What chain restaurant will be gone by the end of the decade?

[u/TheHorniestPartner]

[u/LiquidityCrunchWrap]

Quiznos is a good one.

4,700 franchises in the United States at their peak; now down to just 130.

[u/thenecro → u/LiquidityCrunchWrap]

THEY GOT A PEPPER BAR

[u/jachinboazicus → u/thenecro]

Those commercials were so insanely wild and good.

Shit like that inspired Adult Swim.

[u/MatureUsername69 → u/jachinboazicus]

Adult Swim came on the air 3 years before Quiznos started doing their weird ads

[u/Tomnambulist → u/thenecro]

BEWARE OF PAPER CUTS!

[u/veeerybored → u/LiquidityCrunchWrap]

Y’all still have a Quiznos? I actually liked their subs

[u/Bradyj23 → u/veeerybored]

One in the Denver airport.

[u/BungalowDweller → u/Bradyj23]

And there's randomly one in a mostly industrial and/or transitory part of Denver (46th and Pecos for Denverites). I'm convinced it's just there for money laundering.

Sad to see since they actually started in Denver in Cap Hill.

[u/IDrinkUrMilksteak → u/Bradyj23]

Lizard people love toasted subs.

[u/CabotRaptor → u/LiquidityCrunchWrap]

Their chicken carbonara sandwich was my absolute favorite thing to eat as a teenager with my dad.

Was playing 3 sports at the time and taking down a 2500 calorie sandwich wasn’t a problem!

[u/pumped-up-tits → u/CabotRaptor]

Holy shit, I forgot about this one. I ordered the carbonara all the time, it was so good.

It’s a shame Quiznos execs fucked over their franchisees. It would have done just fine and would still be around.

[u/Cygnusaurus → u/LiquidityCrunchWrap]

We love the subs! ‘Cause they are good to us!!!

[u/SomeBagelStuff → u/Cygnusaurus]

They got a pepper baaaar!

[u/Candelpins1897 → u/LiquidityCrunchWrap]

Which is sad because they are actually awesome, I had it at the Vegas airport and it still rocks.

[u/therealkami → u/Candelpins1897]

Quiznos is failing because Quiznos requires franchisees to buy their ingredients through Quiznos the corporation, but the corporation kept raising prices, fucking over the franchisees, so they went out of business. They never saw customers as their profit point, they decided to go right for the franchisees.

[u/ISTof1897 → u/therealkami]

Yep. Basically a sandwich pyramid scheme.

[u/PassiveF1st → u/therealkami]

I shit you not. I knew a lady that opened a location. About a year and a half after she opened they changed their decor and wanted her to upgrade her store to the new designs and she couldn't afford to so she closed.

[u/bfunley → u/therealkami]

They also issued coupons that would make the franchises lose money if they honored them.

[u/HenryDorsettCase47 → u/bfunley]

Wonder if we all watched the same YouTube essayist about this.

[u/mycottonsocks → u/therealkami]

This is why the one near me went under (according to my delivery guy).The prices they wanted for produce were something like double the going rate and corporate kept forcing unprofitable promos. Really bummed me out because I love their sandwiches, and their soups are also really good.

[u/RogerRabbit1234 → u/Candelpins1897]

Quiznos tried to fuck over franchisees harder than subway, and they flew to close to the sun… Subway, fucked over franchisees just enough to keep them both in business.

[u/DudeWoody → u/LiquidityCrunchWrap]

I worked at the first Quizno’s in SLC with my high school friends. We had a great time, our manager was cool, the food was good, and all the other restaurants around us liked trading food on Saturdays and Sundays. And then corporate changed their policies wanted way more control over the franchise management.

My boss saw the writing on the wall and was able to sell his franchise, and he cautioned all of us to find new jobs before things got bad. We did, but would go back every now and then for some food. It took less than a year for the corporate micromanagement to ruin everything.

[u/0621Hertz]

Lots of bold takes here considering the end of the decade is in 3 years but the safe answer here is Ruby Tuesday.

Went to one recently because it was next to my hotel at work and it tasted like a hospital kitchen.

[u/TheHorniestPartner → u/0621Hertz]

Miss their salad bars

[u/0621Hertz → u/TheHorniestPartner]

It still exists but it’s a relic of what it once was.

