s through 70’s), or seeing a ball game, etc. Sporting events are not low cost pastimes and with the
replays and camera angles you are better entertained at home on the TV. Malls are dead. The anchor stores are gone. The smaller stores have no draw.
There used to be two or three record stores in a mall. All handled online now. Amazon passed Walmart as the largest retailer last year. Ask K-mart,
Sears, Montgomery Ward, Airway, Circuit City, Woolworths, and so on what happens next...
But people used to eat out after shopping. No one that still goes to a store wants drive thru after walking all day. They want to sit and eat their
BigMac or KFC. If they have to bring it home, they can save a couple bucks and fix their own meal that will taste better too.
To be honest, I’m curious as to as if the grocery store side of Walmart carries the store better than the department store side. Especially given
their lower selections after adopting the all Walmart’s will be Super Walmart’s policy several years ago.