Once a robust and profitable industry, casual dining has been on the decline.
That means many of those familiar restaurant chains you'd find at the mall are no longer
feeding throngs of hungry crowds like they used to.
So which chains have fared the worst in this cutthroat industry?
Hold on to your tater tots…
These famous restaurant chains are hanging on by a happy hour app.
Chili's
It doesn't matter whether or not you're a fan of baby back ribs — chances are you
know the song about them.
"I want my baby back...baby back baby back baby back…
Chili's Baby Back ribs"
But lately, it's been Chili's who wants their groove back, since suffering declining sales
and layoffs in 2017.
After implementing a slew of menu rebrandings and promotions — including a loyalty program
that ate into their profits — they recently slashed about 40 percent of their entire menu
in an attempt to streamline operations.
They've also aggressively ramped up marketing to try and get more people through the door.
But only time will tell if re-vamped lyrics to the same old jingle will keep Chili's open
for business.
"Oh baby Chili's is back...baby back baby back"
Buffalo Wild Wings
Fewer foods are more iconically American than chicken wings, but that's no comfort for Buffalo
Wild Wings, whose stocks continued to slump in 2017.
"We're Buffalo Wild Wings.
Hey Brett.
Is this weird or what."
According to CEO Sally Smith's letter to shareholders that year:
"Millennial consumers are more attracted [...] to cooking at home, ordering delivery from restaurants,
and eating quickly, in fast-casual or quick-serve restaurants."
Board members have clashed on how to steer the company, moving forward, but with Arby's
acquiring Buffalo Wild Wings for $2.9 billion in early 2018, there's no telling where this
meaty tag-team will lead.
"Seems like a good time for a rally beard."
"Is it doing it?
Yeah"
Applebee's
Although the company fought to attract millennials with extensive renovations and redesigns,
Applebee's has since announced that they're throwing in the towel on that.
Brand President John Cywinski told investors,
"In my perspective, this pursuit led to decisions that created confusion among core guests,
as Applebee's intentionally drifted from [...] its 'Middle America' roots and its abundant value
position.
[...] We can't alienate Boomers or Gen-Xers in the process."
They'll be closing at least 80 restaurants in 2018, on top of already shuttering 100
in 2017.
Get your riblets while they're hot...and Applebee's still exists.
"I'll believe it when I taste it"
Hooters
In the world of "breastaurants," Hooters was a trailblazer.
"And there's a place for renegades like us.
A place where it's ok to not give a hoot.
Where shorts are called shorts for a reason."
But business hasn't been hot for this purveyor of wings, beer, and cleavage.
The chain closed seven percent of their locations between 2012 and 2016, and sales have been
stagnating, according to industry experts.
"Do you know why our beer's so cold here at Hooters?
Because we keep it in the refrigerator"
While there's some speculation that the drop is due to decreasing interest in the brand's,
um, main attraction, Hooters is also plagued by stiff competition in the sit-down, casual
dining market.
Perhaps their new fast-casual chain, Hoots — with fully-clothed staff — will help
them win fans who actually go for the food.
Subway
Even though it's got more locations than McDonald's, Subway has fallen on hard times.
In 2017, they closed over 900 locations in the United States.
Intense competition from fast-casual restaurants has been identified as a factor in their dwindling
sales, but the imprisonment of former spokesperson Jared Fogle was also a harsh blow for the
company.
"Jared Fogel pleading guilty to child pornography charges and other shocking sex crimes."
To woo customers back, Subway overhauled management, started delivering, and re-did their logo.
"Uh, Candice, I'm not sure you should have that here.
Calm down Carl.
It's just a new sriracha chicken melt from Subway"
Outside of the States they continue to do well, and recently saw sales jump 3.7 percent
to $5.8 billion, according to CNN.
Who knows.
Maybe Subway will become a sandwich joint you have to jet-set to get.
Outback Steakhouse
"One part steak, one part ribs, two parts incredible"
Home of the deep fried calorie bomb known as the Bloomin' Onion, Outback Steakhouse
is yet another restaurant feeling the pinch.
Bloomin' Brands, who owns the Outback brand, saw its stock drop eight percent during the
summer of 2017, signaling that they're having trouble getting diners through the door.
CEO Elizabeth Smith predictably identified a competitive market and the increasing tendency
for young people to prepare meals at home as the major source of their economic woes.
Oh, millennials.
Always ruining chain dining with that healthy "Netflix-n-cooking at home" kind of life.
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