Originally Posted by
mtofell
What you discuss here goes so far beyond just restaurants in our society today - Many think things that are a privilege are a right. Of course, all the credit card companies and banks play right into it with slogans like, "Discover Card..... Because Life Won't Wait". Eating out is just terrible from an economic standpoint, largely due to all the items talked about here (high labor cost, etc.). Like so many other things, the ones abusing the privilege of eating out are the ones that can least afford it.
Originally Posted by
JBord
I've heard a similar story, but not tied to the Great Recession, which was in 2008. The whole restaurant craze and celebrity chef thing was going strong before that. In any case, you bring up an interesting point. The higher end restaurants should survive, and of course they usually pay much better too. And I suspect fast food will adapt, as we've discussed here. It's those mid-range chains that are worth watching.
I have to correct my post. Meant to say dining out in the decades ('50s, '60s, maybe even earlier) prior to the GR was the generally preserve of the wealthier. Dining out crept down to reach the lower end of the economic strata (stratum) with the advent of the franchised restaurants (many of which closed during/immediately after the GR) which catered to those in the lowest income brackets who could least afford it. One wonders if the elimination of home economics in school curriculums contributed. I bought a huge wool rug at an estate auction and looked up the obituary of the deceased. She actually had a degree in home economics and taught it in military schools.
Last edited by YVR Cockroach; Jun 24, 2021 at 2:00 pm