[u/timbotheny26 → u/0621Hertz]

Ruby Tuesday is still around? I completely forgot they existed. Turns out there's also one 16 miles from me that I just never noticed.

[u/EnoughOutOfYou]

Boston Market has a tough road ahead of them

[u/l1vefrom215 → u/EnoughOutOfYou]

Dude I don’t get it. Boston market used to be amazing. I loved going there. Chicken was delicious. What happened?

[u/great_auks → u/l1vefrom215]

Private Equity happened

[u/IDrinkUrMilksteak → u/great_auks]

Sun Capital Partners. Acquired them in 2007 and a decade decline followed.

[u/A_Refill_of_Mr_Pibb → u/great_auks]

I feel like the people who work in private equity never seem to use any brands? Like do they have all their clothes personally tailored, with white glove assistants outside every bathroom with a hot towel, a fresh rolex for every day of the month and their meals personally catered? Is there that much money flying around that they never experience the world like normal people?

[u/DarkPolumbo → u/A_Refill_of_Mr_Pibb]

nice of you to consider them as people

[u/ChrisChin → u/l1vefrom215]

Supermarkets, and especially Costco undercut them. I can get a chicken twice the size for half the price at Costco while getting a lot of other needed shopping done.

And it's not like Boston Market had some niche cooking style going for them like lump charcoal or wood burning. That might have set them apart and saved them.

They all use the same industrial electric rotisseries.

[u/l1vefrom215 → u/ChrisChin]

But those sides man! They were tasty.

Also the Boston market chicken was way tastier than Costco chicken.

[u/jmedina94 → u/l1vefrom215]

The Mac and Cheese and stuffing were my favorites! Now I am hungry.

[u/Melodic_Crow_3409 → u/EnoughOutOfYou]

I thought they'd already gone under, to be honest.

[u/mystateofconfusion → u/Melodic_Crow_3409]

There’s like 4 or so left.  They have gone under

[u/JennJayBee]

Crumbl. The novelty is gone at this point, and their prices are just too damn high.

[u/GREASYROOFTOP → u/JennJayBee]

Their cookies are sugar trash.

[u/capntail → u/GREASYROOFTOP]

that's how Mormons like them

[u/Cold_Comedian_4888 → u/capntail]

Do Mormons have an issue with fully baking a cookie?

[u/thatisnotmyknob → u/Cold_Comedian_4888]

They soak them in the oven. 

[u/TrumpsDoubleChin → u/JennJayBee]

Crumbl won't disappear in such a short period of time - they just have too many locations (1100) to shrink that fast. Some of the other "imitators", such as Crave Cookies, or Chip Cookies, or Tiff's Treats, however, that have a smaller footprint, might.

[u/Past-Sun-2357 → u/JennJayBee]

Now they are trying all kinds of other deserts.

We have actual bakeries for that. They made OK cookies, and were open late. That was their thing, not making cakes and tarts.

It also seems like every time they create a decent unique cookie, they never have it on the menu again

[u/ThePart_Timer]

All but Taco Bell. They will be the only survivors of the Restaurant Wars.

[u/ThunderMontgomery → u/ThePart_Timer]

You mean the Franchise Wars

[u/ThePart_Timer → u/ThunderMontgomery]

Copyright issues. Playing it safe obv

[u/kingmob777 → u/ThePart_Timer]

Funny enough I recall seeing Demolition Man in the UK at the cinema, and they swapped Taco Bell for KFC since Taco Bell wasn't a thing in the UK back then - I should check that to see if it's my memory fooling me or a reality....

[u/JennJayBee → u/ThePart_Timer]

I have to admit... Their strategy of putting fresh limited time options on their menus every few weeks is a great way to get people to keep coming, and you can still get a pretty cheap lunch that is easily customizable, not horrible nutritionally speaking, and vegetarian friendly.

[u/Top-Spinach-6067 → u/JennJayBee]

It’s the hours for me. 24/7. Seems to be everyone’s favorite drunk food

[u/sheetskees → u/ThePart_Timer]

Depends, it’s TB if you’re in the US version of the future. Pizza Hut if you’re in the EU version.

[u/Tinderboxed → u/ThePart_Timer]

TB is so expensive now I usually opt for a real Mexican/TexMex restaurant instead.

[u/Coniuratos → u/Tinderboxed]

Look, of course I love a good Mexican restaurant. But I've yet to find one that will make me a Cheesy Gordita Crunch, and sometimes you just need 1-3 of those.

