MGM Resorts & Panera Bread Learn that Slashing Headcount, Reducing Quality, and Gouging Customers Is Not a Viable Long-Term Strategy

A corporation can target its loyal customers for revenue mining and temporarily increase its profits.

It can also slash employee headcount and customer service, thereby reducing labor expense to produce a short-term increase in profits.

It can even reduce its product size and cheapen the product’s quality to reduce cost of goods sold, also giving a short-term boost to gross profit.

But in every case, these actions tell customers that rather than being valued, the corporation sees customers as marks to be exploited. A great many customers may get hoodwinked once, providing the short-term profit boost that was being sought, but then never come back, thus destroying the company’s long-term prospects. A downward spiral of alienated customers, declining revenue, deteriorating facilities, and degraded reputation ensues.

There ought to be a business school case study about this phenomenon. The only trouble is that this strategy is what’s being learned at elite business schools. Maybe a business school could do a case study on just how toxic elite business school graduates are to corporations.

MGM Resorts International and Panera Bread are both reeling from employing the destructive strategy I just laid out. To their credit, the CEOs of both companies are acknowledging just how damaging that strategy was. To their discredit, these CEOs are learning on the job after being part of the brain trust that implemented these offensive practices.

First, Panera:

“Panera lost diners by cutting portions and staff; It’s reversing course to win them back” [CNBC – 11/18/2025]

Predictably, Panera executives did the deceptive gimmick of quietly shrinking portions and reducing the quality of its food while increasing prices.

When Panera Bread began shrinking its sandwiches and skimping on salads, it started shedding customers. Now, to win them back, the chain plans to reinvest in the business and undo many of those same cost-cutting measures, it said Tuesday.
Once the No. 1 fast-casual brand in the U.S., Panera has dipped to No. 3, ceding the top spots to Chipotle Mexican Grill and Panda Express. Last year, its sales fell 5% to $6.1 billion, according to Technomic estimates. For years, the chain’s traffic has been shrinking, according to CEO Paul Carbone.

Panera didn’t just reduce portion sizes and the quality of its food, Panera also reduced staffing.

Phase one of Panera’s plan is to improve the quality of its food, reversing cost-cutting measures imposed in the face of high inflation, according to Carbone. “We squeezed food costs. We squeezed labor,” he said.
Some of those changes happened while Carbone was Chief Financial Officer. He now calls himself a “reformed CFO” — albeit one who still listens to earnings conference calls. “It’s really about death by a thousand paper cuts, it truly is,” Carbone said about the chain’s downturn.

This next statement from CEO Carbone is a concise indictment of the practices that so many corporations have embraced since they allowed mercenary executives with no long-term focus to destroy their companies in pursuit of one good quarterly report:

“In some instances, we shrunk portions, so guests would walk into our cafe to buy a sandwich that has gone up significantly in price, with lower-quality ingredients, in a smaller size,” Carbone said.

He also realizes now that staffing actually matters:

To improve the customer experience, Panera is planning to invest more into labor. Like many restaurants, Panera in recent years scheduled fewer workers and relied more on the self-order kiosks it pioneered in the industry. That approach saved money, but customers often walked into a cafe and couldn’t find an employee in sight, according to Carbone.

Panera saved money but loyal customers were lost. Who could have ever predicted that?

MGM Resorts International burned itself badly following that same template of gouging customers and cutting service.

“MGM casino head admits company lost its way with summer prices and regrets ‘infamous’ $26 bottle of water” [The Independent – 10/30/2025]

MGM Resorts President and CEO Bill Hornbuckle had a simple message for his company this week after extortionate prices have kept people away from his hotels in Las Vegas: “Shame on us.”
In an earnings call Wednesday, Hornbuckle said the company has “price-corrected” its resorts following a summer of backlash over steep charges, including the “infamous” $26 bottle of Fiji water at the Aria hotel.
He also mentioned the $12 Starbucks coffee at Excalibur as an example of how the company hadn’t been attentive to customer needs.

Those of us who consider ourselves “business smart” often mock the Congressional Budget Office for assuming that a tax increase will result in a dollar-for-dollar percentage increase in Treasury revenue, because Congress doesn’t understand that trying to take more money out of a person’s pocket will result in that person engaging in tax avoidance behaviors. Yet somehow the highly credentialed business wizards at corporations such as MGM similarly assume that increasing the price of a bottle of water to $26 will simply result in a gusher of revenue, rather than grasping that it repulses customers, causing them to avoid the product and to never return to an MGM property.

“We should have been more sensitive to the overall experience at a place like Excalibur,” he said in the call, according to KLAS. “You can't have a $29 room and a $12 coffee. We lost control of the narrative over the summer,” Hornbuckle continued. “I think we would all agree to that in hindsight.”

Who lost control, Mr. Hornbuckle? Who was the CEO in charge of controlling the narrative?

Jonathan Halkyard, MGM’s Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, said Wednesday that the company reviewed what customers are actually willing to pay for certain goods and services, and have since implemented about 90 percent of those adjustments.

While gouging customers, MGM was also gutting staff and eliminating customer service:

“Major corporation [MGM Resorts International] cuts concierge, staff at six Las Vegas Strip properties” [Las Vegas Review Journal – 4/26/2025]

To further ~~mistreat customers~~ ”meet evolving customer preferences” MGM eliminated the concierge desk at most of its properties along the Las Vegas Strip, including the MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, and New York New York. MGM claimed that it was eliminating valet and bell staff at the Excalibur ”to respond to industry trends to better serve guests.” Sure.

At his Points and Figures substack, Jeffrey Carter wrote a few months ago about the new Vegas model:

One thing I have noticed is that with the corporatization of the casino, the economics and the way they are run have changed a lot. When it was mob-run, it was more off the cuff. The MBAs and data crunchers at the corporate casino have installed Disneyland pricing into their models. In economic terms, it is “first degree, second degree, third degree, fourth degree” price discrimination, and it might even go to the seventh degree. They don’t need you to gamble to make money off of you. They make money if you show up.

Unfortunately, once a customer has been exposed to endless fees and revenue mining, he is likely to simply never show up again.

It’s a good thing that the chastened CEOs of MGM and Panera are confessing their mistreatment of customers. I wish them well in their efforts to reform their practices and win back customers. Unfortunately, it’s much easier to chase a customer away than to ever win him back.

I also hope that other corporate executives will learn from MGM and Panera and avoid having to give their own contrite apologies. Treating employees as a pestilence and customers as prey is a destructive business practice that should have never gained favor, and which needs to be repudiated by corporate America.

[buck.throckmorton at protonmail dot com]

Posted by: Buck Throckmorton at 11:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 OH TO BE FIRST

Posted by: Elric The Blade at November 24, 2025 11:01 AM (iFTx/)

2 Not 1st

Posted by: Bulg at November 24, 2025 11:02 AM (77rzZ)

3 AND SECOND!

Posted by: Elric The Blade at November 24, 2025 11:02 AM (iFTx/)

4 I like Panera. Noticed some changes, negative, in the last year or so. Glad to hear they are capable of learning.

Posted by: tubal at November 24, 2025 11:03 AM (PCK5/)

5 Hah! Elric was not second!

Posted by: Bulg at November 24, 2025 11:03 AM (77rzZ)

6 I do like their turkey chili.

Posted by: Biff Pocoroba at November 24, 2025 11:05 AM (XvL8K)

7 Treating employees as a pestilence

Punjabi wog is the boss?

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at November 24, 2025 11:05 AM (pdx2p)

8 A lightbulb goes off in the MBA's head when they finally realize that these tactics are being used to increase margins, and the increased revenue is being used to fund executive bonuses and stock buybacks.

Cutting back on quality and staffing is the corporate version of debasing the currency.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at November 24, 2025 11:05 AM (0U5gm)

9 “In some instances, we shrunk portions, so guests would walk into our cafe to buy a sandwich that has gone up significantly in price, with lower-quality ingredients, in a smaller size,” Carbone said./i]

This is a direct impact of Bidenflation.

When the value of the dollar decreases by 50% you either have to double your prices, halve your costs, or meet somewhere in the middle.

And people generally react the most negatively to price increases so quality suffers.

But hey, at least we were able to give welfare to millions of newcomers so the money was well spent right?

Posted by: 18-1 at November 24, 2025 11:05 AM (sKqQm)

10 Starbuck’s though seems to have a Learning Disability.

Posted by: tubal at November 24, 2025 11:05 AM (PCK5/)

11 I read the post 1st

Posted by: Jack Squat Bupkis at November 24, 2025 11:07 AM (GD2xa)

12 “In some instances, we shrunk portions, so guests would walk into our cafe to buy a sandwich that has gone up significantly in price, with lower-quality ingredients, in a smaller size,” Carbone said.

