BIDENOMICS: Once-Thriving American Restaurant Chain Down To A Handful Of Stores

America is the land of opportunity, even if your product sucks, you can still make ample money here.

This is the miracle of America, and many such businesses exist—businesses that produce a product that is less than sufficient and continue to make money. By many accounts, Boston Market is one such business.

The once-thriving restaurant chain used to have 1,200 locations, but is now down to just 27.

Much of this is due to flaws in Boston Market’s business model, but, as I said earlier, America is the one place on the planet where you can have a business that sucks, but still experiences success.

Boston Market has attempted to stage a comeback in recent years, but the company just can’t seem to get a foothold in this ailing economy.

Raging inflation, a dwindling workforce, and supply chain shocks have all played their part in the decline of the once-thriving business.

How could any business stage a comeback in this economic environment? Running a restaurant is the hardest type of business.

Food establishments run on razor-thin margins, cheap labor, and high volume. How can they survive when a jug of fryer oil goes up 2-5X, $15 minimum wage promises take over, and customers have less and less disposable income?

Bidenomics isn’t working for the small business or the large business. Here’s what everyone is saying:

Innovators dilemma will kill your successful company if you don’t kill it first.

Boston Market stuck with what worked to get to 1,200 stores

Competition ensued. Always does. Copying elements of Boston Market into other companies.

Boston Market chose to fight back by focusing… pic.twitter.com/ySdLNW2Rg9

— Brian Dolan (@BPD1776) March 30, 2024

The Washington Post spoke to one customer who still enjoys frequenting the Boston Market in his area:

Fred Grinnage, who sports a woolly beard and heavy work boots, is getting ready to head to his job driving a forklift.

His shift ends at midnight, and he’s stopped by to pick up dinner, which he plans to eat during his break at 5:30.

He used to go to Newark’s other Boston Market, about five miles east, but it’s closed now.

This one’s a little out of his way, but it’s worth it. It’s going to be a cold night in the cab of the forklift, and he’s looking for comfort food.

“It’s like a home-cooked meal,” he says. “It’s good, it’s fresh.”

He surveys the scene and shrugs. “I hope they can make it,” he says, but he doesn’t sound optimistic.

Many users lambasted Boston Market and wondered who is still keeping the restaurant open by frequenting the ailing restaurant chain, while others lamented the loss of the once-great business.

The one time I tried Boston Market it tasted like they had poured one of those tubs of Morton’s salt on the plate https://t.co/eTINVWpoR0

— Gore Vidal Sassoon (@JimmyJazz1968) March 31, 2024

who is keeping boston market in business?? that’s what i wanna know

— . (@ItsChinaa_) March 25, 2024

I wanna know why the fuck Boston Market went out of business like that and NO ONE told me shit.

— Gatsby (@DomDiCaprio) March 28, 2024

I didn’t realize Boston Market is nearly outta here 🫨 They made rotisserie chicken a whole thing

— Scientific Frenzy 🧬 (@JSinclairG3) March 28, 2024

Quartz explained:

Boston Market began 2023 with approximately 300 locations, but has since shuttered the vast majority of its restaurants due to various business and legal troubles.

Most recently, the company lost an $11.9 million lawsuit to one of its distributors, US Foods, which sued Boston Market for unpaid bills.

A judge ruled in the distributor’s favor, determining that Boston Market had “intentionally dodged their obligations to the court.”