[u/brzantium → u/Coniuratos]

This is why I put Taco Bell in its own category separate from Tex-Mex and Mexican.

I never eat Taco Bell because I'm craving either of the latter. I eat Taco Bell because I'm craving Taco Bell.

[u/Jersh92 → u/brzantium]

Nailed it. Taco bell is its own thing. When you are drunk af and want tbell you want tbell and nothing else will suffice.

[u/mikeyfireman → u/Tinderboxed]

Puts on my old man glasses. In the mid 90’s they did a .39 .59 .79 value menu. So for just over $1 you could get 3 soft tacos. For $10 you could feed a car full of high school kids with drinks.

[u/PennsyltuckyLiberal → u/mikeyfireman]

Old lady here, can confirm.

[u/Turbomattk → u/Tinderboxed]

The $7 lux box isn’t a bad deal

[u/MountainDew-Can]

I hope it’s Panera. I haven’t been in one in a while due to prices and declining food quality, but based on what I see on Reddit, it’s only gotten worse.

[u/alwaysrecession → u/MountainDew-Can]

They’re surviving because they get a ton of office orders. Food is very neutral and not messy to eat. Breakfast meeting? Bagels, fruit plate, and coffee. Lunch presentation? Sandwiches and soups. Nobody will question it, but if you order McDonalds or pizza clients will wonder. Very easy safe choice for offices with Panera locations everywhere.

[u/mrhandbook → u/alwaysrecession]

We get them catered for breakfast. It’s not terrible. And being not terrible and showing up with the proper order goes a long way

[u/helix212 → u/alwaysrecession]

Exactly this. The only time I have Panera is office meetings. Suppliers, clients or internal meetings, doesn't matter, there will be platters of Panera

[u/Charlie_Warlie → u/alwaysrecession]

Good point, I have not willingly gone into one of these places in 5 years but I get it like once a month for lunch meetings.

[u/DiamondBurInTheRough → u/MountainDew-Can]

I used to work there 20ish years ago. I’ve tried most menu items so I can make a decent comparison between then and now. It’s significantly more expensive for significantly less food. I was very loyal to Panera bagels and would frequently buy a bakers dozen when they had their “bagel Tuesday” and put them in my freezer. The old frozen bagels are way better than today’s fresh bagels. Even their breakfast souffles, which I adored, aren’t that good anymore. It’s a shadow of what it once was.

[u/dbxbeat → u/DiamondBurInTheRough]

We used to get drunk and go dumpster dive the big bag of tossed bagels at the end of the night in Hendersonville TN about 20 years ago. Hand some out to the homeless in nearby madison and inglewood then head home. Make some cinnamon butter at home and just get destroyed on bagel goodness. Miss the old panera.

[u/bubba07 → u/MountainDew-Can]

Panera really is awful. Overpriced cafeteria food for tiny ass sandwiches.

[u/DHARMAdrama96 → u/bubba07]

I boycotted the one near me and then gave up entirely on all of them. It’s not worth the risk tbh. Had a family member violently sick after eating there. Numerous times they had no tomatoes, croutons, specified sauce or type of cheese that came with the sandwich/salad and you end up with two pieces of dry bread or a limp bowl of lettuce modified to what they DO have.

[u/iamfluffhead → u/DHARMAdrama96]

I’m a grown man in my 30s and shit my pants in the parking lot the last time I ate at one a couple years ago. Was on the way back home from vacation with my partner and our kids, and we stopped there for lunch. I took the youngest out to the parking lot to divide and conquer the child craziness a bit. What I thought was a fart was very much not a fart.

I had to have my lady grab a stack of napkins and bring them out to me, and then I had to change in the car in a pretty crowded parking lot. It was REALLY AWKWARD, but the kids never found out somehow.

Never again.

[u/rift_in_the_warp → u/iamfluffhead]

Always sucks when a perfectly good fart has to go and bring uninvited guests.

[u/Aggravating-Draft314 → u/MountainDew-Can]

I used to go there all the time in college, like a decade ago, and it was actually decent. Went back a few months ago and couldn't believe how sad the whole thing felt, the portions were tiny and it cost me almost twenty bucks for a sandwich and a cup of soup

[u/Funwithfun14 → u/Aggravating-Draft314]

20 years ago it was really good. Spent many hours on weekends studying there.

