Bonefish Grill to close 14 locations

[Chatbrat]

Blooming corp has just announced it will be closing 14 Bonefish Locations and the corp locations -such as Carrabbas & Flemings--the report has stated there i a growing revolt against corp.chain restaurants by the younger generation.

Hope our Bone is not on the chopping block.

[Taltarzac725]

Blooming corp has just announced it will be closing 14 Bonefish Locations and the corp locations -such as Carrabbas & Flemings--the report has stated there i a growing revolt against corp.chain restaurants by the younger generation.

Hope our Bone is not on the chopping block.

Considering the business the Buffalo Ridge area Bonefish does, I doubt if this one will be one of those targeted for closure.

[bagboy]

Maybe the younger generation expects everything at the chain restaurants to be free.

[dewilson58]

Maybe the younger generation expects everything at the chain restaurants to be free.

or they have different expectations of food quality.......prepackage, frozen, processed "food"

[gerryann]

I doubt that the Village location will close.....way too busy!

Younger generation might not like chains, but they sure like McDonalds and all the other fast food garbage.

[gomoho]

I doubt that the Village location will close.....way too busy!

Younger generation might not like chains, but they sure like McDonalds and all the other fast food garbage.

Actually they only like fast food when all the ingredients are fresh.

[rubicon]

I don't usually agree with the younger generation in fact really don't even understand their thinking. However in this case I have to agree Bonefish is way over rated and over priced and chain style restaurants too often miss the mark. Family owner restaurant are more authentic to me

[Biker Dog]

I don't usually agree with the younger generation in fact really don't even understand their thinking. However in this case I have to agree Bonefish is way over rated and over priced and chain style restaurants too often miss the mark. Family owner restaurant are more authentic to me

:agree:

[photo1902]

Bang Bang Shrimp. Love 'em.

[PattyCakes]

I agree with Rubicon and Biker Dog. Bonefish Grill is overpriced and the food is ok but not exceptional. Carrabbas was our favorite until they cut the chicken marsala portions in half and upped the price.

[photo1902]

I agree with Rubicon and Biker Dog. Bonefish Grill is overpriced and the food is ok but not exceptional. Carrabbas was our favorite until they cut the chicken marsala portions in half and upped the price.

chain restaurants, yet Carrabas used to be one of your favorite places to eat?

[dewilson58]

Bang Bang Shrimp. Love 'em.

Years ago, I heard about BBS on ToTV.........went and tried them. Love'em too. So, we will go sit in the bar area, have BBS, a cocktail and head home. Have not ordered a meal there in years.

[Chi-Town]

I never ate at a Bonefish until I moved here. There were so many choices (all be it expensive) that I didn't have to go chain. But there seems to be only two choices fo consistently good seafood in The Villages, Bonefish Grill or the grill on my lanai.

BTW, 9 locations were opened last year bringing the total to 210. So the closing of 14 doesn't seem to be an extreme churn.

[treetop]

If The Villages, as a demographic, does not fit the rebranding strategy (that seems to be geared toward the Millennials) they will pull out of the area. TGI Fridays did not leave because they were not making money...it was because they are refocusing their efforts on a different market. Same thing going on here.

[graciegirl]

I agree with Rubicon and Biker Dog. Bonefish Grill is overpriced and the food is ok but not exceptional. Carrabbas was our favorite until they cut the chicken marsala portions in half and upped the price.



Did that at Publix too, and Winn-Dixie and even Walmart.


Chicken is more expensive than it used to be.


I like Carrabbas a lot, and Bonefish too and really like some chains.


I still love McDonalds. Harkens back to our Friday night outing with one car, groceries, and McDonalds with the kids. Happy memories and a well run chain. Our kids worked there during high school and they said they had to wash UNDER the tables when they pulled closing shift.

[Mimivillager]

My favorite salmon dinner in this area is at LongHorn Steakhouse.
Hard to believe, isn't it?

[HoosierPa]

Blooming corp has just announced it will be closing 14 Bonefish Locations and the corp locations -such as Carrabbas & Flemings--the report has stated there i a growing revolt against corp.chain restaurants by the younger generation.