I'm...gobsmacked that this didn't work. Just how stupid did Carbone have to be to think the result wouldn't be what has happened?

I only ever went to Panera to buy their whole large sourdough loaf, (UNSLICED you heathen!) I read recently that instead of making it in the store, thus filling it with mouthwatering aroma and making their customers hungry, they're going to produce the bread in a central location and truck it to individual stores.

It's genius, I tellz ya!

Posted by: Archimedes at November 24, 2025 11:07 AM (Riz8t)

13 "Please leave your name, number and a brief message. We will call you back at our convenience."

Posted by: Oglebay at November 24, 2025 11:07 AM (2ap+5)

14 Speaking of Disney what kind of idiot do you have to be to go there.

With their current prices you can afford to travel almost anywhere else.

And I get these supposed travel videos all the time for Disney...that I KNOW are just paid advertising..and even in those videos Disney looks shitty - you see bored, tired people in the background everywhere...

Posted by: 18-1 at November 24, 2025 11:07 AM (sKqQm)

15 I love Panera but they are asking customers to pay a premium, and many were willing to do that for quality food and healthy portions, but when you get a bowl of broccoli cheader and it looks like it's being served in a thimble, customers are going to be PO'd and rightly so.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at November 24, 2025 11:07 AM (XV/Pl)

16 Our "business schools" are not turning out their best and brightest, are they?

Of course, by design.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at November 24, 2025 11:07 AM (NwnyJ)

17 I have the recipe for Panera's broccoli cheese soup. Just great.

Okay, in inflation news, the "no one / Dukes mayo" index of economic indicators is looking good. I bought some Dukes mayo for $3.50 recently. That is substantially less that the $5.00 price of a year ago, while being moderately higher than the $3.00 price 5 years ago.

Posted by: no one at November 24, 2025 11:08 AM (W7XSX)

18 It is amazing nowadays getting some form of takeout for $20 or more per person that you know was half that much 5 years ago...

Posted by: 18-1 at November 24, 2025 11:08 AM (sKqQm)

19 Thanks Buck.

The only reason someone goes to a Panera (or McDonald's etc) is they know what they are going to get, how much it will cost, and how long it will take.

If you miss on one of those 3, that customer is moving on...

Let me tell you the story of how IHOP turned off this loyal customer for 50 years in just two visits.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at November 24, 2025 11:08 AM (9ipOP)

20 Need to add Starbucks's CEO to this list.

Posted by: scruboak at November 24, 2025 11:08 AM (bC/Gb)

21 Maybe a business school could do a case study on just how toxic elite business school graduates are to corporations.
_________
Absolutely. Any corporation with MBAs on its board deserves bankruptcy. They are taught incompetence. (Of course, it's not the only graduate level schooling that does that.)

Also, I have to ask if it's even possible to get decent - not actually good, but just passible - customer service. Things were bad enough in the 80s. They didn't care then. Today it's appalling. I spent over 4 hours with Norton yesterday to fix my wife's laptop.

Posted by: Eeyore at November 24, 2025 11:08 AM (s0JqF)

22 Therapist says he received threats after calling ‘Trump derangement syndrome' real 'pathology'
Jonathan Alpert faced backlash following Wall Street Journal op-ed about patients obsessed with president

Posted by: SMOD, I grew up in a middle-class constellation at November 24, 2025 11:08 AM (RHGPo)

23 I’ve seen theories that the Las Vegas price gouging was done on purpose in order to keep away the riff raff.

Immediately post covid Las Vegas has to attract people back. So they shake her prices. Rooms were practically free. So it was inundated with trashy people who didn’t gamble, didn’t go to shows, didn’t eat at expensive restaurants. And worse it turned off the higher end clientele who did all that. It was lose lose.

So they self corrected and went the opposite direction. Expensive rooms and $20 water bottles to get ride of the trash.

Kinda makes sense. They just went a little too far the other way.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at November 24, 2025 11:08 AM (HW6XE)

24 Getting rid of the buffetts in favor of food courts was also a mistake imo.

Posted by: the way I see it at November 24, 2025 11:09 AM (KDPiq)

25 From the article: "Unfortunately, once a customer has been exposed to endless fees and revenue mining, he is likely to simply never show up again."
-----

I've mentioned before, my last visit to Las Vegas will have been my *last* visit to Las Vegas unless I'm required to go there for some sort of team conference. Both the Strip and Downtown just seemed to scream "Tying your shoe laces will be charged and added to your bill." I felt like there was zero concern for providing a great experience and that the entire city was now and organized and legal fleecing operation.

Posted by: Crusader, Realtor at November 24, 2025 11:09 AM (TN0g+)

26 FIRST!!!!!

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at November 24, 2025 11:09 AM (Zz0t1)

27 I think I was only ever in Panera once. Yuppie Subway.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at November 24, 2025 11:09 AM (npFr7)

28 Predictably, Panera executives did the deceptive gimmick of quietly shrinking portions and reducing the quality of its food while increasing prices.

----

And this is different from every other fast food joint... how?

Is McDonalds losing money?

Posted by: BurtTC at November 24, 2025 11:09 AM (lH8E4)

29 You could add the video game industry to the asshole idiot FAFO list.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Why Do the Heathen Rage? at November 24, 2025 11:09 AM (L/fGl)

30 Duke’s…mmmmmmmmm…

Posted by: Bulg at November 24, 2025 11:09 AM (77rzZ)

31 I stopped going to Panera because of their foolish adherence to the Mantra of the Sniffle Scare. The one time I did go back in '22, once the face diaper dictum was over, the staffer was rude and slow.

A shame. I recall hitting one of their stores in Denver nearly every morning in the summer and fall of 2001 for coffee and a asiago cheese bagel with cream cheese. And their tomato basil bread was great stuff.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at November 24, 2025 11:09 AM (wzUl9)

32 The last time I ate something from Panera Bread, I had the worst gas ever.

Won't be going back.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at November 24, 2025 11:09 AM (Zz0t1)

33 Panera coffee. Better than Starbuck’s and you can have a refill. No brainer in comparison.

Posted by: tubal at November 24, 2025 11:09 AM (PCK5/)

34 Panera Bread was always crap, riding a wave of new-age pretentious bullshit. How they got to be #1 says more about the rest of the market than it does PB.

Their ads were so annoying I wanted to vomit. Some faggot in an effetely affluent accent would be like "Come try the new elevated avocado crostini with microgreens on toasted truffle focaccia with a side of fresh semen."

Posted by: Elric The Blade at November 24, 2025 11:10 AM (iFTx/)

35 Word on the street is: Las Vegas is purposely moving to serve high end traffic rather than families.

Which means towns like Laughlin, NV are experiencing an increase in traffic because they're more affordable than Las Vegas.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (UJMvS) at November 24, 2025 11:10 AM (UJMvS)

36 I used to wait tables and tend bar. I always thought corporate management in the restaurant business were idiots.

Posted by: Jack Squat Bupkis at November 24, 2025 11:10 AM (GD2xa)

37 Our "business schools" are not turning out their best and brightest, are they?

Of course, by design.

There is a fundamental mismatch between what's taught in MBA school and what's best for the company's long term health. The MBA cuts some cost, so the bottom line gets a short term sugar rush, followed by the crash, but by then, the MBA has pocketed a big bonus and moved on.

Posted by: Archimedes at November 24, 2025 11:10 AM (Riz8t)

38 It is amazing nowadays getting some form of takeout for $20 or more per person that you know was half that much 5 years ago...

Posted by: 18-1 at November 24, 2025 11:08 AM

I wonder if that could has anything to do with injecting an extra 5.1 TRILLION dollars into the economy in less than 4 years under the guise of reducing inflation?

Naw.....

