Restaurants Businesses Closing (Boston, Ludlow, Sandwich: fit in, renters, Home Depot)

[xo_kizzy_xo]

Originally Posted by msRB311

Another thing I've noticed about restaurants these days is alcohol trumps everything. I've seen mom and pop type places have their food quality go down because their main seller is drinks. It's like oh we don't need the lobster bisque or the crab cakes on the menu anymore those are expensive for us to keep in stock and people just want booze.

Alcohol is the biggest markup, that's why. Food, in comparison, is cheap. it's why the dive bar serving food located near me is still open while the pizza joints and such around it are now closed.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by Beachcomber4

The problem I’m seeing is that prices in some restaurants are outpacing the value. In my circle people going out less but opting for more expensive restaurants where not just the food but service and atmosphere justify pricing. A local spot here on Cape just posted their winter specials- $15 for soup. No thanks

We will be seeing extremes. High end, impeccable service “experiential” type spots and quick serve food as merely sustenance type joints.

This is a good point. It reflects how we've adapted too (going out less, but opting for nicer spots when we do). Not that long ago, it used to be that you could go to any number of neighborhood pubs/taverns/ale houses, etc. and get a couple of beers and a burger for $20-25 (maybe $30 in Boston). I could do $25-30 for a dinner and a couple of drinks once a week without thinking much about it. Today, the burger alone often costs around $20 and the beers are $7-10 each (or more). After taxes and tip, a burger w fries and 2 beers can easily be $50+. It's hard to justify the $50 or so for a couple of draft pours and an adequate burger. The gap between the local joint and the nicer "experiential" spot has narrowed quite a bit.

[xo_kizzy_xo]

Somebody mentioned this a few pages back, but it needs reitaration: Younger people nowadays don't want to work in low-paying, high labor jobs like food service unless they either want to or have no choice. Most don't want to work the hours. They want to maintain their social/home lives (aka "work to live, not live to work"). They've witnessed their parents and other adults through multiple layoffs and have decided that they want no part of it.

And yes, I work in food service and I do have a couple of younger coworkers. We discuss this a lot. One of them took a gap year to save money before continuing his education. The other is helping support a parent. Neither of them particularly want to work in this business but since they live nearby and don't drive, it was a no-brainer.

The average age in my segment of this industry is 50+. We survived layoffs as corporations bought up or took over properties and consolidated over the years. Those of us who could no longer withstand the turmoil left the industry altogether. Those of us who are still standing have the "golden handcuffs" where you stay because you know damn well nobody will pay you as much as you're being paid now. It's a vicious circle.

[WestieWhitie]

Originally Posted by Beachcomber4

The problem I’m seeing is that prices in some restaurants are outpacing the value. In my circle people going out less but opting for more expensive restaurants where not just the food but service and atmosphere justify pricing. A local spot here on Cape just posted their winter specials- $15 for soup. No thanks

We will be seeing extremes. High end, impeccable service “experiential” type spots and quick serve food as merely sustenance type joints.

$15 minimum wage leads to $15 soup, in other news water is wet.

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by WestieWhitie

$15 minimum wage leads to $15 soup, in other news water is wet.

Vail Resorts starts at $20/hour at all their ski resorts. I imagine any business on Cape Cod has similar wage structure since the housing costs are similarly crazy.

[msRB311]

Cape Cod in the winter is not a destination/resort place by any stretch.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by msRB311

Cape Cod in the winter is not a destination/resort place by any stretch.

He didn't say it was.

[WestieWhitie]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

Vail Resorts starts at $20/hour at all their ski resorts. I imagine any business on Cape Cod has similar wage structure since the housing costs are similarly crazy.

...and their lift ticket costs $275 as a result, how dare they? Centered green new equitable ski justice now!

Also good job bragging as usual, surprised you didn't list what you picked up at Axel's.

[msRB311]

Exactly...it was another brag post. Might as well say, but I order $20 soup all the time.

[newenglandgal123]

Originally Posted by WestieWhitie

...and their lift ticket costs $275 as a result, how dare they? Centered green new equitable ski justice now!

Also good job bragging as usual, surprised you didn't list what you picked up at Axel's.

Just like the dude on the other thread who wanted to tell us how he's flying out to Sweden for the weekend to party with ABBA. At the end of the day who knows if true or not and who cares. This is an online forum after all.