I don’t have time to pick apart another email, besides, you and I are agreeing on the chain restaurant thing, just from different angles.

Still though, no one has responded to the fact that the Sterns have reviewed chains. Which leads me to believe, they occasionally (maybe even rarely) eat at chains. But, it’s a relatively small percentage compared to the indie’s, so certainly less gabbing about chains is a good thing.

I beg to differ on my shopping experience that all grocery stores’ produce, meat, poultry, etc is the same. And that all chain grocers are better in those departments than an independent. And, the fact that there’s even a discussion about why people can loathe chains in one field but not in another is proof that some level of rationalization is going on. You can take it to the level of hardware stores, electronic stores, and other places, Where the chain has taken over the little man. The difference is, you and I grew up on the chain electronic store and the mom and pop restaurants. So when our mom and pop restaurants are threatened, we get frantic. I know I do. If Mother’s of Liverpool ever closed and a Romano’s Macaroni grill popped up, I’d have a conniption. I’m talking deep end, and I’m going over it.

And lastly, I’ve been around the country. For some places, the chain is all there is, because before that, there was farm land. And the independent places that are there, are not good. I mean, I’d like to say all mom and pop places are good, but this sadly isn’t true. So, sometimes the chains are it for heading out. I’ve been in towns where the "restaurants" were a Perkins and a Dairy Queen. They had it all, fast food AND sit down. Imagine THAT world!

Thanks for everyone’s ideas on the subject. And I’m glad we are talking about chains and no one is throwing insults. Makes me feel all warm inside [:D].

And hey, Tricky, it’s ok to be hypocritical when it comes to Wal-Mart and Target…heh, you should see what I’ve written about Waffle House. [;)] Yet, I’m a Five Guys believer!