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at November 24, 2025 11:10 AM (0N4FZ)

39 Walk on home. Boy.

Posted by: Pantera at November 24, 2025 11:10 AM (+Rs+1)

40 Therapist says he received threats after calling ‘Trump derangement syndrome' real 'pathology'
Jonathan Alpert faced backlash following Wall Street Journal op-ed about patients obsessed with president
Posted by: SMOD, I grew up in a middle-class constellation at November 24, 2025 11:08 AM (RHGPo

And theTDS peoples don't see this as confirmation of the diagnosis

Posted by: the way I see it at November 24, 2025 11:10 AM (KDPiq)

41 I have fond memories of the Buffet at The Mirage.

Posted by: no one at November 24, 2025 11:10 AM (W7XSX)

42 I've mentioned before, my last visit to Las Vegas will have been my *last* visit to Las Vegas unless I'm required to go there for some sort of team conference. Both the Strip and Downtown just seemed to scream "Tying your shoe laces will be charged and added to your bill." I felt like there was zero concern for providing a great experience and that the entire city was now and organized and legal fleecing operation.
Posted by: Crusader, Realtor at November 24, 2025

***
Tell us all about that.

Posted by: New Orleans Tourists at November 24, 2025 11:10 AM (wzUl9)

43 I am not at all clear what "Disneyland pricing" means.

Posted by: Eeyore at November 24, 2025 11:11 AM (s0JqF)

44 I love the passion that food evokes here at the HQ. I believe it all started with CBD, yes?

Posted by: tubal at November 24, 2025 11:11 AM (PCK5/)

45 Their ads were so annoying I wanted to vomit. Some faggot in an effetely affluent accent would be like "Come try the new elevated avocado crostini with microgreens on toasted truffle focaccia with a side of fresh semen."
Posted by: Elric The Blade at November 24, 2025 11:10 AM (iFTx/)

But that's Pete's favorite!

Posted by: Chasten Buttigieg at November 24, 2025 11:12 AM (PiwSw)

46 what "Disneyland pricing" means.

Means bend over.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at November 24, 2025 11:12 AM (pdx2p)

47 “We should have been more sensitive to the overall experience at a place like Excalibur,” he said in the call, according to KLAS. “You can't have a $29 room and a $12 coffee. We lost control of the narrative over the summer,” Hornbuckle continued. “I think we would all agree to that in hindsight.”
Who lost control, Mr. Hornbuckle? Who was the CEO in charge of controlling the narrative?
=====

The Gosh Someone Should Do Something Gavin Newsom School of Business.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at November 24, 2025 11:12 AM (9ipOP)

48 Word on the street is: Las Vegas is purposely moving to serve high end traffic rather than families.

—

Families are money losers. Mom and dad aren’t staying out until 2am gambling and drinking if they have kids with them.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at November 24, 2025 11:12 AM (HW6XE)

49 I have been going to Chipotle's. The bowl is good but it's $12+. And if you add Guacamole it's another $3.

Posted by: the way I see it at November 24, 2025 11:13 AM (KDPiq)

50 We should have been more sensitive to the overall experience at a place like Excalibur,” he said in the call, according to KLAS. “You can't have a $29 room and a $12 coffee. We lost control of the narrative over the summer,” Hornbuckle continued. “I think we would all agree to that in hindsight.”

tl:dr
Shorter version: "We needed to extract our heads from our asses.

Posted by: Archimedes at November 24, 2025 11:13 AM (Riz8t)

51 "Unfortunately, once a customer has been exposed to endless fees and revenue mining, he is likely to simply never show up again."

Actually, this is great news for the consumer. On the one hand, $25 minimum wages have forced fast-food companies to increasingly use kiosks to take orders, and (illegal?) aliens to deliver orders to numbered tents by customer tables. Once customers vote with their feet, these same companies are forced to go back to good old-fashioned customer service and good food to woo them back.

There's a very good reason that Automats never really caught on in America.

Posted by: Darrell Harris at November 24, 2025 11:13 AM (0CU3H)

52 Family Fun in Vegas. That doesn’t immediately spring to mind.

Posted by: tubal at November 24, 2025 11:13 AM (PCK5/)

53 Speaking of asshole idiots . . .

Liberals in California are reportedly lining up at Home Depot to buy a single 17-cent scraper, return it, then repeat the process in an effort to slow sales and protest the store’s cooperation with ICE operations.

-
Yeah, boy, they're sticking it to the man!

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Why Do the Heathen Rage? at November 24, 2025 11:13 AM (L/fGl)

54 They make mindnumbingly stupid decisions, cost the company millions if not billions, yet keep their jobs.

You want me to take you seriously? Fire the f*ckers that tried to destroy the company. Then we'll talk about me giving you money again.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at November 24, 2025 11:13 AM (Zz0t1)

55 @34

>>How they got to be #1 says more about the rest of the market than it does PB.

That got to where they are by serving premium fast food, in a nice environment with good service.

All three of those criteria have deteriorated appreciably and noticeably, hence why they are hemorrhaging customers, market share and revenue.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at November 24, 2025 11:13 AM (XV/Pl)

56 The last time I ate something from Panera Bread, I had the worst gas ever.

Won't be going back.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at November 24, 2025 11:09 AM (Zz0t1)

That's weird. I had the same problem when I went to a Phillips 66 and had the worst sandwich ever.

Posted by: BurtTC at November 24, 2025 11:14 AM (lH8E4)

57 Unfortunately, once a customer has been exposed to endless fees and revenue mining, he is likely to simply never show up again.

Video game companies: take note.

Posted by: FeatherBlade at November 24, 2025 11:14 AM (LFbOl)

58 Well that would be an interesting business study. Do customers come back? I'm atypical in a lot of ways so I cant go by own inclinations, once you piss me off to the point I drop you that's it, other than rare cases of outside forces like I'm with family or friends and they really want to go to your store or eatery. Then if I was pleasantly surprised that you went back to what I used to like, you might get back in my rotation.

But I suppose they might be able to find new customers.

Posted by: PaleRider at November 24, 2025 11:14 AM (hhkIi)

59 I am not at all clear what "Disneyland pricing" means.
Posted by: Eeyore at November 24, 2025 11:11 AM (s0JqF)

Something about fairies?

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at November 24, 2025 11:14 AM (npFr7)

60 The other problem with Panera is food quality. Yeah portions went down, but the food quality went from near freshly made taste to definitely just got out of the microwave/flash cooker level of slop.

Posted by: scruboak at November 24, 2025 11:14 AM (bC/Gb)

61 The only place worth anything in Vegas is Battlefield Vegas.

Posted by: Reforger at November 24, 2025 11:14 AM (+Rs+1)

62 My local Indian casino hotel removed the coffee machines from the rooms.

Posted by: torabora at November 24, 2025 11:14 AM (6/eme)

63 The business schools teach this cut-throat crap like it some kind of new innovation, a progressive evolution of business practices. In fact, gypping customers is as old as money, as are the consequences of it.

Posted by: Socratease at November 24, 2025 11:14 AM (YgfoU)

64 Guacamole - looks like baby poop, tastes like grass, and is about the most expensive side you can get...

and yet people buy it

Posted by: 18-1 at November 24, 2025 11:14 AM (sKqQm)

65 Most interesting conversation I've ever heard? My late father, a few decades ago, was chatting with a dealer who'd been working in Las Vegas since the mob ran the place. Dealer asserted Las Vegas was actually more fun when the mob ran the town.

And, seeing how stuff the mob kept on the down low back when versus it being out in the street now seems to prove the point.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (UJMvS) at November 24, 2025 11:14 AM (UJMvS)

66 Word on the street is: Las Vegas is purposely moving to serve high end traffic rather than families.

Which means towns like Laughlin, NV are experiencing an increase in traffic because they're more affordable than Las Vegas.
Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (UJMvS) at November 24, 2025 11:10 AM (UJMvS)
_____

Vegas does an intentional shift of its customers every decade or so. I've seen at least two pivots to more family-friendly vibes and then quickly away from families back to adult-oriented gambling and vice.

I never understood why anyone would want to bring their family there. There are much better family destinations with more for kids to do.

Posted by: Elric The Blade at November 24, 2025 11:14 AM (iFTx/)

67 I only ever went to Panera to buy their whole large sourdough loaf, (UNSLICED you heathen!) I read recently that instead of making it in the store, thus filling it with mouthwatering aroma and making their customers hungry, they're going to produce the bread in a central location and truck it to individual stores.

---------

Is that a problem?

Posted by: The Olive Garden at November 24, 2025 11:14 AM (0RiMX)

68 Panera Bread, like most ghetto food shops, is slop for the masses who cannot or are too lazy to cook.

Eat at home.

Posted by: Chef Kool Moe Dee at November 24, 2025 11:14 AM (1mUlr)

69 Who lost control, Mr. Hornbuckle? Who was the CEO in charge of controlling the narrative?
_______
A sinister force did it.

Posted by: Eeyore at November 24, 2025 11:14 AM (s0JqF)

70 Mom and dad aren’t staying out until 2am gambling and drinking if they have kids with them.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald
_____

Your daddy don't know
What your mama's gonna do tonight

Posted by: Biff Pocoroba at November 24, 2025 11:15 AM (XvL8K)

71 These MBA types are about to learn one more lesson: It is cheaper to keep an existing customer than it is to acquire a new one.

