Casual dining on the decline?
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By Robert Barba
Posted at 02:55 PM on June 26, 2007
As fast casual joints grow in popularity, is traditional casual dining taking a hit?
Last week Steve and Robin Bishop had to temporarily shut down their Beef O'Brady's restaurant in Port St. Lucie because they ran out of operating capital. The couple purchased the restaurant in January and Steve Bishop said things were going great until about two months ago when they saw a big drop off in business. They are working out a loan this week and plan to reopen by Friday.
But it is not just Beef O'Brady's that is hurting, Bishop said. Many restaurants on the Treasure Coast are seeing sluggish traffic in the already slow summer season. Bishop mentioned arriving at an empty rib spot that is usually packed on Friday night.
So, where are the diners? At Pei Wei Asian Diner in Stuart. At least that is where they all appeared to be. My friend and I had to wait 20 minutes for a table at the new restaurant at Stuart Centre North on U.S. 1 and Monterey Road on Friday night.
Beef O'Brady's president agreed casual restaurant diners are headed to the fast casual spots like Pei Wei or Panera Bread, where you order and pay at a counter before eating in a fast food-restaurant hybrid.
Posted at 02:55 PM on June 26, 2007
As fast casual joints grow in popularity, is traditional casual dining taking a hit?
Last week Steve and Robin Bishop had to temporarily shut down their Beef O'Brady's restaurant in Port St. Lucie because they ran out of operating capital. The couple purchased the restaurant in January and Steve Bishop said things were going great until about two months ago when they saw a big drop off in business. They are working out a loan this week and plan to reopen by Friday.
But it is not just Beef O'Brady's that is hurting, Bishop said. Many restaurants on the Treasure Coast are seeing sluggish traffic in the already slow summer season. Bishop mentioned arriving at an empty rib spot that is usually packed on Friday night.
So, where are the diners? At Pei Wei Asian Diner in Stuart. At least that is where they all appeared to be. My friend and I had to wait 20 minutes for a table at the new restaurant at Stuart Centre North on U.S. 1 and Monterey Road on Friday night.
Beef O'Brady's president agreed casual restaurant diners are headed to the fast casual spots like Pei Wei or Panera Bread, where you order and pay at a counter before eating in a fast food-restaurant hybrid.
