General Discussion

Warren DeMontague

(80,708 posts)

44. I suspect "bubble" is a bit of a hyperbolic misnomer, here.

Sat Jan 7, 2017, 05:09 PM

Jan 2017

Generally when something is a bubble it involves inflated valuations, speculation... even if the restaurant field is over-saturated, that doesn't make it a "bubble".

I can say definitively that if PDX suffers from anything along those lines- "extra work to keep yourself relevant"- it's because there's just an embarrassment of riches in terms of super good restaurants in the town. I have no doubt that the restaurant industry is tough, but that's not exactly news, now, is it? I think the failure rate for new restaurants has always been, historically, ridiculously high. Not a business for the faint of heart.

I'm sure the SF Bay Area has unique problems in terms of staffing because no one who has an actual working wage job can afford to live within 100 miles of the place, but again, that's not exactly news either.

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There's A Masive Restaurant Industry Bubble, and It's About To Burst [View all] Grey Lemercier Jan 2017 OP

There is another bubble.... louis-t Jan 2017 #1

I've seen that Renew Deal Jan 2017 #5

Well on the plus side, when Trump and his cabinet of billionaires... Initech Jan 2017 #24

Excellent article underpants Jan 2017 #2

I was just going to mention that myself. I'm not a huge foodie because I personally Nay Jan 2017 #19

I also think there is a short life span of opening your own restaurant underpants Jan 2017 #22

Which is exactly why the restaurant business needs a $15 minimum wage philosslayer Jan 2017 #55

Locally, they come and go. Mostly they go when the building owner jacks up the rent. FarCenter Jan 2017 #3

Yep. A local Chinese Restaurant paid $12K/Month for a medium strip mall store. Move to small $6K one TheBlackAdder Jan 2017 #16

Interesting article. Thanks for sharing Renew Deal Jan 2017 #4

Smoothies have been a thing HoneyBadger Jan 2017 #10

The current poke thing I just don't understand Retrograde Jan 2017 #25

I really don't get out much, but . . . what is "poke"? hatrack Jan 2017 #28

Minced fish (usually ahi (tuna) scraps) mixed Retrograde Jan 2017 #33

Sounds tasty - hard to beat good fresh tuna, especially raw! hatrack Jan 2017 #34

Agreed, but there's no way I'll ever eat it outside of Hawaii. . . DinahMoeHum Jan 2017 #54

Maybe if they focused on healthier, or, gasp, more vegetarian, meals that would help. MoonRiver Jan 2017 #6

In the Twin Cities of MN, where I live, restaurants open and close MineralMan Jan 2017 #7

There are a lot of great reasons to stay out of he restaurant business. Renew Deal Jan 2017 #12

Yes. That's what I finally figured out in time to avoid all that. MineralMan Jan 2017 #14

I live out in the suburbs of the TC and nadine_mn Jan 2017 #18

A friend that advises restaurants on how to cut costs and make $ HoneyBadger Jan 2017 #8

im callin bullshit. mopinko Jan 2017 #9

Yeah, this feels like a bit of a diversion... Wounded Bear Jan 2017 #11

We need a student loan jubilee. Ilsa Jan 2017 #49

Some places in the food-obsessed Bay Area are moving away from tipping KamaAina Jan 2017 #37

and doing well w it, i hear. mopinko Jan 2017 #39

drumph thinks minimum wages are a bad idea BSdetect Jan 2017 #13

Don't forget the biggest part of contract work in his world Bettie Jan 2017 #42

Low work force participation rate hollowdweller Jan 2017 #15

I could have seen this coming. smirkymonkey Jan 2017 #17

That's why I budget dining out under "entertainment" rather than "food" Retrograde Jan 2017 #27

I can cook for myself for a week for the price of one meal in a restaurant. Binkie The Clown Jan 2017 #20

Sit down restaurants aren't selling food -- they are selling "experiences". FarCenter Jan 2017 #21

I prefer to make my own "experiences" rather than buying them. Binkie The Clown Jan 2017 #46

Mostly for variety. There are a lot of good dishes HeartachesNhangovers Jan 2017 #35

I can understand that. Binkie The Clown Jan 2017 #45

That's great for your health. I know quite a few HeartachesNhangovers Jan 2017 #48

We will be OK as long as - wait for it - Olive Garden survives Achilleaze Jan 2017 #23

One of the few chains with a "smoke-while-you-breastfeed" area. ret5hd Jan 2017 #26

And it's pet-friendly! KamaAina Jan 2017 #38

Their weekly "pit-bull-circumcision-special" never really took off. ret5hd Jan 2017 #41

Congrats for falling on the sword. Somebody had to do it! eleny Jan 2017 #53

The US is a bubble economy. guillaumeb Jan 2017 #29

I also think a lot of Foodies are trying to cook at home more often Freethinker65 Jan 2017 #30

Culinary Schools edhopper Jan 2017 #31

especially when restaurants can still grow their own talent. mopinko Jan 2017 #40

so true edhopper Jan 2017 #43

Hasn't this cannabis_flower Jan 2017 #32

Seems like something's got to give. Hopefully HeartachesNhangovers Jan 2017 #36

I suspect "bubble" is a bit of a hyperbolic misnomer, here. Warren DeMontague Jan 2017 #44

Good, resturants do not deserve people's money. You can prepare your own food RB TexLa Jan 2017 #47

I don't eat out with you. nt Codeine Jan 2017 #50

! ret5hd Jan 2017 #52

My wife and I don't eat out as much as we used to. Aristus Jan 2017 #51

While we're on the subject, last month I read vanlassie Jan 2017 #56

most businesses like this already go out of business. in places like Los Angeles people are always JI7 Jan 2017 #57