Posted by: Our Country is Screwed at November 24, 2025 11:15 AM (N39Ws)

72 Family Fun in Vegas. That doesn’t immediately spring to mind.
Posted by: tubal

You've never heard of The Aristrocrats?

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Why Do the Heathen Rage? at November 24, 2025 11:15 AM (L/fGl)

73 Family Fun in Vegas. That doesn’t immediately spring to mind.

Timmy's Big Adventure with Heroin Addict Sally and Her Stripper Poll doesn't grab you?

Posted by: Archimedes at November 24, 2025 11:15 AM (Riz8t)

74 Las Vegas has been going more high end for a long time. The $5 all you can eat buffets were phased out and replaced with high end restaurants.

They figured out if you get a few high end customers you’ll make more profit than if you get a lot of low end customers.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at November 24, 2025 11:15 AM (HW6XE)

75 Are there any mid range chains that are good in the Horde estimation?

Posted by: tubal at November 24, 2025 11:15 AM (PCK5/)

76 Chik-fil-A and In-N-out have armies of employees, compared to other fast food place.

Posted by: mr tmz at November 24, 2025 11:16 AM (rJ48h)

77 Selfish viewpoint, but I liked the Vegas where all the prices were propped up by gambling . . . because we didnt gamble much when we went.

Posted by: 2009Refugee at November 24, 2025 11:16 AM (8AONa)

78 I had a Maverick Jumbo Dog and didn't get gas!

Posted by: torabora at November 24, 2025 11:16 AM (6/eme)

79 have been going to Chipotle's. The bowl is good but it's $12+. And if you add Guacamole it's another $3.
Posted by: the way I see it at November 24, 2025

***
Twenty-six bucks this last Saturday night for two omelets and a glass of milk at a local 24-hour diner here. And that $26 included a 3% upcharge for a credit card.

My grilled chicken omelet wasn't even that tasty. A shame, again, as this place has been a standby for many years. I'm not even sure their donuts are affordable any more.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at November 24, 2025 11:16 AM (wzUl9)

80 Not only do these shortsighted policies positively impact margins at the eventual cost of negatively impacting revenues by chasing customers away, which will cause stock prices to fall, there's another knockoff effect.
Wall Street calculates price/earnings ratios to reflect both profitability and GROWTH.
Corporations can save their way to better profitability in the short run, but they'll see their growth ebb.
Slower growth means a lower P/E, so even if margins increase, the market will not value that profitability the same as it's coming at the cost of growth.

Posted by: proudvastrightwingguy at November 24, 2025 11:16 AM (MNCvZ)

81 Sometimes, get this, I don’t want to eat at home.

Posted by: tubal at November 24, 2025 11:16 AM (PCK5/)

82 Family Fun in Vegas. That doesn’t immediately spring to mind.
Posted by: tubal at November 24, 2025 11:13 AM (PCK5/)

"Bring your child to the strip club" day was not a big success.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at November 24, 2025 11:17 AM (npFr7)

83 There's a very good reason that Automats never really caught on in America.
Posted by: Darrell Harris at November 24, 2025 11:13 AM (0CU3H)
====

Horn & Hardart didn't close until 1991.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at November 24, 2025 11:17 AM (9ipOP)

84 The problem is corporations and Wall Street analysts aren't satisfied with past net profits and consider it a failure if there is not a year to year increase.

Posted by: the way I see it at November 24, 2025 11:17 AM (KDPiq)

85 Are there any mid range chains that are good in the Horde estimation?

I like Longhorn and Chilis though the last meal I got a Longhorn they ruined their classic parmesan crusted chicken...

Posted by: 18-1 at November 24, 2025 11:17 AM (sKqQm)

86 The damage is done to the casinos. Casinos are popping up all over the country. No longer are Vegas and Atlantic City the places to go to play with the one armed bandits or the roulette wheel. I have 2 casinos in two different towns near me. Why fly to Vegas when I can drive 15 minutes?

Posted by: Our Country is Screwed at November 24, 2025 11:17 AM (N39Ws)

87 You go, guacamole haters!

More of it for me.

Posted by: Bulg at November 24, 2025 11:18 AM (77rzZ)

88 There's an important lesson in understanding why massive staff cutting worked for Elon Musk, and failed for Panera and MGM: Elon Musk focused on the customer experience, Panera and MGM took that for granted and ignored it.

Cutting end point services will always appear to increase profits in the short term, but as you point out it cuts revenue even more by slashing the customer base. In Musk's situation with Twitter/X, the company was already actively slashing its customer base by hamhanded censorship of opinions they didn't like, so it was easy for Musk to increase performance and profits by simply slashing those parts of the workforce doing stupid and self-destructive things. (which ended up being almost 75% of existing employees)

Takeaway - Management has to intimately and respectfully understand the end customers experience, or else they are bound to fail. (also recall Cracker Barrel's recent walkback of their disastrous "update" plans)

Posted by: Tom Servo at November 24, 2025 11:18 AM (uWKK8)

89
That's weird. I had the same problem when I went to a Phillips 66 and had the worst sandwich ever.
Posted by: BurtTC at November 24, 2025 11:14 AM (lH8E4)

So, Panera Bread = Gas Station Sushi?

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at November 24, 2025 11:18 AM (Zz0t1)

90 Guacamole - looks like baby poop, tastes like grass, and is about the most expensive side you can get...

and yet people buy it
Posted by: 18-1 at November 24, 2025

***
Miss Linda loves it. My view of it is pretty much the same as yours.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at November 24, 2025 11:18 AM (wzUl9)

91 Panera Bread, like most ghetto food shops, is slop for the masses who cannot or are too lazy to cook.

Eat at home.
Posted by: Chef Kool Moe Dee at November 24, 2025 11:14 AM (1mUlr)

What about the homeless.

Posted by: BurtTC at November 24, 2025 11:18 AM (lH8E4)

92 Speaking of Disney what kind of idiot do you have to be to go there.
Posted by: 18-1 at November 24, 2025 11:07 AM (sKqQm)

Last went there in the latter aughts. Having to endure attention whore/homos while waiting in line with our 6 yo, AGAIN, was the last straw.

Never again.

Posted by: Doesn't Matter at November 24, 2025 11:18 AM (JCLJi)

93 The food is the same at all restaurant. It all comes from Sysco.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at November 24, 2025 11:18 AM (HW6XE)

94 All of this was just responding to the magic of Bidenomics. Or I should say Barky's fundamentally changing America. No one should have a good time in a socialistic society.

Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at November 24, 2025 11:19 AM (g8Ew8)

95 76 Chik-fil-A and In-N-out have armies of employees, compared to other fast food place.
Posted by: mr tmz at November 24, 2025 11:16 AM (rJ48h)

I recently went on a Scouting trip with my troop to Battleship Cove in MA. Just before our destination, we stopped in a Chick-fil-A to get some lunch. I was hesitant to go because of how the heirs went all woke, but I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food, the fantastic customer service, and how absolutely packed the restaurant and the parking lot was. They still do it right.

Posted by: Darrell Harris at November 24, 2025 11:19 AM (0CU3H)

96 Panera Bread, like most ghetto food shops, is slop for the masses who cannot or are too lazy to cook.

Eat at home.

Posted by: Chef Kool Moe Dee

Add in tipping madness and we're seeing the early stages of the collapse of eating out. You'll get high end joints and taco trucks and everything else will be gone.

Posted by: Brother Tim (102mm/W59), Keeper of the Tim Continuum at November 24, 2025 11:19 AM (OUMaO)

97 COVID got me to do much more of my own cooking.

And...TBH better then most resteraunts

Posted by: 18-1 at November 24, 2025 11:19 AM (sKqQm)

98 Knock, knock, knock

Bob Hope: "Who is it?"

Voice from outside "Do you have a woman in there?"

Bob Hope: "No"

So they opened the and threw one in.

Posted by: no one at November 24, 2025 11:19 AM (W7XSX)

99 I like Longhorn and Chilis though the last meal I got a Longhorn they ruined their classic parmesan crusted chicken...
Posted by: 18-1 at November 24, 2025 11:17 AM (sKqQm)

Last order from Chili's, one person had the worst case of acid reflux he's ever had, almost prompting a call to 911 and the First Lady seemed, yet again, to get an ecoli infection.

Yeah, won't be going to Chili's anytime soon, either.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at November 24, 2025 11:19 AM (Zz0t1)

100 Sysco Kid he was a friend of mine.

Posted by: tubal at November 24, 2025 11:19 AM (PCK5/)

101 They figured out if you get a few high end customers you’ll make more profit than if you get a lot of low end customers.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at November 24, 2025 11:15 AM (HW6XE)

And how's that working out?

