Restaurant and Food Service Blog

With all the talk from the past couple of weeks at the Republican and Democratic conventions, all I have heard is how each of the candidates will be an agent of change and bring a different perspective.  With Obama as the first Black to be nominated on a major party ticket and Sarah Pallin nominated as only the second female to be on a presidential ticket, something new and great will be coming about in November regardless of whether or not you are a Democrat or Republican.

Unfortunately, I am not sure if I can say the same of the current state of some restaurant chains these days. Just the other day in the Sunday paper, I came across a coupon for Macaroni Grill’s frozen dinner. With slumping sales at the restaurants, I was dumbfounded to see that maybe Macaroni Grill was trying to capture consumers at home. Maybe the thought is that since many consumers are staying away from dining out, maybe they should try to get them at home instead.

Just last month, Brinker sold off a majority stake of Macaroni Grill to Golden Gate Capital.  But what I think Golden Gate Capital and others have a chance here is to make some bold changes to very tired brands. Ruby Tuesday’s is a prime example to shedding away an image that made them famous, but was no longer relevant in 2008. I love the recent television ad where the waiter says to the tiffany lamp, “The 70’s called and they want their lamp back.” Or better where the one waiter yanks off the referee jersey from off the other waiter’s back!

Desperate times means desperate measures. And it will take real vision from our leaders to take many of the brands to new levels.

Let me know your thoughts.