corner bakery naperville (prices, food, health)

[Lookout Kid]

Bennigan's was lousy compared to similar "Bar and Grill" chains. That's my $0.02 regarding the reason for their failure.

Did the Loop locations close yet? There are two on Michigan Avenue that I used to hit up when working late (one at South Water and one at Adams).

[vandre]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

Bennigan's was lousy compared to similar "Bar and Grill" chains. That's my $0.02 regarding the reason for their failure.

Did the Loop locations close yet? There are two on Michigan Avenue that I used to hit up when working late (one at South Water and one at Adams).

Yes it closed as well

Bennigan's wake: Hard times for restaurants -- chicagotribune.com

Bennigan's shuttered its roughly 150 company-owned stores, though about 140 franchise outlets will remain open. The Chicago area, one of Bennigan's prime markets, will be hit hard because all but four of its 19 stores here are company-owned.

This is another interesting snippet:

Chicago is one of Bennigan's big markets, Briski said. In fact, the store at 225 N. Michigan Ave. has been the company's largest by sales volume, he said.

[Irishtom29]

Is that regular neighborhood bakery still there in downtown Naperville? Or did it go the way of the Satellite Lounge?

[via chicago]

Originally Posted by Drover

Culinary tastes have changed dramatically since Baker's Square and Bennigan's hit the scene. they didn't do enough to keep up and/or they were seen as "old-hat."

Bennigans, TGIF, Ruby Tuesday, Chilis, Houlihans, Applebees....is there really a difference? Seriously, talk about a played out 70s suburban concept if there ever was one. I always think of Chotchkies from Office Space...

"So can I get you gentlemen something more to drink? Or maybe something to nibble on? Some Pizza Shooters, Shrimp Poppers, or Extreme Fajitas?"

[Frank the Tank]

Originally Posted by via chicago

Bennigans, TGIF, Ruby Tuesday, Chilis, Houlihans, Applebees....is there really a difference? Seriously, talk about a played out 70s suburban concept if there ever was one. I always think of Chotchkies from Office Space...

"So can I get you gentlemen something more to drink? Or maybe something to nibble on? Some Pizza Shooters, Shrimp Poppers, or Extreme Fajitas?"

I don't know about you, but it's the amount of flair that makes the difference for me in choosing a chain restaurant.

[acdevane]

Corner Bakery moved to the Warrenville location because catering is what sustained their business and the downtown location was not conducive to that - read parking. It IS disappointing that they couldn't have kept both locations.

If you're looking for a quick sandwich / salad - Cosi's would do the trick.

Other eateries that have opened recently - the Flattop Grill, the Angry Bulldog, and the Pita Pit(downtown) Morton's, Maggiano's, White Chocolate Grill (Freedom Commons)

[aragx6]

Originally Posted by via chicago

Bennigans, TGIF, Ruby Tuesday, Chilis, Houlihans, Applebees....is there really a difference? Seriously, talk about a played out 70s suburban concept if there ever was one. I always think of Chotchkies from Office Space...

"So can I get you gentlemen something more to drink? Or maybe something to nibble on? Some Pizza Shooters, Shrimp Poppers, or Extreme Fajitas?"

Yes, but the reason TGIFriday's and Applebee's have survived, nay thrived, is because they have made efforts to bring in new blood, to rejuvinate tired menus. Not syaing it's gourmet, but when I was in the 'burbs of St. Louis last I had lunch at Applebee's with my family and I ate a new bruschetta chicken sandwich that they had, and it was actually pretty darn good.

Bennigan's was so blah, the concept was blah and they made no real effort to change that - so they went the way of the dodo.

[via chicago]

Originally Posted by aragx6

Yes, but the reason TGIFriday's and Applebee's have survived, nay thrived, is because they have made efforts to bring in new blood, to rejuvinate tired menus. Not syaing it's gourmet, but when I was in the 'burbs of St. Louis last I had lunch at Applebee's with my family and I ate a new bruschetta chicken sandwich that they had, and it was actually pretty darn good.

Bennigan's was so blah, the concept was blah and they made no real effort to change that - so they went the way of the dodo.

Actually, I read some articles about Ruby Tuesday's rather significant overhaul of the interior/exterior design and menus. While I still wouldnt go out of my way, at least they've ditched that tacky sports bar image. As an example:

Old
RubyTuesday_old.jpg (image)
http://www.tivolilighting.com/applic...-tues-jpeg.jpg
vs
New
http://img.timeinc.net/health/i/2008...uesday-225.jpg
RubyTuesday2.jpg (image)
RubyTuesday.jpg (image)
RubyTuesday3.jpg (image)

[Drover]

Originally Posted by aragx6

Yes, but the reason TGIFriday's and Applebee's have survived, nay thrived, is because they have made efforts to bring in new blood, to rejuvinate tired menus. Not syaing it's gourmet, but when I was in the 'burbs of St. Louis last I had lunch at Applebee's with my family and I ate a new bruschetta chicken sandwich that they had, and it was actually pretty darn good.

Bennigan's was so blah, the concept was blah and they made no real effort to change that - so they went the way of the dodo.

Not only that but Chili's in particular, while it may seem old-hat nowadays, was actually one of the chains that helped change culinary tastes across the country by bringing Southwest and barbecue influences to nearly all of their dishes instead of keeping them confined to strictly traditional Mexican/Southwest and barbecue dishes, respectively. Hate them if you must (and for the most part I do), but they were one of the major forces in shifting the nation's culinary tastes in a more lively direction. The main reason Chili's seem so ordinary today is because so many chains have copied their formula.

Remember when Chi Chi's was considered exotic food? Now you can't throw a rock in any direction without hitting some Mexican-concept chain restaurant, most of which now do it so much better that they put Chi Chi's out of business. I'll even confess to liking the Chevy's chain enough to occasionally seek it out above other "mom and pop" options.

Crapplebee's on the other hand... I have no idea how that dreadful place keeps sprouting up like crabgrass all over the culinary landscape. Same with TGIF...

[Lookout Kid]

Apparently Applebee's has a new executive chef who is re-inventing their menu. I haven't been in one to see the results, however. The writing must be on the wall for all of these crappy "bar and grill" chains. The folding of Bennigan's should serve as a warning to them all.