Posted by: the way I see it at November 24, 2025 11:19 AM (KDPiq)

102 Re casino high end customers: one of that recent MLB Japanese player's agents ripped him off for $17 million dumped into Las Vegas casinos.
Now the player's lawyers are suing the casinos claiming they knew the money was stolen. They want it back.

Posted by: torabora at November 24, 2025 11:19 AM (6/eme)

103 "MGM claimed that it was eliminating valet and bell staff at the Excalibur ”to respond to industry trends to better serve guests.”

There was no industry trend where people wanted to carry their own fucking bags to the room. EVER

He should fired for even thinking that would fly.

Problem is, people have already changed their buying habits. Getting them back is two fold:

Changing habits

The customer thinks they got ripped off previously. Giving the customer something extra to make up a perceived shortfall is going to be tricky. The customer has to feel whole again. Good Luck.

Posted by: Steve_in_SoCal at November 24, 2025 11:19 AM (JkCto)

104 The only place worth anything in Vegas is Battlefield Vegas.
Posted by: Reforger at November 24, 2025 11:14 AM (+Rs+1)

The Museum of Nuclear Testing is worth a visit.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at November 24, 2025 11:19 AM (npFr7)

105 I was a high roller once. Comped rooms. Unlimited credit.
Good times.

Posted by: Stephan Paddok at November 24, 2025 11:19 AM (+Rs+1)

106 Are there any mid range chains that are good in the Horde estimation?

This is the problem with reading the Food Thread. One develops the cooking skills to satisfy more sophisticated tastes, and the same old slop simply won't do anymore.

Posted by: Archimedes at November 24, 2025 11:20 AM (Riz8t)

107 Biggest problem with Chik fil A is that they generally undercook their fries...as do most fast food resteraunts.

Posted by: 18-1 at November 24, 2025 11:20 AM (sKqQm)

108 I like Longhorn and Chilis though the last meal I got a Longhorn they ruined their classic parmesan crusted chicken...
Posted by: 18-1
_________

That shrimp and peppers appetizer at Longhorn is the shit.

Posted by: Biff Pocoroba at November 24, 2025 11:20 AM (XvL8K)

109 16
‘ Our "business schools" are not turning out their best and brightest, are they?’

I’ll bet that they’re vibrant and diverse though.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at November 24, 2025 11:20 AM (jbnUc)

110 damage is done to the casinos. Casinos are popping up all over the country. No longer are Vegas and Atlantic City the places to go to play with the one armed bandits or the roulette wheel. I have 2 casinos in two different towns near me. Why fly to Vegas when I can drive 15 minutes?
Posted by: Our Country is Screwed at November 24, 2025 11:17 AM (N39Ws)

And that’s why Las Vegas has shifted away from gambling. Restaurants, shows, nightclubs, spas, golf is what the draw is now. Gambling is almost an afterthought.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at November 24, 2025 11:20 AM (HW6XE)

111
“MGM casino head admits company lost its way with summer prices and regrets ‘infamous’ $26 bottle of water” [The Independent – 10/30/2025]

---------------

The MBAs began ruining Las Vegas (the city I grew up in) going back at least to the '80s.

Make La Cosa Nostra Great Again!

/only half-joking

Posted by: ShainS -- Bury My Heart At a Texas MoMe at November 24, 2025 11:20 AM (kPeeO)

112 Sysco or U.S. Foods.

Posted by: no one at November 24, 2025 11:20 AM (W7XSX)

113
Negative. I am a meat popsicle.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at November 24, 2025 11:20 AM (xG4kz)

114 Sometimes, get this, I don’t want to eat at home.
Posted by: tubal at November 24, 2025 11:16 AM (PCK5/)

Whenever I want to eat, I get my musket, hunt a moose, skin it with my sharpened rock, gather wood and kindling, rub sticks together and cook it myself.

Anyone who goes to a grocery store to get food is a philistine.

Posted by: BurtTC at November 24, 2025 11:20 AM (lH8E4)

115 I don't eat out. Hardly ever. Probably a decade ago I think my wife and I went to Panera for lunch. I was underwhelmed.

The restaurant business isn't what it used to be. I'll blame that on the clientele as much as the MBA's telling corporate what to do.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at November 24, 2025 11:21 AM (NwnyJ)

116 So, Panera Bread = Gas Station Sushi?

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer

I'd say Panera was marginally healthier, except a now-closed location in my area had an incident where a cook turned out to have hepatitis, so it's really anyone's guess.

Posted by: Brother Tim (102mm/W59), Keeper of the Tim Continuum at November 24, 2025 11:21 AM (OUMaO)

117 Staying on the strip in a fancy hotel will be very expensive. Always was. Always will be. You can still snag some great mid-week deals, though, especially if you are a member of whatever gambling-card thingy they're offering.

But there's the "off strip" almost hidden society that's much much cheaper. I don't mean downtown. I mean 4-5 blocks off the main strip, in smaller, older, more basic hotels.

I'll bet their are some AirBNB deals too. That's all I use now. I won't stay in a hotel if I can avoid it.

Posted by: Elric The Blade at November 24, 2025 11:22 AM (iFTx/)

118 Those Panera/MGM/etc CEO's should just watch a Hallmark-channel Christmas movie or love story.

Countless plots of:
1) big corporation squeezing everything for profit
2) son/daughter working inside said company
3) son/daughter meets opposite-sex member of group being squeezed
4) fall in love
5) son/daughter stands up to CEO father (always a male)
6) CEO has a change of heart
7) son/daughter gets to stay in love with love-interest and take over the company to drive company even higher because it's such a feel good company now.

/sarc.

Posted by: Scott_T at November 24, 2025 11:22 AM (2waQ7)

119 Biggest problem with Chik fil A is that they generally undercook their fries...as do most fast food resteraunts.
Posted by: 18-1 at November 24, 2025 11:20 AM (sKqQm)

*barges in*

*plants flag*

Posted by: Five Guys at November 24, 2025 11:22 AM (Zz0t1)

120 Chik-fil-A and In-N-out have armies of employees, compared to other fast food place.
Posted by: mr tmz at November 24, 2025 11:16 AM (rJ48h)

Buc-ee's has an army, too. I went on a poorly timed visited to the one in Spartanburg, and they were out in force to manage the utter insanity of the place. It was crazy. I actually stopped what I was doing and shot a little video of it, because I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Just a teeming throng of humanity.

On a summer weekend, it's like the American version of a bazaar in Morocco or something.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at November 24, 2025 11:22 AM (BI5O2)

121
I’ll bet that they’re vibrant and diverse though.
Posted by: Dr. Claw

No word on the profundity of their struggle sessions? That's where the action will be hottest next.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at November 24, 2025 11:22 AM (xG4kz)

122 It is amazing nowadays getting some form of takeout for $20 or more per person that you know was half that much 5 years ago...

Posted by: 18-1 at November 24, 2025 11:08 AM

I wonder if that could has anything to do with injecting an extra 5.1 TRILLION dollars into the economy in less than 4 years under the guise of reducing inflation?

Naw.....

Posted by: Mister Scott

We exported our manufacturing inflation by sourcing from the third world, and got third world quality, and we hid our service labor inflation by hiring illegal aliens, and got record levels of welfare recipients. Now it is time to pay the piper.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at November 24, 2025 11:22 AM (0U5gm)

123 The MBAs began ruining Las Vegas (the city I grew up in) going back at least to the '80s.

Make La Cosa Nostra Great Again!

/only half-joking
Posted by: ShainS -- Bury My Heart At a Texas MoMe at November 24, 2025 11:20 AM (kPeeO)
---------

Funny how the mob worked to keep things out of sight because they didn't want people to look to closely.

Now that Vegas is supposedly "legit" the people running the place no longer care.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (UJMvS) at November 24, 2025 11:22 AM (UJMvS)

124 Was reading an article by a right leaning pundit on the topic of "rising fascism". He pointed out that a couple of years ago he was censored on a number of forums for "COVID disinformation". After Trump's election that was reversed and all his videos were restored. He continued that things appear, across the board, to slowly be returning to normal.

And then he noted this is what the left/FNM seem to be calling "rising fascism" - returning to what was considered normal before 2020...

Posted by: 18-1 at November 24, 2025 11:22 AM (sKqQm)

125 Guacamole - looks like baby poop, tastes like grass, and is about the most expensive side you can get...

and yet people buy it
Posted by: 18-1 at November 24, 2025

I love guacamole. Yeah, I'll buy it because it's good.

Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at November 24, 2025 11:22 AM (g8Ew8)

126 Honestly, all we ever go to are some local restaurants that aren’t chains. Mostly family affairs at their cores. A couple of small regional chains too. Our favorite Mexican restaurant prolly has a few illegals in their staff.

Posted by: tubal at November 24, 2025 11:22 AM (PCK5/)

127 Chik-fil-A and In-N-out have armies of employees, compared to other fast food place.
Posted by: mr tmz

Hence, the lines.

Some CFO could learn something there.

Posted by: Steve_in_SoCal at November 24, 2025 11:22 AM (JkCto)

128 Not for nothing, the 26 dollar bottle of water may be what they have to charge to make their inefficient business model profitable, seeing as you can pretty much get a bottle of water for a buck in bulk at costco or BJ's., who knows what their procurement model looks like.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at November 24, 2025 11:22 AM (XV/Pl)

129 Last order from Chili's, one person had the worst case of acid reflux he's ever had, almost prompting a call to 911 and the First Lady seemed, yet again, to get an ecoli infection.

Yeah, won't be going to Chili's anytime soon, either.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at November 24, 2025

***
In Birmingham, AL, the last night before I got home from IN, I went to a nearby Chili's. Disappointing service. The food was okay, but then they fully expected me to pay with a card at one of those little tableside portable kiosks. I waited them out, paid cash, and left a smaller tip than I normally would have.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at November 24, 2025 11:22 AM (wzUl9)

130 So, Panera Bread = Gas Station Sushi?
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at November 24, 2025 11:18 AM (Zz0t1)

Your logic is impeccable.

Posted by: BurtTC at November 24, 2025 11:23 AM (lH8E4)

131 Sloppy Slotkin v. Killer Joe

Elissa Slotkin ADMITS Democrats lied about President Trump issuing illegal orders to the military:
ABC: "Do you believe President Trump has issued any illegal orders?"
SLOTKIN: "To my knowledge I am not aware of things that are illegal."

-
Joe Scarborough is very mad at Senator Slotkin for saying Trump hasn’t issued any illegal orders.
"Wrong answer!"
Joe then goes on to cite a hypothetical scenario of what Trump might do as evidence of illegal orders.

-
Apparently Killer Joe wants to establish a Department of Precrime like in Minority Report.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Why Do the Heathen Rage? at November 24, 2025 11:23 AM (L/fGl)

132 Wegmans has very good prepared food.

It’s expensive, though.

Posted by: Bulg at November 24, 2025 11:23 AM (77rzZ)

133 MGM claimed that it was eliminating valet and bell staff ...

---------------

Jobs that young people, especially men, would work for free as one who hustles can make six figures in tips alone -- and even more in finders' fees "running the hookers."

Posted by: ShainS -- Bury My Heart At a Texas MoMe at November 24, 2025 11:23 AM (kPeeO)

134
On a summer weekend, it's like the American version of a bazaar in Morocco or something.
Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at November 24, 2025 11:22 AM (BI5O2)

You can make up to $250k a year working at Buc-ees.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at November 24, 2025 11:24 AM (Zz0t1)

135 Just the thought of Las Vegas is off-putting to me. I've made flight connections there, and the terminal is annoying enough.

I did drive through it once. Again, yuck.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at November 24, 2025 11:24 AM (w6EFb)

136 This past Thursday, unshaven Congressman Eric Swalwell declared his candidacy for the governorship of California, despite being constitutionally disqualified to run. At the center of Swalwell’s disqualification is that to become California governor, the candidate’s true, primary, and permanent home must be in the state of California.

Posted by: SMOD at November 24, 2025 11:24 AM (RHGPo)

137 In my AO most of the new restaurants are something odd - Thai, Vegan, blah blah

I can't think of a new standard American restaurants

Its weird...

Posted by: 18-1 at November 24, 2025 11:24 AM (sKqQm)

138 In what way is Slotkin 'Sloppy'?

Posted by: torabora at November 24, 2025 11:24 AM (6/eme)

139 Eating out at even mid-grade or cheap restaurant has become an unaffordable luxury and I always regret it when I see my credit card bill. Cutting portions is suicidal at these prices.

Posted by: Ripley at November 24, 2025 11:24 AM (GUOwU)

140 Fast Food Confessional,

The Missus normally makes dinner for us at home, but when she has to work late, and I am on my own, there is this Burger King on the corner right down the street from my office...

It's just too easy to hit that drive thru!

Anyway, I accept that the Burgers are now the size of Sliderz. And I don't want to know anything more about it. lol

Posted by: Bad Andrew at November 24, 2025 11:24 AM (6qf1m)

141 Going out to get food, whether fast casual or traditional fast food or an actual sit down full service restaurant…. All these experiences have gone down cousin Eddie’s shitter since covid (which ruined many things)…. Higher prices, smaller portions, bad service everywhere you look

Posted by: LinusVanPelt at November 24, 2025 11:25 AM (/iXAp)

142
Your logic is impeccable.
Posted by: BurtTC at November 24, 2025 11:23 AM (lH8E4)

It really pays to be the king of 'if then else' in real life situations, you see.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at November 24, 2025 11:25 AM (Zz0t1)

143 MGM Resorts & Panera Bread Learn that Slashing Headcount, Reducing Quality, and Gouging Customers Is Not a Viable Long-Term Strategy

Sounds exactly like what the auto industry has been doing since the Plandemic.

Layoff tens of thousands of experienced, quality American engineers, reduce quality by replacing those experienced, quality American engineers with outsourced cheap labor retards in India and Mexico and then jack up prices on gas/diesel vehicles and especially EVs.

Result: overpriced, low-quality products no one wants to -- or can afford to - buy and tens of thousands of former employees who not only are not regularly buying their products but also telling the public to stay away knowing the products are being developed and engineered by cheap labor retards.

Posted by: Clyde Shelton at November 24, 2025 11:25 AM (P5BPp)

144 83 There's a very good reason that Automats never really caught on in America.
Posted by: Darrell Harris at November 24, 2025 11:13 AM (0CU3H)
====

Horn & Hardart didn't close until 1991.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at November 24, 2025 11:17 AM (9ipOP)

I would almost say 'QED', but H&H was a truly innovative chain back in the day. IIRC, at one time they were the largest restaurant chain in the USA. I actually had a nice meal at the one on 42nd Street back when I was a wee lad.

Posted by: Darrell Harris at November 24, 2025 11:25 AM (0CU3H)

145 Honestly, all we ever go to are some local restaurants that aren’t chains. Mostly family affairs at their cores. A couple of small regional chains too. Our favorite Mexican restaurant prolly has a few illegals in their staff.

I'll bet they have no MBAs on their staff.

Posted by: Archimedes at November 24, 2025 11:25 AM (Riz8t)

146 Mama Publius got some Panera gift cards from her financial manager. We need to use them up. Maybe I'll wait a bit to see how the revamp goes.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at November 24, 2025 11:26 AM (w6EFb)

147 IiRC the $26 water in question was at the pool and included tip and service charge shit. Which is like ok you’re essentially paying room service prices. Go to Walgreens but a 12 pack of water for $5 and problem solved.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at November 24, 2025 11:26 AM (HW6XE)

148 But seriously, one of my favorite things to do in this world, is to go into a convenience store, set a drink or pack of gum on the counter, and wait for the cashier to ask: "Did you have gas?"

To which I reply: "That's rather personal, don't you think?"

I've only ever had the opportunity to do that a few times in my life, but I continue to go into convenience stores, ever in the hope.

Posted by: BurtTC at November 24, 2025 11:26 AM (lH8E4)

149 So food used to be cheap at restaurants is my take away from the conversation. Everything changed - why?? Merely greed?

Posted by: tubal at November 24, 2025 11:26 AM (PCK5/)

150 I don’t think I’ve been to Las Vegas since the MGM Grand burnt down.

Posted by: SMOD at November 24, 2025 11:26 AM (RHGPo)

151 145 Honestly, all we ever go to are some local restaurants that aren’t chains. Mostly family affairs at their cores. A couple of small regional chains too. Our favorite Mexican restaurant prolly has a few illegals in their staff.

I'll bet they have no MBAs on their staff.
Posted by: Archimedes at November 24, 2025 11:25 AM (Riz8t)

Snort. Not hardly.

Posted by: tubal at November 24, 2025 11:26 AM (PCK5/)

152 My aircraft was hit by a ground support vehicle at Las Vegas after boarding. The aircraft rocked. Ouch.

We deplaned until they could get a witch doctor to say we could fly again.

Posted by: torabora at November 24, 2025 11:27 AM (6/eme)

153 So food used to be cheap at restaurants is my take away from the conversation. Everything changed - why?? Merely greed?
Posted by: tubal at November 24, 2025 11:26 AM (PCK5/)

Restaurants always had a thin margin. Chains make it up in volume.

