Lack of National Chain Restaurants in the LA Basin (Tustin: rent, bankrupt)

[munchitup]

Originally Posted by red4ce

There's plenty of chain restaurants out in the suburbs. We don't have Texas Steakhouse or Cracker Barrel because those are regional, but there's no shortage of Applebees, Olive Garden, TGI Friday's, Red Lobster or Cheesecake Factory from what I can see. Some of the ethnoburbs don't have as many chains because immigrants either can't afford it or tend to prefer their own food, but overall I've never perceived us as 'lacking' in chain restaurants.

The OP specifically stated the LA Basin.

[hipcat]

Originally Posted by pwright1

I noticed the same thing with all of those sit down chains. Another thing I noticed is there might be a lack of the sit down chains but there seems to be a lot of fast food chains.

I see what you are saying. There are alot of Asian and Mexican chains like Yoshinoya/Panda Express and El Pollo Loco/BajaFresh/Chipotle everywhere around the LA Basin. I missed those living in Texas for 3 years.

[genjy]

Also IHOP, Denny's, Panda Express--plenty of them everywhere.

I do agree we seemingly have relatively fewer chain restaurants here... or maybe just that we have fewer of each chain.

[disgruntled la native]

I've always felt those national chain restaurants would do well in the LA basin. I have met plenty of people, locals and transplants, who feel nostalgic about places like Golden Corral. So much so that if someone is going out of the area, they HAVE to stop at one of these chains. Often times these chains provide good prices and great tasting food. I wish there were some around here, because some of the local independent restaurants are awful.

There is no shortage of fast food and fast casual though.

[genjy]

Originally Posted by disgruntled la native

I've always felt those national chain restaurants would do well in the LA basin. I have met plenty of people, locals and transplants, who feel nostalgic about places like Golden Corral. So much so that if someone is going out of the area, they HAVE to stop at one of these chains. Often times these chains provide good prices and great tasting food. I wish there were some around here, because some of the local independent restaurants are awful.

There is no shortage of fast food and fast casual though.

There's a Golden Corral off the 15 freeway in Hesperia.

There's usually a loong line that spills out the front door and into the parking lot. I am sure many of the patrons are non-locals who just want to scarf down familiar buffet food.

[disgruntled la native]

Yeah I would say a few Golden Corrals in the LA basin could do very well. It sucks that the choice is often between fast food/fast casual and $20 "small plates"

[jm1982]

Originally Posted by disgruntled la native

Yeah I would say a few Golden Corrals in the LA basin could do very well. It sucks that the choice is often between fast food/fast casual and $20 "small plates"

Never been to one but now you have made me curious about it .

I think another big thing is land prices. Much of LA doesn't have the available space in the "'metro" area that the big chains require
Which is why you see them more in the valley

I think even this will change over time as even the valley becomes more dense.

Things don't stay the same forever

I know a man that remember when they valley was mostly farmland .

[timtemtym]

I grew up with Golden Corral, or the Golden Pig-trough as we call it in Texas. It's pretty gross when it gets crowded like a giant pile of food people are gnawing on like zombies... but they do have good rolls.

I don't see much difference between that and Hometown Buffet which has many locations around the basin. Sizzler is a small scale version as well. But I did read an article in the Vegas paper that a new franchisee is opening up locations across the Vegas area and I'm sure once that satiates, he'll move on down to the IE.

The one thing I do miss is good Tex-Mex chains.

[eastmemphisguy]

True of most center cities. Not so many casual/chain/family dining options. Instead, you get more independent, upscale places. It's the case even in my (much smaller) city. If the people were clamoring for a Cracker Barrel, one would appear. I strongly suspect the city people are not.

[R-Tistic]

One thing....there aren't many buffets in L.A. city at all. I think the crime, especially in the past, could affect this. Buffets suffer in certain areas because people love to sneak in, or figure out ways to eat without paying.

But yeah, I have heard that the tax costs and other expenses make it extremely hard to set up chains in L.A. city. I went to Tucson and realized they had 4-5 chains that were in Tallahassee, such as Village Inn, Waffle House, and Zaxby's, and these aren't in L.A. A lot of chains are Regional, though, and you only see them in the South, or the East.