Iconic Restaurant Chains That Could Disappear Soon In The Carolinas
According to EatThisNotThat, there are many restaurant chains that are struggling to stay afloat in 2023. Sadly, some of the classic restaurants you grew up with may become a thing of the past. Here are some iconic restaurant chains that could disappear in the Carolinas.
1. Applebees
You might want to catch those half-priced late-night appetizers while they’re still around. Applebee’s had high hopes this year for recovering some of its major losses in 2023. However, they are now set to lose between 10 to 20 restaurants this year. This news came after Tony Moralejo, the company’s president, announced that more restaurants would open this year than in 2022.
Slow financial growth is being blamed for the company’s failures, but the restaurant has fallen out of the people’s favor recently for various reasons. The most recent controversy was when critics called out a controversial Applebee’s commercial.
2. Hooters
Hooters are currently set to close more doors than they will open over the course of 2023. Hooters closed out 2022 with 311 locations across America. The chain has shrunk since then and data shows the chain has 308 locations in early 2023
The company is still currently struggling to recover from losses during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are also other issues like managerial instability and competitors that are causing Hooter’s empire to collapse.
3. Red Lobster
Fast and casual seafood options can be hard to come by. Sadly, they may be even harder to find soon as Red Lobster struggles to stay afloat. The brand only saw 1% of its locations close in 2022, but that doesn’t mean those numbers will last. Issues created by inflation and higher costs of labor and food overall may cause some major problems for the restaurant chain after all. Red Lobster previously predicted a loss of only $10.4 million in 2022, but they instead reported $15.3 million in losses for the 3rd quarter of 2022.
4. Subway
Subway has over 20,000 U.S. locations and in 2021 saw a rise in profits by 13%. However, due to a big dip during the pandemic, Subway has still not yet reached the height that it once had in 2015, when it made about $11.5 billion. Currently, consumers are progressively favoring Subways competitors like Panera Bread and Jimmy John’s. Earlier this year Subway introduced deli slicers, but so far it’s leaving more aggravation than anything for both sandwich lovers and employees.
You Should Probably Skip These Foods At A Breakfast Buffet
Eggs
Many establishments opt for powdered eggs instead of fresh ones, as it’s a cost-effective way to prepare large quantities of scrambled eggs to cater to numerous guests at once. However, powdered eggs cannot compare to the taste, texture, and color of their fresh counterparts. Another concern lies in the fact that these eggs are pre-cooked, which means they might sit at unsafe temperatures for extended periods.
According to the FDA, serving eggs immediately after cooking is crucial to prevent foodborne illnesses. Unfortunately, in a buffet setting, it’s challenging to determine how long the eggs have been sitting out.
Nadezhda_Nesterova/ Getty Images
Fruit
Unless you witnessed the fruit being freshly prepared in the kitchen, it’s nearly impossible to gauge how long that eye-catching fruit display has been sitting there. According to the FDA, when fruits are cut, their protective skins are breached, leaving the flesh vulnerable to the surrounding environment and any potential bacteria. This creates two primary reasons that heighten the risk of contamination. Firstly, cutting the fruit makes its water content and nutrients readily available to microorganisms. Secondly, without any heating process, disease-causing germs aren’t eliminated, further contributing to the potential hazards of consuming cut fruits from a buffet display.
baibaz/ Getty Images
Waffles
nicoletaionescu/ Getty Images
There’s a joy of pouring your own batter into a Belgian waffle maker, flipping it eagerly, and waiting for that gratifying green light before embellishing it with toppings. However, it’s best to exercise caution and avoid the waffle station. As per TikToker Brandi Augustus, a former hotel employee, the waffle batter served there is often old and sour. Instead of disposing of the old batter, new batter is mixed with it. It’s worth noting that not all places offering breakfast buffets adhere to this practice, but it’s wise to stay informed and make a decision based on the circumstances.