Posted by: the way I see it at November 24, 2025 11:27 AM (KDPiq)

154 Old and busted: The customer is always right.

New and cool: F*ck the customer up the ass.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Why Do the Heathen Rage? at November 24, 2025 11:27 AM (L/fGl)

155 I'll bet they have no MBAs on their staff.
Posted by: Archimedes at November 24, 2025 11:25 AM (Riz8t)

Go to Waffle House, and you can see some Mighty Big Asses.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at November 24, 2025 11:28 AM (npFr7)

156 Uh oh. The city of Carmel, California has banned pickleball permanently.

I guess it won’t be getting any tourist dollars from Doof.

Posted by: Bulg at November 24, 2025 11:28 AM (77rzZ)

157 Speaking of bottled water and Las Vegas, are the Mexicans still selling bottled water on the pedestrian bridges? Those guys were lifesavers.

Posted by: mr tmz at November 24, 2025 11:28 AM (rJ48h)

158
Apparently Killer Joe wants to establish a Department of Precrime like in Minority Report.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Why Do the Heathen Rage? at November 24, 2025 11:23 AM (L/fGl)

------------

Moreso, we need a Department of Pre-Hate-Thought-Crime! Now, denounce yourself, Criminal H8R ..."

Posted by: ShainS -- Bury My Heart At a Texas MoMe at November 24, 2025 11:29 AM (kPeeO)

159 BurtTC lives in the past where you first pumped gas then paid for it.

Posted by: torabora at November 24, 2025 11:29 AM (6/eme)

160 156 Uh oh. The city of Carmel, California has banned pickleball permanently.

I guess it won’t be getting any tourist dollars from Doof.
Posted by: Bulg at November 24, 2025 11:28 AM (77rzZ)

They banned a freaking GAME??

Posted by: tubal at November 24, 2025 11:29 AM (PCK5/)

161 @149

>> So food used to be cheap at restaurants is my take away from the conversation. Everything changed - why?? Merely greed?

Massive inflation coupled with various drive to hike minimum wages from anywhere to 15-30 dollars depending on the locale.

The fast food/diner industry is notorious for razor margins, anything that drives up costs could put the endeavor out of business.

A diner I frequented has recently gone out of business, to join the dozens of other diners I frequented in NJ.

I'll have to start making disco fries at home.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at November 24, 2025 11:29 AM (XV/Pl)

162 MGM Grand was the first casino in Vegas to start charging their customers to park.

But Harrah's was the first to really dick the customers--they were the ones to bring in 6:5 blackjack. Now it's everywhere. And now TRIPLE ZERO roulette--such a ripoff.

If Vegas wants people to come back, here are a few suggestions from a former visitor (dozens and dozens of visits over the years):

Get rid of Resort Fees--it's a total gouge
Get rid of Parking Fees
Lower your table minimums so that people don't need a thousand dollars to stand there and play craps for an hour.
Go back to 3:2 blackjack and single zero roulette
Don't charge me $700 for a concert ticket (plus associated 'fees')
Quit gouging on drink prices
Give the floormen/pit staff more discretion and empowerment in awarding comps

Of course, none of these things will ever happen, so I'm pretty sure my Vegas days are all behind me.

Posted by: Grapefruit LaCroix at November 24, 2025 11:29 AM (FQbbs)

163 Funny how the mob worked to keep things out of sight because they didn't want people to look to closely.

Now that Vegas is supposedly "legit" the people running the place no longer care.
Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (UJMvS) at November 24, 2025 11:22 AM (UJMvS)

For example, street crime in the days the Mob ran the place was very rare. Bad for business, you know. Made Vegas a very safe place, and without the troubles of long trials and other hoo-ha.
First offense - broken legs. Second offense - shallow pit in the desert. Third offense - there were no third offenses.

Posted by: Tom Servo at November 24, 2025 11:29 AM (uWKK8)

164 Yeah, won't be going to Chili's anytime soon, either.
Posted by: Sponge
--------

No problem, we can deliver.

Posted by: DoorDash at November 24, 2025 11:29 AM (XeU6L)

165 I had a lot of fun weekends in Las Vegas my younger days. Gambling was never part of it. It was clubs at night, pool and golf during the day and then great dinners in the evening.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at November 24, 2025 11:30 AM (HW6XE)

166 But seriously, one of my favorite things to do in this world, is to go into a convenience store, set a drink or pack of gum on the counter, and wait for the cashier to ask: "Did you have gas?"

To which I reply: "That's rather personal, don't you think?"

I've only ever had the opportunity to do that a few times in my life, but I continue to go into convenience stores, ever in the hope.

Posted by: BurtTC

I have a very similar story, but it was at university, and we were turning in a paper that day, and one young lady was asking how long mine was.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at November 24, 2025 11:30 AM (0U5gm)

167 From r/TwinCities (actually a LOT of anti-Somali comments there!?)

They're coming for our Somalis. The Somali population has become an integral part of our community. It's estimated 90,000 live here, and I want to do something. I live in the Metro and feel helpless.

It's bad, but I'm most worried about Miller's rhetoric about denaturalization. The vast, vast majority of Somali people here are citizens, but this seems like just the first step in chipping away at their citizenship.

you aren't going to find nearly as much sympathy for that people group as you will for other minorities in MN.

Literally nobody is unaware of the fraud cases, y'all talk about them nonstop every single time something even tangentially related to any Somali person is discussed. It's just that we're able to distinguish between "the individuals who actually committed fraud" and "the entire Somali community." I'm sure you could too if you really tried.

My fellow left-wing friends don't want to talk about how prevalent sexism and the patriarchy are in Islam. I don't understand why we criticize Christianity for their patriarchal views but give Islam a pass.

Posted by: Intercepted Reddit Transmissions brought by the Intrepid AoS Liaison at November 24, 2025 11:30 AM (JCZqz)

168 In what way is Slotkin 'Sloppy'?
Posted by: torabora

She's a little loose with truth. And the facts. And the law.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Why Do the Heathen Rage? at November 24, 2025 11:30 AM (L/fGl)

169 If you don't want a $26 bottle of water, don't buy it. It's that simple. I assume enough people paid that price or else it wouldn't have been sold at that price.

Same as the $600 bottles of vodka at high-end clubs. The mark-up is 1,000%. But there are usually lines out the door looking to get into these places.

I suspect Hornbuckle is really just blowing smoke to cover for lackluster earnings. The $26 bottle will now be $25.99.

Posted by: Elric The Blade at November 24, 2025 11:30 AM (iFTx/)

170 People rip on Waffle House, but it's fine. And I've never seen anything untoward at mine. I think it's highly dependent on the locale.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at November 24, 2025 11:31 AM (BI5O2)

171 I have a very similar story, but it was at university, and we were turning in a paper that day, and one young lady was asking how long mine was.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at November 24, 2025 11:30 AM (0U5gm)

"You'll need to at least buy me dinner first......"

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at November 24, 2025 11:31 AM (Zz0t1)

172 165 I had a lot of fun weekends in Las Vegas my younger days. Gambling was never part of it. It was clubs at night, pool and golf during the day and then great dinners in the evening.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at November 24, 2025 11:30 AM (HW6XE)

So, no wife and kids then.

Posted by: tubal at November 24, 2025 11:31 AM (PCK5/)

173 They banned a freaking GAME??
Posted by: tubal at November 24, 2025 11:29 AM (PCK5/)

They went too far but to be fair you would want it banned if you lived next to a busy pickleball court. It is very loud and like Chinese water torture.

Posted by: the way I see it at November 24, 2025 11:31 AM (KDPiq)

174 Since COVID I've gone full distributivist. No chain restaurants at all. Only family run ones.

Posted by: Eeyore at November 24, 2025 11:31 AM (s0JqF)

175 My fellow left-wing friends don't want to talk about how prevalent sexism and the patriarchy are in Islam. I don't understand why we criticize Christianity for their patriarchal views but give Islam a pass.

Soon to be banned.....

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at November 24, 2025 11:32 AM (Zz0t1)

176 14 Speaking of Disney what kind of idiot do you have to be to go there.

With their current prices you can afford to travel almost anywhere else.

And I get these supposed travel videos all the time for Disney...that I KNOW are just paid advertising..and even in those videos Disney looks shitty - you see bored, tired people in the background everywhere...
Posted by: 18-1 at November 24, 2025 11:07 AM (sKqQm)

They're marketing to Social Media Influencers and Suspiciously Wealthy Perverts.

They've given up on all but the whales.

