As Coronavirus Crushes Small Restaurants, Big Chains See Room To Move In

[Auggie]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Prime storefronts left empty by failed businesses. Cheaper or even flexible rents. Landlords willing to add drive-thru lanes.

As the coronavirus permanently shutters some small businesses, big fast-food brands like Domino’s Pizza, Chipotle and Wendy’s that were doing well before the crisis want to grow - or continue pre-existing expansion plans - after the pandemic subsides.

David Deno, chief executive officer of Outback Steakhouse parent company Bloomin’ Brands, told Reuters in an interview that “I don’t mean to wish ill on anybody, but there’s going to be real estate opportunities,” for new stores or relocations to areas with “better visibility, better access and better parking.”

Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc, Taco Bell owner Yum! Brands Inc, and Domino’s Pizza Inc are among several household names planning post-pandemic growth, according to their CEOs.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/coronavirus-small-restaurants-big-chains_n_5ec403a5c5b6c7fcf2de1f96



Minimum wage jobs and unhealthy food. This sucks.

[madaboutharry]

1. That is a crying shame.

[CurtEastPoint]

2. Isn't Chipotle the one that keeps getting busted for ... salmonella or something?

[Newest Reality]

3. THIS...

THIS is Disaster Capitalism.

When you read up on it, you expect to see a pandemic or national crisis as yet another potential opportunity to compete, control and expand for the sacrament called PROFIT on the altars of Wall St.

There is money to be made on the way up and money to be made on the way down. That does not apply to us plebs though. Keep an eye on the sky for Vulture Capitalists, (and their cousins, the scammers) as they eye what meat or sinew is left on our bones. Then, they can always grind the bones to make their bread, so to speak.

If those two aspects of toxic capitalism are not checked, do not be supersized to see the increasing dominance of the larger predators in business and in the work place. Micro-managing anyone? You want what, a livable wage? HA!

[Auggie]

9. +1,000,000

Naomi Klein has been calling it Coronavirus capitalism.

Now that you mention it, I can imagine the same happening to other Mom and Pops — independent motels, hardware stores, etc. in prime areas.

[BeyondGeography]

4. IOW, even more generic shit in our towns

Awesome.

[DonCoquixote]

5. and now you know why mom and pop

have seen so little of that 500 billion dollar stimulus. The rich want them to strave out so they can come in and clean up.

[bluecollar2]

6. Kind of like the airlines

After deregulation....

[MineralMan]

7. All Restaurants are Taco Bell Now...

[Celerity]

10. GMTA, lol

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142483297#post23

enjoy-joy your meal

[Midnight Writer]

8. And distressed real estate is being snapped up by investors.

[Initech]

11. Holy crap this is the Demolition Man scenario come to life.

I suspect there will be franchise wars in which they will all be competing for our dollar once the pandemic is over, and one will come out on top, like Taco Bell did in that movie.

[pwb]

12. Home cooking is my answer.

They are all screwed. Seniors will not be back.

[BannonsLiver]

13. Deno is a bit too optimistic

There will always be people who will seek out good local food vs. food that comes ready made off the Sysco truck, like one sees at Olive Garden or Applebee’s where there is no actual cooking going on, just re-heating from plastic pouches.

Millennials in particular are said to eschew chain restaurants which is a bit of a problem for chain restaurants moving forward.