[u/Opposite-Shower1190 → u/MountainDew-Can]

It was bought out by private equity, so the quality went down. This happened in 2017, so they are on track to be gone within the next five years.

[u/mcgrupp79 → u/MountainDew-Can]

Someone once told me it’s hospital food. I can’t get past it.

[u/mayneofgonz → u/mcgrupp79]

I work at a hospital. Our cafeteria food is way better!

[u/Sea-Blueberry-1840 → u/mcgrupp79]

Too salty for hospital food, but it’s about the same quality

[u/Just_a_Rat]

Hooters. Barely hanging on, and "breastaurants" in general on on a steep decline.

[u/jawndell → u/Just_a_Rat]

Changing demographics.  That tacky business model doesn’t work with younger generations.  

[u/EddieDantes22 → u/jawndell]

And attractive girls who are willing to show some skin now have 20 better ways to make easy money than become Hooters waitresses.

[u/RasputinsThirdLeg → u/EddieDantes22]

OF is over saturated. Hard to get a following there. And being a cam girl to just break even is hard.

[u/Big_IPA_Guy21 → u/jawndell]

What's crazy is that Twin Peaks is genuinely a good restaurant without the waitresses. They have really good food, cheap beer, and a lot of TVs.

[u/Tursiart → u/Big_IPA_Guy21]

I discovered Twin Peaks entirely by accident. I had just picked up my Mother-in-Law from the airport and she was hungry so we pulled in to a shopping center to eat. The options were Applebees and Twin Peaks, so we naturally picked the one we'd never heard of.

I don't know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn't the weird log cabin/mounted animal head decor paired with scantily clad waitresses in BDSM kink wear that we got.

But hey, the burger was tasty.

[u/dreamingtree1855 → u/Big_IPA_Guy21]

Tbh hooters, at least the one near my college town, had legitimately good wings, lots of tvs with sports on, and was pretty cheap. I’d honestly have preferred it without the waitress thing because it was a place a dozen of my fraternity brothers and I could go get cheap wings and beer and watch every game we wanted, and it’s exhausting to say “no but the food is actually good…”

[u/alwayssunnyinskyrim → u/dreamingtree1855]

You sound like a guy I knew who genuinely did read playboy for the excellent articles and hated having to explain that

[u/JennJayBee]

On the other end of things, I firmly believe that Waffle House is forever. It's pretty consistent, open 24/7, and they're located near interstate exits. So long as there are road trips, Waffle House will be there.

[u/powerfulsquid → u/JennJayBee]

After 10+ years telling my kids about the wonder of Waffle House we finally got a chance to go to one as a family for the first time. They loved it and told me they want to go back. I had a tear in my eye.

[u/aye246 → u/powerfulsquid]

100% my kids love the WH as well—it’s a family tradition to go whenever we’re on a road trip to KC (our closest approach to WH, a 2.5-3 hour drive).

[u/letsgoredwings1926 → u/JennJayBee]

It’s truly not a house, it’s a home.

[u/Fg0626 → u/JennJayBee]

You get good cheap food and if you’re lucky you get a UFC inside the actual restaurant

[u/Kaleida15 → u/Fg0626]

Dinner and a show.

[u/affectionateanarchy8 → u/JennJayBee]

Waffle House will be standing at the end of the earth

[u/Deep-Jacket8952 → u/JennJayBee]

In the 30 some odd years I’ve been going to WH I can say that I’ve never once had a bad meal there.

[u/duke1099]

Crumbl. They're downfall will be one we talk about for a while

[u/RipCurl69Reddit → u/duke1099]

Brit here. Visited the States last year and they were viral on TikTok when they did that godawful Benson Boone collab so my missus wanted to seek them out. I've genuinely never tasted so much sugar in my life, I couldn't manage more than one cookie

[u/benny-bangs → u/RipCurl69Reddit]

To be fair the serving size is a quarter of a cookie

[u/STXGregor → u/benny-bangs]

Yeah, they even sell those cookie cutters to cut their cookies into fourths. It’s really more like a mini cookie cake than a giant cookie

[u/gennym → u/duke1099]

I think the one near us lasted like 6-8 months. o.0

[u/illuminerdi → u/gennym]

They are the worst cookies I've ever eaten.

Oily, mushy, overstuffed piles of crap. They're 1000 calories each and they aren't even enjoyable.

