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" During the weekday lunch hours, it's more common to see people sitting at their desks than in a comfy booth these days. Going out for lunch is a dying tradition, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Americans sat down to grab lunch 433 million fewer times last year. That comes out to a $3.2 billion loss in business for restaurants, according to research firm the NPD Group.
Lunchtime restaurant traffic hasn't been this bad in at least 40 years, and it's mainly because more people are eating at our desks. The Journal reports even some restaurant execs they spoke to sometimes order in because they say it's more efficient to eat at their desks. "
Or perhaps restaurants have simply raised their prices to far above what the market can bear. We no longer have food service where I work because they lost too many patrons to sustain the business. All that's left is a dinky sandwich counter that charges nine bucks for a miniscule bit a meat with chips and a drink.
Fifteen years ago there were two cafeterias and a sandwich shop within walking distance. You could get a meat and two, plus drink for $4.75. All those are gone now. The sandwich counter that opened up is basically double the cost from back then. While I know things have gone up in price, my income hasn't doubled, not has that of my co workers.
Add to that I only get 30 minutes so I can't drive anywhere and it eat at the desk time.
I think the issue now is that most places are going to put you into the double digits for a lunch, or close to it. Who wants to be paying $200+ a month for lunch when they can bring lunch for <$100 a month (and even that takes into account bringing in fancier food)? I do go out twice a week max, but the vast majority of places are under $10.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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The cost isn't a big deal, it's the time. We have the option of an hour lunch or half an hour and go home that much earlier. I choose the latter. By the time I would walk to the nearest restaurants and wait for service, 1/2 hour is not long enough. I usually take a 15 minute walk, then eat at my desk.
We can work through lunch and go home earlier. So that's what almost everyone does...I'd rather have the hour in the evening with my family. Also as others have mentioned it's expensive..
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