All right, I just have to get this off my chest. I actually ate at a Ruby Tuesdays once and the food sucked balls. Utterly tasteless, in fact. I don't understand why people are willing to blow their hard earned money going to chain restaurants that serve such crappy fare, but then again I long ago recognized that my finger is not exactly on the pulse of America.
Still, that isn't the fault of the employees, and it will be they who suffer from this decision. Here is MarketWatch with the details:
Ruby Tuesday announced plans to close 25 to 27 restaurants that it said have failed to perform up to expectations. The closings will come before the end of May, the Maryville, Tenn.-based company said late Wednesday in reporting financial results for the third quarter ended Feb. 28. Profit fell for the latest quarter as revenue rose 1.8% to $324.8 million, but same-store sales dropped 5% at company-owned Ruby Tuesday restaurants, and for the year, management projected a decrease of 4% to 4.5%. Full-year earnings are forecast at 43 cents to 48 cents a share, excluding the impact of impairment and exit costs related the restaurant closings as well as other factors. The company also announced it will acquire Lime Fresh Mexican Grill for $24 million, a deal expected to be completed during the current quarter.Just like with Walmart, it is those retail concerns that appeal prominently to finacially strapped working class families, those being hardest hit by job losses and high gasoline prices, that are suffering the most right now.
Bonus: But of course, what else COULD it be?
I won't say all of their food is the best, yet the do have great appetizers and some entrees are pretty nice. If you only ate there once, your comment isn't based on real knowledge. Also, they have the best and extensive salad bar, which is inexpensive. So don't be so fast to diss them....I think they opened too many restaurants too close to each other. Other than that, they offer great deals and have the best customer service. For people on a tight budget, like I am, it's a great place to have dinner out. Their wine list has gotten pricey, yet I suspect that's due to all the taxes that are now added on.
ReplyDeleteTrue, they did open alot of restaurants over the last 3-5 years. Applebee's did the same thing a while back. Their menu also has changed multiple times over that time. I agree with you with saying that one sitting or dish, qualifies someone to past judgement on any eatery. Now if he\she said that all the ones they went to had bad health ratings, then you got a point. The are a national chain that many people like, its not a local eatery. No restaurant makes every dish to everyone's liking. Pick something else or ask for the manager.
Deletei used to be a mananager for these idiots & i would not feed my dog from their nasty kitchens !! the "garden bars" are a bacteria & virus paradise with snot nosed kids putting fingers in everything , people's nasty hands on utensils , sit around and watch while people eat off it & u wud hurl ! They tried to go "upscale" just as the economy tanked in 2008 and it's been all downhill ever since , the prima donna CEO finally jumped ship after he ran his own creation into the ground !
DeleteAmerican restaurant owners are like pig farmers. Stuff as much cheap food down their throats as possible.
ReplyDeleteStill, locally owned and operated restaurants are preferable on many levels to chain restaurants. I feel for the employees, but in a bigger sense, I'm not at all sad to see chains fold.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of chains, isn't that what slaves wear?
SO WHERE ARE THESE CLOSINGS GOING TO BE?
ReplyDeleteI only went once to Ruby Tuesday in Mesa, AZ and got severe food poisoning. That was my first visit and last, therefore I would be VERY HAPPY to see them go under....
ReplyDeleteyou're talking about hundreds of people suddenly losing their jobs and paychecks because Rubys refused to let anyone know ahead of time which stores are going under. Pretty callous. Must be a republican
DeleteIf you only tried Ruby Tuesday one time, then you can't judge one bad experience to other or the same store. Things happen that are out of people's control sometimes. Then to go and say you hope the business fails....Really? That's like me saying I hope your business or you loose your job and income tomorrow, then you can't feed your family. Ruby Tuesday has good food at a fair price. I eat at them all the time. So your comment should be taken back and you sir should look at the big picture as a whole and not just one incident.
Deletewell, I guess Bill is more used to eating at really expensive places. LOL
ReplyDeleteActually, one of my favorite restaurants is part of a small local chain here in Virginia in which the food is not much more expensive that what you would get at Ruby Tuesday's, TGIFridays or Applebees (roughly the same type of menu, too), but both the quality and service are FANTASTIC. Not surprisingly, there is a long waiting list for seats every Friday and Saturday night. :)
DeleteI can think of about a dozen Rolling Stones songs I would name my restaurant chain after before I chose "Ruby Tuesday," starting with the obvious choice, "Brown Sugar."
ReplyDeleteLuxury?
Mother's Little Helper?
Satisfaction?
You Can't Always Get What You Want?
Or, if the shit REALLY hits the fan ... WILD HORSES.
I'm sort of partial to Dead Flowers myself, but then again I've never been accused of being a romantic. :)
DeleteMost restaurants these days, from "a single chef-driven restaurant, to a large hospital system or a national quick-service chain" are merely Sysco food product HEATING STATIONS.
ReplyDeleteAnd you don't even want to know how they keep that monsantized lettuce "fresh."
Chin restaurant chains and every big store gets big because they wre the best Ruby Tuesday has great food and im also a cook at a Ruby tuesday everything we get is fresh thats y our prices are a littl bit higher and the stores that are going under are the 25 worst stores they all are losing money and and quite a bit of it so just because e closed 25 out of 800+ stores doesnt mean we r doome and our food is always fresh and our lettue comes in as whole heads of lettuce with the end of the root so we cut it off so we get containers and soak them all in water before use thats how our "monsanitized lettuce" is fresh
ReplyDeleteThe food is sooo fresh! It comes in bags and is mostly frozen and if by cook you mean microwave operator you have got to be joking. I gave them over 12 year's before I ran away. That place is a joke and they have no concern for their employees. Happy I got to watch them bulldoze one of 4 stores that they have closed all in the same county.
DeleteI worked there as well, your out of your mind, fresh, even the broccoli came in bags. It was absurd how they would cut corners too, like cutting the bar drinks with simple syrup,a mixture of sugar and tap water,coming from a sink that was just filled with raw pork and or raw fish, no training there either, they let the cooks run amok, cross contamination heaven. I wouldn't eat there.
DeleteBeing a former general manager for Ruby's, I am not surprised by these closings. The company has been going in the wrong direction for many years. It does not appeal to any specific customer base which is why other chains are doing better. The constant changing and lack of identity are main reasons Ruby's will never be what it used to be 10 years ago.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely correct!
DeleteThank goodness for the Ruby Tuesday's in Sebastian Florida, as we have very few choices of restaurants. The food there has always been fresh and good tasting. The service at this location has always been very good also. A good alternative to the few choices we have. Keep it open.
ReplyDeleteIs there a list of the Ruby Tuesday restaurants that are closing?
ReplyDeleteMy wife and I like the one in Leesburg VA. We've eaten there several times and have always been pleased with the food and the service. We especially like the fact they have the salad bar. Each restaurant is only as good as its individual manager or owner. Unless you have a guy like Bill Marriott policing each store, you can't expect to have much uniformity among them.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I ate at the one in Branson, MO in May 2010. He had the chicken parmesan and he says that dish was the best ever. Plus the waiter we had was super friendly. We took home some cookies and they were amazing! Not all restaurants are bad and maybe we just caught them on a good day, but I don't regret going there.
ReplyDeleteWe are regular diners at the Ruby Tuesdays in Beaverton, Oregon. We own a B & B and often recommend it to our guests. We never once have had any of our guests complain about the restaurant,service or the food. All have thanked us for the recommendation. We have enjoyed the food and the location and have felt that we obtained good food for the decent prices. We have never observed any bad health conditions. We will be sorry if this Ruby Tuesday is one of the restaurants that might close
ReplyDelete