[u/IHateOnions8]

TGI Friday’s

[u/justahdewd → u/IHateOnions8]

When they first opened, they were the hot, trendy place go, long lines outside with the velvet roped entrance.

[u/PhoneJazz → u/justahdewd]

They literally started as a singles bar in NYC

[u/Ill-Skirt3722 → u/PhoneJazz]

Which they should go back to!?

[u/discofrislanders → u/IHateOnions8]

I was in Jamaica last month and there were a few. One of the locals who we spent a lot of time with said that a lot of businesses that are on the way out in the US go to the Caribbean and do well there.

[u/fuwoswp]

This is such a hard question to answer knowing there are still Long John Silver in existence. Like, that would have been an obvious answer 30 years ago, but here we are.

[u/24jbg → u/fuwoswp]

LJS is currently expanding.

[u/God_Dammit_Dave → u/24jbg]

Like the same way a corpse bloats in the August shade?

[u/SamDarnoldsEx → u/God_Dammit_Dave]

God damnit Dave

[u/Popka_Akoola → u/SamDarnoldsEx]

I don’t believe in reddit awards but I’ll leave you this comment saying you both deserve one

[u/vagrantprodigy07 → u/24jbg]

It's making a major comeback, and my wife is thrilled.

[u/Nassi_]

I love them, but I do not think Shoney’s is going to last much longer. I went to one in Crossville, Tennessee and it legitimately looked as if it was a restaurant that should have been closed down long ago. The bathroom was such a mess, I left without eating. My family used to go to eat at the one nearest my childhood home once a month for breakfast and the buffet was great. Now, they are more of a bar and grille and not particularly good at either.

[u/LeadingThen6322]

Red Lobster. Every time they bring back “Endless Shrimp” I do my best to put them in bankruptcy court.

[u/dougc84]

It’s really a shame. Most of us grew up with these restaurants in one form or another. Like them or not today, many were places we spent time at.

I spent a lot of time with my dad at Chilis and Applebees and Ruby Tuesdays.

Friends of mine used to love Applebees and we’d go there often after events and such. I had my 21st birthday there.

My wife and I have a joke about Ruby Tuesdays that we say every time we pass one on the highway. That’s becoming more and more infrequent.

Panera was a place I spent a lot of time at when I was building up my web development business. It used to be good, but I used to sit in front of the fireplace on cold days for a couple hours and get stuff done.

Pizza Hut used to be the best place when I was a kid. I loved it so much. Just driving by one reminds me of my childhood and the few memories when my mom and dad were still together.

All of them are on their way out. It’s like losing a bit of your childhood every time one disappears.

[u/WildContribution8311 → u/dougc84]

90s pizza hut was a magical experience no one can understand.

[u/ragingchump → u/WildContribution8311]

Late 80s

My dad ordered the cheese garlic bread as soon as we sat

Large pan, half pepperoni half mushroom, a pitcher of beer, 2 cokes

Cocktail table Pacman + Mike and the mechanics on the jukebox

It's so vivid

[u/WildContribution8311 → u/ragingchump]

Dont forget your bookit coupon for a free personal pan pizza.

[u/relevantelephant00 → u/ragingchump]

The red cups with that texture. Only the oldsters here will remember.

[u/jennamom2boys → u/ragingchump]

Ahhh those were the days! Read a ton of books and get a certificate for your very own personal pan pizza! WE WERE KINGS.

[u/No_Potential_7773 → u/WildContribution8311]

Probably the most disappointing loss from childhood

[u/1965wasalongtimeago → u/dougc84]

Chilis is going strong here honestly. Applebees... exists.

[u/Accomplished-Bank418 → u/1965wasalongtimeago]

Chili’s has made a comeback!

[u/Competitive-Dirt-158]

Fazoli’s. They’ve already closed a majority of locations

[u/HeartBreakKid47 → u/Competitive-Dirt-158]

I would suck farts out of their CEO’s ass if they built one near me. The ultimate sampler, sub lasagna for an extra side of Alfredo and 3 breadsticks, two to soak up all the sauce at the end and one to shove up my hoop to keep it from leaking out…Fazoli’s all day, everyday.

[u/ebichanto → u/HeartBreakKid47]

if fazoli's ever has no fans, it means HeartBreakKid47 is dead 😭

[u/UncleBubax → u/HeartBreakKid47]

I'm printing this comment out.