Hope our Bone is not on the chopping block.

Agreed. It would REALLY Hurt if our Bone got chopped.

[Chatbrat]

Best seafood in the Villages-Hemmingways & they give Happy hour $$ on premium booze

[zonerboy]

"Blooming corp" ????

[golfing eagles]

Maybe the younger generation expects everything at the chain restaurants to be free.

Either that or delivered to Mommy's basement couch:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[chuckinca]

Best seafood in the Villages-Hemmingways & they give Happy hour $$ on premium booze

Last time we were at Lopez (a yr ago) they had 2 fur drinks that included call brands.

.

[rubicon]

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[/COLOR]


Did that at Publix too, and Winn-Dixie and even Walmart.


Chicken is more expensive than it used to be.


I like Carrabbas a lot, and Bonefish too and really like some chains.


I still love McDonalds. Harkens back to our Friday night outing with one car, groceries, and McDonalds with the kids. Happy memories and a well run chain. Our kids worked there during high school and they said they had to wash UNDER the tables when they pulled closing shift.

Hi GG: Producers have gotten so good at what they do that they can raise a chicken to production in a few months. Also 7 + pounds is common now and never was before, so they grow them faster and bigger.

Because they can grow them faster and bigger they are now replacing goat as the most consumed meat worldwide

It appears that economics once again prevails and an increase in demand follows with an increase in price. Perhaps the price will go down when ranchers replenish their livestock. I hope so

By the way the two women were the first to commercially raise chickens successfully and at great profits

[dmorhome]

been there thought food was awful.will never return.

[mm1717]

Worst Lunch ever was so bad they didn't charge us !!!

[NYGUY]

We went there tonight. Place was packed, food and service were fantastic. This location is not being closed!!

[Miles42]

I do think Bonefish is a bit over priced. There a few menu items that are unique but not many.

[Stdole]

Both living on their history...

[jblum315]

Are you the same person who reported that Trader Joe's is closing all its stores? Just wondering.

[jnieman]

I also love Carrabas but last time we were there they cut the pasta weezie portion in half. It used to be loaded with mushrooms and my last visit it was a small bowl of pasta 6 medium shrimps and 3 tiny slices of mushrooms. I didn't complain but could tell by the portion sizes on all of our order that they had cut back considerably.

[rubicon]

I also love Carrabas but last time we were there they cut the pasta weezie portion in half. It used to be loaded with mushrooms and my last visit it was a small bowl of pasta 6 medium shrimps and 3 tiny slices of mushrooms. I didn't complain but could tell by the portion sizes on all of our order that they had cut back considerably.

That's a bad sign.

[justjim]

Our last two visits to Bonefish were disappointing. Little atmosphere as the noise level was beyond what we expect for the check we got for average seafood at best. Yes, we will likely return because our friends like Bonefish and would hate them to close because of us. They seem too busy to close for me.

Seriously, like Nancy Lopez's a bit better for seafood and the atmosphere is much better IMHO.

[asianthree]

Sadly chains don't make their own food. If there is a mom and pop place it's where we eat out otherwise we, our kids and grands eat at home. That's what happens when you have vegetarians, vegans, gluten free, organic, and non gmo.
It's easier to go to farmers market and steam dinner.

[73Goat]

I located an article that has more info. They are closing 14 of 210 Bonefish restaurants based on performance so I doubt that the Buffalo Ridge location will be one of them.

I tend to avoid 'chain' type restaurants, but I do like the Bonefish much more than Red Lobster (which is ludicrously overpriced for the food they serve).

I located the 4th Qtr Report and it does not contain any statement about a 'revolt by the younger generation', just that it is part of a restructuring of Bonefiish.

[OhioBuckeye]

Blooming corp has just announced it will be closing 14 Bonefish Locations and the corp locations -such as Carrabbas & Flemings--the report has stated there i a growing revolt against corp.chain restaurants by the younger generation.

Hope our Bone is not on the chopping block.

Well personally I think it's just because a lot of people want cheaper places to eat & the ones you mentioned aren't that cheap to eat at. As a matter of fact most places here in the Villages are more expensive than the same ones outside the Villages. Personally when we bought here as a full time resident, I was under the impression that home owners here got better deals, but they don't, anyone can come here & eat, buy clothing, for the same so-called deal that I thought we were to get!

