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Today's Poll!Economy woes have curbed Mid-Missourians’ appetites for dining out
Ecco Lounge owner Sally Powell, standing, visits with customers Barb and Sid Belshe during lunchtime last week. The Belshes are regular diners at the restaurant and enjoy visiting with Powell, who tries to talk to each of her customers. Photo by Julie Smith.
Monday, July 30, 2012
In an economy sluggishly trudging forward after a lackluster second quarter, the most grim consequences of the Great Recession may have faded from the minds of many people. For many restaurant owners whose business is dependent on consumers’ lack of frugality, however, the effects of the recession have had a noticeably long-lasting effect.
Rachel Gibson, owner of Downtown Diner, watched the plunging economy take a toll on her business only about a year after its inception. Though business has been steady since the middle of last July, Gibson would still like to see ample improvement.
“I didn’t expect the economy to be this way. It gets ripped out from under your feet,” she said.
Citing the economy as the most daunting obstacle for her business, Gibson has offered coupons that were “barely break-even deals” in an effort to entice customers, she said.
“It was good for me and it was good to get them (customers) out to eat. It’s hard to make it at that level of business but you’ve got to,” she said.
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Comments
JCLifer 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Consumers have to be much more choosy when spending their eating out dollars. For example, Texas RoadHouse in Columbia has much better food and service for a lot less money than any steakhouse in Jefferson City.
Check out their menu: ww7.texasroadhouse.com/NMotion/Menus/Menu%20(1201%20-%20H-KX-E1-1A).pdf
dokeus6 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Well hk, the quality of service and the food quality that I receive from the restaurants in this town, it is worth the extra time and gas for myself to travel to Columbia or the lake for a good meal.
dokeus6 9 months, 3 weeks ago
No, it does not. I'm going to spend my money where it benefits me. If they can't survive it's called survival of the fittest. Who am I to stand in the way of true capitalism? I don't owe any loyalty to any area business. What have they done for me lately except give me poor service and raise their prices? If i can get a better quality product for the same price where do you think I'm going?
JCLifer 9 months, 3 weeks ago
AMEN! Consumers would be dumb NOT to spend their money where they get the best value and best quality. Why would a person want to support mediacrity or even poor service? That isn't the American Way.
John 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Okay, following the logic trail espoused by you and Doke; that indicates you have no problem with the county paying for out of country resources, the state of MO paying outside of it's infrastructure for support, and the U.S. businesses utilizing and spending your tax money for out of country resources? "Made in China"
Sequoia 9 months, 3 weeks ago
I personally get more value from supporting my local, perhaps mediocre, restaurant, with the hope that my support helps it improve, which helps my community improve, which helps me. I invest in growth. That's the American way, too, right?
JCLifer 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Columbia is local!
dokeus6 9 months, 3 weeks ago
John you didn't read my post. Let me post my last line. It says "if i can get a better quality product for the same price where do you think i'm going".
That doesn't mean i'm going to buy a product made in china because it is cheaply made. I'm buying something because I feel the quality of that product is better and for a equal price or a reasonable price.
Why is it any of your business where I purchase things from? I will buy what I want from where ever I want.
TickledPink 9 months, 3 weeks ago
It only makes sense to spend local when the local establishment is the better option. I won't shop/dine somewhere simply on the basis of it being locally owned. I do try to keep my money in the community, but there are times when that's just not going to happen. I really wanted Hot Millions (the Indian restaurant by Moser's) to succeed but the food was subpar and the service was awful so I continued to go to Taj Mahal in CoMo for my curry fix. Chim's Thai Kitchen on the other hand is excellent so I'm more than happy to support them with my food dollars. It takes more than just being local to keep my business.
JCLifer 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Same reason I purchase all my clothing, electronics, automobiles, and much of my furniture online. The prices, selection, and quality of local products, along with the poor customer service cannot begin to be as good as by going elsewhere.
With my limited income, it pays to buy the best at the lowest prices. The rude and ignorant sales people around here seal the deal.
JCLifer 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Duh! Columbia is local. They are in the same economic region.
Do you REALLY THINK Jefferson City businesses do not compete with Columbia or Lake of the Ozarks?
JCLifer 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Figure $10 for gas back and forth. However, I usually stop by Home Depot, Columbia Mall, and see a movie at Rag Tag or Hollywood too, so it is well worth it. Plus, if I fill my gas tank, I can often save $2 just on gasoline.
JCLifer 9 months, 3 weeks ago
I like to go to the Lake a lot too.
Sequoia 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Good gravy, I don't think a chain factory feedbag like Texas Roadhouse needs your help here. Are you gonna give Applebees a plug too?
Support locally owned business. Keep our money in the community. There are plenty of great places in Jefferson City if you care enough to take the time to find them and help them grow. Take a few minutes to find someplace new. If you don't like the service, offer some feedback. National chains are for those who don't know any better.
JCLifer 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Yes, Columbia's Applebees is night and day different from Jefferson CIty's Applebees. In Columbia the hot fresh food is served by a very hard-working wait staff who appreciates the business.
There are a few things that I buy from local businesses, but usually a person can do much better if they look around elsewhere.
richg 9 months, 3 weeks ago
So why do you continue to live in JC if you are so enamored with Columbia?
JCLifer 9 months, 3 weeks ago
I also go to the Lake quite a bit.
Sequoia 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Texas Roadhouse and Applebees food is bland and tastes horrible no matter what city it is in. It's a chain. It's the same everywhere: bland enough so you can cram as much as possible in your food hole when you don't care about taste, flavor or texture.