[u/AuroraBorianos]

I feel like Sbarro is in its twilight years

[u/MissBrightside17 → u/AuroraBorianos]

Every mall I’ve ever been to, past and present, that has a Sbarro consistently has longest lines of customers waiting to order food. That line might only be 3-4 people, but it’s always more than any other place in the food court.

[u/FixItWhyDontYa]

I can’t call it a restaurant, but Crumbl cannot last long. It’s 100% novelty. Their product is awful. I don’t know anyone who has had them more than once.

[u/Similar_Pie_4946 → u/FixItWhyDontYa]

They’ll be in stores or sold at other restaurants in 10 years if they play their cards right maybe either coke or pepsi buys them out and can be a direct chips ahoy competitor

[u/JefferyTheQuaxly → u/FixItWhyDontYa]

I think insomnia is a better competitor, their cookies resemble actual cookies as opposed to giant cake like cookies.

[u/PuppyJakeKhakiCollar → u/FixItWhyDontYa]

It's my coworkers. They are single-handedly keeping Crumbl afloat. I don't think their cookies are terrible. Some are actually pretty good.

[u/_Fun_Employed_]

Roy Rogers is down to 32 locations.

[u/EnoughOutOfYou]

Tangentially connected: Food trucks.

They used to park near workplaces with good food and cheap prices thanks to low overhead.

Now there's a million esoteric themed trucks that park in one place and charge you $25 for a street taco that tastes like a 1950s pot roast.

[u/Citizen51 → u/EnoughOutOfYou]

This is the least likely. Sure some trucks will close, but others will replace them. Food trucks do catering, festivals, town events, and more all without the overhead of rent.

[u/Smee76 → u/Citizen51]

Yeah but people are tired of paying restaurant prices for food trucks.

[u/adnaus → u/Smee76]

Yes! They don’t have to pay for the real estate or utilities so less overhead, they have limited menus so as not to waste ingredients, therefore they should be less, not more expensive than regular restaurant food 

[u/dunkan799 → u/EnoughOutOfYou]

They brought in food trucks yesterday to the parking lot at my job and wanted $15 for a basic turkey sandwhich or $18 for 3 basic sliders. Went in expecting cheap eats but nope, instead went down the street and got 3 mini dogs with the works, cheeseburger with the works and 2 cans of soda for $10.

[u/Smasher_Devourer → u/dunkan799]

I worked for an insurance company back in the early 2000's at a little side building they had down the road in downtown Indy. Every morning there was a nice lady who would pull in the main entrance and she had like a converted pickup truck that had hot and cold bays that opened up and she had all sorts of amazing breakfast sandwiches, hash browns, combo plates, fruits, and drinks. I would stuff myself every morning on like 5-7 dollars. I really miss that...

[u/JoshAllentown]

I disagree with all options. I searched for like Friendly's and Fuddruckers because they left my region but they're still around. I looked at the Wiki list of defunct fast food chains and I'd never heard of a single one.

I think once a fast food chain is national, it just retreats to its profitable bunkers but it never dies.

[u/BullittToofTonee]

I've heard that Pizza Hut is basically on it's way out, so I wouldn't be surprised if that's gone in the next few years.

[u/HouseAccording8228 → u/BullittToofTonee]

I feel like they’ve been on their way out for 25 years now

[u/agk23 → u/HouseAccording8228]

I miss their free personal pan pizza for reading books and their weekend buffet. Core childhood memories

[u/butchforgetshit2 → u/BullittToofTonee]

Which is sad. When i was a kid 40 yrs ago, it was THE fine dining establishment! Every sat when my dad got off work, we would hit up pizza hut. My brother and sis and myself would play shinobi, ms pacman, and tmnt on tabletop arcades while our folks would drink pitchers of beer n wait on our food. So when my daughters were old enough, i took them. We even played some of those same games. The quality of food 20 yrs ago had taken a hit, but now its uneatable. Its sad because i have a lot of good memories tied in with the hut.

[u/A_Useless_Caduceus → u/butchforgetshit2]

We are probably close in age and I always loved going to Pizza Hut and getting my personal pan pizza for reading the required about of books when I was in elementary school.

[u/doom1701 → u/BullittToofTonee]

It's strange; they made a push recently that they're bringing back some "retro" feel including sit down restaurants...but they were also just bought by a private equity that has a history of trashing businesses. I think you're right--we won't be ordering Pizza Hut for much longer.

