Why do restaurant chains leave Chicago area? (Aurora, Westmont: work, house)

[chet everett]

Sonic tried and failed. Or was that Checkers. Both look alike to me...

[aragx6]

Wow... there aren't any Sonics here! I never actually noticed that before. Every 2 1/2 years I get a craving for their chili cheese fries... They're one of those glorious "foods" that ride that fantastic line between disgusting and delicious. I feel the same way about White Castle Sliders as well as Jack in the Box's deep-fried tacos (but I guess you guys don't have those either!)

[allydriver]

Lone Star??

Came into Chicago in a big Texas way and now seems to have quietly retreated to smaller Illinois markets .

[Naperville77]

Originally Posted by chet everett

I think Sizzler went through Chapter 11 and is still around as different leadership team, but the old executives had ties to Brinker International which owns Magiannos and Corner Bakery through some complex licenesing with Lettuce Entertain You...

That explains why they vanished. Though most places have a hard time having much staying power on that stretch of Ogden.

[chet everett]

What about Stuart Andersens?

[Drover]

I'm kinda surprised Sonic is making its way up here. You'd think the drive-in model wouldn't work so well in the snow belt.

I've tried Sonic a couple of times. I was not overly impressed. In the great regional burger chain competition, I'll take Culver's over Sonic any day.

I used to say that you could tell where the Mason-Dixon line is by drawing a line across the map connecting each town that has both a Sonic and a Culver's. Doesn't work as well as it used to; they've both made some pretty deep inroads into each other's respective markets.

[irish setter girl]

There was a checkers at New York and 59, is that still there? I noticed the Lone Star on New York by Fox Valley Mall is no longer. Never went there. I try to avoid that intersection like the plague.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by chet everett

Sonic tried and failed. Or was that Checkers. Both look alike to me...

Checkers. The three I remember the most were on Western north of Addison, on the corner of Addison and Broadway,and next to the Walgreens on Milwaukee near Foster (all in the city.)

There was one next to the Dan Ryan that was still open a couple of years ago on the south side like at 87th or something. I dont think it is now, but I might be wrong.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by aragx6

Wow... there aren't any Sonics here! I never actually noticed that before. Every 2 1/2 years I get a craving for their chili cheese fries... They're one of those glorious "foods" that ride that fantastic line between disgusting and delicious. I feel the same way about White Castle Sliders as well as Jack in the Box's deep-fried tacos (but I guess you guys don't have those either!)

White Castle? We sure do. I am not sure if you were including White Castle in that statement though.

[beadster]

There will be a Sonic Opening up out in Algonquin. They plan open up many restaurants in the Chicago Land Area...