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I don't think "fun" is really the word to put it but food chains here seem to have really dull ambiances and atmospheres. I've seen some of the menu items from the same chains in other countries and they're so articulated - like in Hong Kong, there are many drinks (not fountain drinks) from fast food places like KFC and McDonald's, it makes our fast food places look like dump and their Haagen Dazs look like something served at Max Brenners! In Australia, they even have a Lindt Chocolate Shop with so many nice desserts!
Okay, I'm not trying to make this a all-food topic but are American shops really all about that "get your stuff and go" type and not about experience? I can't say this for all shops since there are places out there with real nice experiences (very few, though) but it seems like all these chains are kind of played-out and strictly consumerism, maybe even robotic at times because sales people don't expect better and customers also don't expect better sometimes.
Why is that these chains we have here are better in other countries? Do people really not care about consumers here as much?
Because "fun" is important only to the shallow, and most people have more relevant values that they seek in their lives. Furthermore, not everyone thinks the same things are "fun".
Nothing is more annoying, when one is living a perfectly contented and fulfilling lifestyle, than to have somebody ask you "Why don't you like to have fun?" and hand you a party hat and a whistle.
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
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I did find a generic boringness to a lot of American chains. Like those CVS pharmacies, what's with them? Makes me feel like a communist countries. For their size American cities tend to underwhelm.
If I want to have proper "atmosphere", I just go to a real restaurant.
Burger King in Vienna. Technically the building is awesome. It still lacks flair because of the fact it's a chain... Not "cozy" at all. Nor really impressive.
All the more reason to shop and support locally owned and operated businesses.
I avoid franchises and chains as much as possible (with the exceptions of Pier One, Dillards, Chicos, Central Market, World Market - a few chains like that which have still held on to unique style and quality). I especially avoid restaurant chains, and I rarely eat fast food - no matter what country I'm in.
All the more reason to shop and support locally owned and operated businesses.
Why go to PF Changs when you can go to Julians?
What an ignorant thing to say...You clearly have never had their Fire Cracker Shrimp followed by their Mongolian Beef and on special occasions the moose cake....Did I mention their oriental mojito. Dear god some of the posers here are just so damn pretentious at times I just cant....
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