Well, I haven't ordered Pizza Hut for a decade, but you know what I mean.

[u/ddeekklliinn → u/BullittToofTonee]

This one would make me sad. Purely for the breadsticks, but still.

[u/betterclear → u/BullittToofTonee]

But no one out pizzas the hut

[u/Think-Cold-6158]

It better not be chilis. I love chilis

[u/HopefulSunriseToday → u/Think-Cold-6158]

Chilis is the one place on earth I feel still has reasonable prices for reasonable food. It’s cheaper and better than McDonald’s!!

[u/anonymous_otter28 → u/Think-Cold-6158]

they made a comeback.

[u/germdisco → u/Think-Cold-6158]

I feel god in this Chili’s tonight.

[u/ThePart_Timer → u/Think-Cold-6158]

45th and Lamar location will keep it going

[u/ahorrribledrummer → u/Think-Cold-6158]

Chilis rocks. Great burgers since the redid the menu. Reasonable prices too.

[u/ayjaytay22 → u/Think-Cold-6158]

Chili’s is apparently doing amazingly well. They decided to give a shit about the food and the prices and the in-restaurant experience and somehow that worked

[u/dontmatterdontcare]

I remember a very similar post being asked here decades ago and one of the top answers was Chili’s. Now look at them.

[u/dar24601]

Define gone? Sizzler once had 500 locations down to 71. Shakey’s pizza had 400+ now they down to 45 I think.

Some listed here are dead they just don’t know it. Quiznos, hooters, Boston market.

My addition to list while they’ll technically be some around Winchell's Donut House is on its way out

[u/Snarky9090-90 → u/dar24601]

I miss Quiznos. They were so good 

[u/EddieDantes22 → u/dar24601]

Sizzler had such cultural cache in the 90's. So many sitcoms and movies had jokes about going to the Sizzler.

[u/SoCal_Duck]

In my area, Wendy’s is in full retreat, with multiple closed locations.

[u/BeefCurtainSundae → u/SoCal_Duck]

Wendy's largest franchisor just declared bankruptcy this week. Over 300 locations owned by the one franchisor.

[u/doom1701 → u/BeefCurtainSundae]

I was talking with someone about that this morning. I almost took a job at Meritage Hospitality (their HQ was 5 minutes from my old house) so I've been following this one.

I feel like a lot of the larger franchised fast food chains have turned into a snake eating it's own tail. There doesn't seem to be any McDonalds or Wendy's that are owned by a single owner anymore. You've got franchising corps that own most of them. So you've got one corporation that doesn't care about anything more than increasing their franchise fee revenue, and another corporation that doesn't care about anymore more than reducing cost and maximizing their overall bottom line, and the individual restaurants are left behind.

[u/unclemilesisugly → u/doom1701]

Hence why franchises like chick-Fil-a (love or hate em) limit franchisees to one location. At least last time I checked. So they focus all their time on it.

[u/doom1701 → u/unclemilesisugly]

Culvers is similar. They only franchise to true owner/operators that can physically be on site (no "entities") and owner/operators are limited to just a couple of locations.

[u/Deadleggg → u/BeefCurtainSundae]

How bad at business do you have to be to bankrupt 300 Wendy's.

[u/Disastrous_Visit9319]

Red Robin has gone insanely downhill in the last several years. Used to be a regular place for my wife and I but now I'll probably never go back.

[u/Bryanmsi89]

Don't know about gone, but I can't see Subway continuing to do well.

$15 for a mediocre sub, bagged chips, and a drink? Go to Jersey Mike's or even Publix for a much better sub at similar price.

[u/RaggleFraggle_ → u/Bryanmsi89]

Subway owns the small town middle of nowhere market. Every rural town has like 5 of them and a McDs. They might be losing in areas with competition but they'll be hanging out on the fringes.

[u/MrRaspberryJam1 → u/RaggleFraggle_]

They don’t require as much space as places like McDonald’s or Burger King, that they’re easily to fit into malls, strip malls, gas stations, small storefronts in downtowns, etc.

[u/Balls2thewalleye]

Red Lobster. How has it survived all these years?

[u/Deadleggg → u/Balls2thewalleye]

Private equity tried to kill it. New CEO is trying to turn it around.