Lifer just likes to complain about anything and everything Jeff City. The fact is that Columbia Applebees is just like the Jeff City Applebees: it's an Applebees. It is bland garbage, no matter how "hot" and "fresh" or "hardworking." Cram it down, get back to the couch.
Chain stores are designed to be as bland and middle-of-the-road as they can be. Don't go to chain restaurants. Take a few minutes to find good, original local food.
For example, I'm glad we didn't just write off Prison Brews after the first couple times we went there. Neither the food nor the beer was very good right off the bat. But we stuck with them, so did the rest of the city, and the restaurant has vastly improved. Go out of your way to find good things, and help them grow. That's how you build a community. Not by driving to the Lake to go to Applebees. That's gross on a number of levels.
The Lake is yucky all around: Oh look, a giant sewer full of rich drunk rednecks! How inviting. Let's go down there to eat, because I just love seeing people wearing flip flops at restaurants.
It's just like good music. Everything on the radio is terrible. You have to work for the good stuff. That's why it is worthwhile to do so.
spelchek 9 months, 3 weeks ago
"National chains are for those who don't know any better." -- So why do a majority of cities have them? Do they not supply jobs? Do they not pay local taxes? Do those who work at them live in the area (pay rent/mortgage)? I'd say you don't know any better.
JCLifer 9 months, 3 weeks ago
I do, if there is no advantage to go elsewhere. Big Mac in Jeff City tastes as good as a Big Mac anywhere else.
spelchek 9 months, 3 weeks ago
It is still a free country and I still don't have to pay taxes for not eating at a particular restaurant (thanks to democrats). That said, I will spend my money as I please seeing how I earned it. What is it with you and others on here constantly telling others how to live and what to believe? Do you not respect freedom? Your comments suggest....no.
JCLifer 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Men's Wearhouse at the Columbia Mall has some very good deals on nice suits!
tonto_goldberg 9 months, 3 weeks ago
It's Jefferson City. You are supposed to do everything several times, the hard way.
Sequoia 9 months, 3 weeks ago
A majority of cities have chain restaurants, because a majority of Americans have bad taste. We as a culture generally favor large portions, bland products, low prices, and "knowing what to expect" over taste, texture, environment and experience.
Chains offer a one-size-fits all product. That size is "extra large." That's great if you're a one-size-fits-all person.
Good dining doesn't just emerge. Support those local establishments who are doing it right, and others will follow.
Look for the good and help it grow, instead of just looking for the bad and complaining about it.
gomizzou_25 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Men's Warehouse isn't at the Columbia Mall.
viktorkowski 9 months, 3 weeks ago
I prefer food carts. now that really supports the local entrepreneur. unfortunately jefferson city is not much of a food cart city. whenever I'm out of town on business I dine almost exclusively at them. first business trip to Portland this summer and I was amazed at the selection. it seemed to be even larger than NYC's. often they set up what they call pods with several food carts at one location. foodcartsportland.com
JCLifer 9 months, 3 weeks ago
mmmmm! Remember the little donut truck down on Laufayette just around the corner from Whaley's? Those little donuts were so good!!!
eileen10 9 months, 3 weeks ago
+Personally speaking I like to go to different places when I go out to eat. It includes Linn, Jeff, Columbia, Eldon and just any place. I live in Taos and we don't have a restaraunt and since I'm adventurous and enjoy driving I'm all over the place.Plus I meet new people which is a plus.If people prefer to eat only in Jeff to keep the money in the community thats fine. But for those who go elsewhere that's fine to.It's up to each person what they prefer to do so I don't know why theres so much bickering going on. Live and let live.
eileen10 9 months, 3 weeks ago
JCLifer, Yes I remember the little donut truck but I don't know wht they closed down. And MMMMMMMMMMMMM mama!!!Those donuts were heavenly!
seeno 9 months, 3 weeks ago
I doubt the the memory of the Great Recession has faded from the majority of folks mind. It's interesting that you chose a physician and his wife in the photo in a story about people not being able to afford eating out. Having to be more frugal is not a bad thing and allows people to think about their eating out choices. I would think that if you still have enough money to eat out at chain restaurants when you want then you are not likely in the same boat as people who can not eat out due to their finances. But those of us who have to watch every penny are looking for a great meal and atmosphere and service when we do go out to eat occasionally. So if we get excellent service we will be back.
JCLifer 9 months, 3 weeks ago
I will say ECCO Lounge does have good hamburgers, waffle fries, and mushrooms. Keggley's has good burgers too, as are their buffalo wings. However, Kegley's is so gross and dirty in the dining areas and the kitchen it is hard to eat there without getting sick.
connor 9 months, 3 weeks ago
I would be interested in finding out if the local restaurants outside Jefferson City's limits are doing as bad as the ones inside. Perhaps there are other factors contributing to the decrease of sales besides the economy. One reason or the other may not be the entire factor alone but like taxes they all add up and reduce revenue.
online_editor 9 months, 3 weeks ago
I removed off-topic comments that dealt with issues that are more appropriately discussed in articles related to those topics so that we could keep this page devoted more closely to the article's focus on local dining and the local economy. Thanks. --Rick Brown, online editor, News Tribune
Hsixpack 9 months, 3 weeks ago
you gotta be kidding me. Half the time you can't find a parking place at some resturants
JMO 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Some restauants are fine. We tried to go to Red Lobster (Yes, Sequoia, a chain, but the only game in town for seafood) last Friday and the wait for a table for two was 55 minutes to an hour! Sorry, we are not waiting an hour for dinner when it's already 7 p.m., so we ended up with a disappointing meal at Johnnys, which was mostly empty.
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