[NYGUY]

....Personally when we bought here as a full time resident, I was under the impression that home owners here got better deals, but they don't, anyone can come here & eat, buy clothing, for the same so-called deal that I thought we were to get!

Seriously?? Who on God's Green Earth gave you that impression??

[graciegirl]

Well personally I think it's just because a lot of people want cheaper places to eat & the ones you mentioned aren't that cheap to eat at. As a matter of fact most places here in the Villages are more expensive than the same ones outside the Villages. Personally when we bought here as a full time resident, I was under the impression that home owners here got better deals, but they don't, anyone can come here & eat, buy clothing, for the same so-called deal that I thought we were to get!



I agree that Villagers are usually very thrifty. I also agree that even McDonalds seems more expensive here in The Villages, maybe because they CAN charge more and they do, kind of like tourist destinations everywhere.


I am surprised that you thought that the businesses weren't open to the surrounding public. I thought the "deal" was pretty, nicely kept and living among grownups.

[stadalberts]

Maybe it is just me, but I cannot find the list of the store closings from the original e-mail

[stadalberts]

By the way, the only way to find it on line is to type in Bloomin corp. NOT Blooming

[seavon]

You may not realize it but most chain restaurants don't cook anything. Their entrees come in prepackaged ready to be heated. Olive Garden for example has no kitchen except to prepare the salad ,heat bread and heat the prepackaged item

[bluedog103]

We haven't visited Bonefish in some time bit my impression of Bonefish was that the food was mediocre, service was hit or miss and prices were a little too high. We took it off our list long ago.

[Aloha1]

If The Villages, as a demographic, does not fit the rebranding strategy (that seems to be geared toward the Millennials) they will pull out of the area. TGI Fridays did not leave because they were not making money...it was because they are refocusing their efforts on a different market. Same thing going on here.

TGI pulled out because the chain went belly up. Nothing to do with the Villages demo. Any chain that does well here will stay here.

[Aloha1]

And I might add that at least most Boomers have a more realistic take on restaurant food than the so-called millennials. Non GMO food? Then you want millions of people around the world to die of starvation while you feel good about your choices. Organic only? Then you want a Chipotle experience playing Russian Roulette with e coli. Food grows in dirt. Dirt has bacteria.

I've been in the restaurant business for over 30 years. I can tell you that any restaurant that does not deliver a quality, good tasting, cooked correct product will not be in business long. I've eaten at the Buffalo Ridge Bonefish and at other locations of the chain. Are there differences? Yes. Whose fault is that? Corporate for not getting consistency across the chain. Does that make them a bad chain? No. You have a meal you were not happy with, let them know. It's how things get fixed.

[Schaumburger]

TGI pulled out because the chain went belly up. Nothing to do with the Villages demo. Any chain that does well here will stay here.

T.G.I. Fridays has not gone out of business. They still have many locations in the U.S. and overseas including several Florida locations: Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Gainesville, Pensacola, Panama City, Fort Myers, Fort Lauderdale and several other cities in Florida.

[NYGUY]

T.G.I. Fridays has not gone out of business. They still have many locations in the U.S. and overseas including several Florida locations: Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Gainesville, Pensacola, Panama City, Fort Myers, Fort Lauderdale and several other cities in Florida.

That is correct. And, it is my understanding that The Villages location closed because the Franchisee held the lease and did not want to re-up.

[Aloha1]

Not to split hairs but the parent company sold off most of it's remaining US based units to franchisees then sold the company to a venture capital group due to declining sales. US store counts have declined precipitously as many franchisees have closed their restaurants. TGI now has more units overseas than in the US, which seems to be the norm for chains that are in trouble here. To get back on point, when a chain starts to suffer sales declines, it's usually a result of failing to provide a quality product and experience to the customer or failing to remain relevant to that customer. For me, TGIF went off of my list when I started reading the calorie counts for their dishes.

[Chatbrat]

TGIF, got a lot of bad press after several locations in NJ were caught watering and adulterating-their bar liquors