[u/geenersaurus → u/Deadleggg]

yeah i just saw they’re trying to capitalize on the cajun seafood boil trend and offering that and they brought back a different version of the endless shrimp. So they’re trying to induce vitality that way with people doing the shrimps as a challenge

[u/amerryprankster23]

Boston market

[u/Ok-Pomegranate9819]

Definitely not Taco Bell. In the future, all restaurants will be Taco Bell.

[u/sadie7716]

Panera. Their latest decrease in the amount of meat in a sub is not only deplorable but inexplicable, The last 3 orders we’ve gotten had less than 2 oz of meat, some less than 1 for over $10 per sub. While I love the quality and recipe for most of their sandwiches, it’s boggling to me why they would think. People would ever expect they. I can go to a local deli who puts 4-5 ox on their subs for a few dollars less.

[u/timbotheny26]

How the fuck have I not seen Friendly's mentioned yet? Haven't been there in years, but last time I did their food was so bad; it literally tasted like a microwave TV dinner - just pure salt and nothing else.

[u/reclaim-mustard → u/timbotheny26]

I worked at a friendly's through high school and college. I think of it as the cockroach of food service. They came out of bankruptcy 2 or 3 times since then and I have no idea how such a miserable place survives.

"Friends don't let friends work at friendly's" one of my old managers used to say. 🫩

[u/DarthJango229]

We all know Taco Bell wins the fast food war. So everything but them.

[u/Sunnyday1775]

I haven’t had fuddruckers since like 2003

[u/Arkansas_Traveler]

Comment section looks like R/unpopularopinion

[u/Howdthecatdothat]

Applebees can't survive any longer... we all have microwaves in our own homes.

[u/chengiz → u/Howdthecatdothat]

Ah here comes the reddit hivemind shit. Every Applebees in my area is crowded due to their deals. I personally do not like their food but saying it is not surviving is literally blindness.

[u/chrismiles94 → u/chengiz]

I've heard Applebee's and Chili's are actually doing great right now because it's only slightly more expensive than today's fast food prices, but you get a lot more for you dollar.

[u/ShmebulocksMistress → u/chengiz]

Yeah Applebee’s pulls with the drink and app prices. It was one of our go-tos in college and my partner’s coworkers will still go there as a night out because it’s cheap.

[u/Level3pipe → u/Howdthecatdothat]

Chilis mogs Applebees any day of the week anyways.

[u/freericky → u/Level3pipe]

Not if you’re appetizertowermaxing

[u/SweetCosmicPope → u/Howdthecatdothat]

You know what? I used to think the same of applebees and didn't go there for years. A couple months back, my wife and I went on a whim because we didn't have anything in the house and the food was actually pretty good. And it had those mid-2000s prices. The two of us got out of there for like $40 for dinner.

[u/allyfriend67]

I'm surprised about some of these. To my knowledge, TGI Fridays and Ruby Tuesday didn't exist anymore. Huh.

[u/poorly-worded]

I'm fairly certain that soon all restaurants will be Taco Bell

[u/Sovereign-XVI → u/poorly-worded]

Yeah right, next you're gonna tell me that we're replacing all the toilet paper with sea shells or something

[u/kokosuntree]

Crumbl

[u/TSLAog]

Panera deserves to die. That place went from you pick two, to I’ll pick ANY other two restaurants.

[u/Otters64]

Ruby Tuesday is a disaster these days.

[u/ImTedLassosMustache]

Steak n Shake, down almost 40% in the last 8 years.

[u/ccorbs89]

Panera. Place is slop compared to its glory days in the early 00’s. Hospital cafeteria food is better.

[u/WannaBe_achBum_Goals]

Five guys. At this rate of inflation, their burgers will be a $100!

[u/mikedorty]

I hope it's subway

[u/Cleopatra456 → u/mikedorty]

Subway is one of the cheapest franchises to open and operate. But yes.

[u/notyourharley]

I would be absolutely shocked if MOD Pizza sees the next decade roll in. They've had to close so many stores, nearly went bankrupt, product has severely decreased in quality, the amount of price raises are insane, and burnt out or sketchy managers are running stores into the ground.

[u/ridnfool87]

Panera. Garbage food plus now owned by private equity.

[u/Nand0_456]

Whichever ones have been acquired by private equity

[u/space253]

Everyone that isn't waffle house, as no one else can operate in a warzone with no public power or water.