Posted by: XTC at November 24, 2025 11:32 AM (UnA8+)

177 156 Uh oh. The city of Carmel, California has banned pickleball permanently.

I guess it won’t be getting any tourist dollars from Doof.
Posted by: Bulg at November 24, 2025 11:28 AM (77rzZ)

How the fuck can they even do that? Now I want to buy one of those portable Pickleball nets and go set up on a basketball court until the cops show up to arrest me.

Posted by: Reforger at November 24, 2025 11:32 AM (+Rs+1)

178 Liberals in California are reportedly lining up at Home Depot to buy a single 17-cent scraper, return it, then repeat the process in an effort to slow sales and protest the store’s cooperation with ICE operations

This is how to stop that:

Home Depot Customer Service Agent: Here is your $0.17 back. Also, we are allowed to trespass anyone abusing our return privileges. Since we have your name and address (and probably your credit card number) you are hereby notified that you are subject to arrest if you step foot on any Home Depot property anywhere in the United States (and also on any other companies we own). Have a nice day!

Posted by: Chuck C at November 24, 2025 11:32 AM (D0HYP)

179 Literally nobody is unaware of the fraud cases, y'all talk about them nonstop every single time something even tangentially related to any Somali person is discussed. It's just that we're able to distinguish between "the individuals who actually committed fraud" and "the entire Somali community." I'm sure you could too if you really tried.

And why exactly would I do that? What have they, as a group, contributed to the country?

Posted by: Archimedes at November 24, 2025 11:32 AM (Riz8t)

180 Eliminating concierge, valet and bell staff ... ”to respond to industry trends to better serve guests."

Weasel Words no one believes.
Did they bother to ask a guest themselves?

Posted by: mossomo at November 24, 2025 11:32 AM (pky95)

181 168 In what way is Slotkin 'Sloppy'?
Posted by: torabora

She's a little loose with truth. And the facts. And the law.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Why Do the Heathen Rage? at November 24, 2025 11:30 AM (L/fGl)

“Sloppy” is either a Verbal Tic, or an aspiring Meme for Trump.

Posted by: tubal at November 24, 2025 11:33 AM (PCK5/)

182 Twenty-six bucks this last Saturday night for two omelets and a glass of milk at a local 24-hour diner here. And that $26 included a 3% upcharge for a credit card.

My grilled chicken omelet wasn't even that tasty. A shame, again, as this place has been a standby for many years. I'm not even sure their donuts are affordable any more.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at November 24, 2025 11:16 AM (wzUl9)

Comments at Youtube tell me that the increased price are entirely because Trump hasn't raised the federal minimum wage to $25/hour.

The decreased quality is just a bonus.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at November 24, 2025 11:33 AM (ExV1e)

183 169 If you don't want a $26 bottle of water, don't buy it. It's that simple. I assume enough people paid that price or else it wouldn't have been sold at that price.

—

Bro it’s my right to have cheap water at high end hotels. It’s in the constitution right next to the part where I am entitled to a home at 28 years old.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at November 24, 2025 11:33 AM (HW6XE)

184 The reason for the pickleball ban was the noise.

Posted by: Bulg at November 24, 2025 11:33 AM (77rzZ)

185 167 My fellow left-wing friends don't want to talk about how prevalent sexism and the patriarchy are in Islam. I don't understand why we criticize Christianity for their patriarchal views but give Islam a pass.
Posted by: Intercepted Reddit Transmissions brought by the Intrepid AoS Liaison at November 24, 2025 11:30 AM (JCZqz)

Because they all want to use Islam as a weapon against Christianity, as a "Take THAT, Daddy!" because their father made them go to church instead of letting them dye their hair purple and LARP as a witch.

Posted by: XTC at November 24, 2025 11:33 AM (UnA8+)

186 Weasel Words no one believes.
Did they bother to ask a guest themselves?
Posted by: mossomo at November 24, 2025 11:32 AM (pky95)

Today is the day to put words in Weasel's mouth? Geez......

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at November 24, 2025 11:34 AM (Zz0t1)

187 BurtTC lives in the past where you first pumped gas then paid for it.
Posted by: torabora at November 24, 2025 11:29 AM (6/eme)

It's why I moved to a small town. In search of such stations.

Posted by: BurtTC at November 24, 2025 11:34 AM (G8jwy)

188 So food used to be cheap at restaurants is my take away from the conversation. Everything changed - why?? Merely greed?

Massive inflation coupled with various drive to hike minimum wages from anywhere to 15-30 dollars depending on the locale.

The fast food/diner industry is notorious for razor margins, anything that drives up costs could put the endeavor out of business.

A diner I frequented has recently gone out of business, to join the dozens of other diners I frequented in NJ.

I'll have to start making disco fries at home.

Posted by: Thomas Bender

Maybe millions of illegal aliens being paid under the table had something to do with the cheap restaurants.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at November 24, 2025 11:34 AM (0U5gm)

189 My kids have Panera's on their college but told me what an awful value it was, and how they could never get food if they wanted b/c the lines were so long.

As for me, they are so allergy unfriendly vs other sandwich/salad sites, so I've kinda written them off. I guess if they bring employees back (b/c I do NOT rely on machines for my allergy orders), maybe I'll see what they can make. I mean, it's not hard to make a sandwich without dairy or nut components, but you have to want to...and underpaid and overworked staff don't want to, nor does a computer want to let you...

Posted by: Nova Local at November 24, 2025 11:34 AM (tOcjL)

190 173 They banned a freaking GAME??
Posted by: tubal at November 24, 2025 11:29 AM (PCK5/)

They went too far but to be fair you would want it banned if you lived next to a busy pickleball court. It is very loud and like Chinese water torture.
Posted by: the way I see it at November 24, 2025 11:31 AM (KDPiq)

Much grunting and farting.

Posted by: tubal at November 24, 2025 11:34 AM (PCK5/)

191 "The reason for the pickleball ban was the noise.
Posted by: Bulg "

Now do 5000 watt car stereos.

Posted by: fd at November 24, 2025 11:34 AM (vFG9F)

192 I had a lot of fun weekends in Las Vegas my younger days. Gambling was never part of it. It was clubs at night, pool and golf during the day and then great dinners in the evening.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at November 24, 2025 11:30 AM (HW6XE)

So, no wife and kids then.
Posted by: tubal at November 24, 2025 11:31 AM (PCK5/)

Not back then, no.
Although some of those weekend were with my gf, now wife.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at November 24, 2025 11:35 AM (HW6XE)

193 The reason for the pickleball ban was the noise.
Posted by: Bulg at November 24, 2025 11:33 AM (77rzZ)

So use actual pickles instead of wiffle balls.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at November 24, 2025 11:35 AM (npFr7)

194 Most restaurants break even on the food and the profits are from the bar.

Posted by: no one at November 24, 2025 11:35 AM (W7XSX)

195 I have a very similar story, but it was at university, and we were turning in a paper that day, and one young lady was asking how long mine was.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at November 24, 2025 11:30 AM (0U5gm)

Hmmm, I bet it's at least statistically more likely you'll get laid in your situation than mine.

Posted by: BurtTC at November 24, 2025 11:35 AM (G8jwy)

196 179
And why exactly would I do that? What have they, as a group, contributed to the country?
Posted by: Archimedes at November 24, 2025 11:32 AM (Riz8t)

Debt. Increase in fraud. Increase in crime.

Posted by: Our Country is Screwed at November 24, 2025 11:35 AM (N39Ws)

197 Add in tipping madness and we're seeing the early stages of the collapse of eating out. You'll get high end joints and taco trucks and everything else will be gone.
Posted by: Brother Tim (102mm/W59), Keeper of the Tim Continuum at November 24, 2025 11:19 AM (OUMaO)

Taco trucks are starting to overcharge.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at November 24, 2025 11:35 AM (ExV1e)

198 Uh oh. The city of Carmel, California has banned pickleball permanently.

I guess it won’t be getting any tourist dollars from Doof.

Posted by: Bulg at November 24, 2025 11:28 AM (77rzZ)

----------------

Doof could be a modern-day Paddle Rights Leader!

Who needs Rosa when we've got our own fighter, soon to be dubbed: "Pickleball Parks?"

Posted by: ShainS -- Bury My Heart At a Texas MoMe at November 24, 2025 11:35 AM (5StDt)

199 Eliminating concierge, valet and bell staff ... ”to respond to industry trends to better serve guests."

Weasel Words no one believes.
Did they bother to ask a guest themselves?

That's the same as:

Them: "We'll only change your linens if asked, because we're green and s***".

Me: Don't you also save a buttload of money on hotel staff and hot water and utilities? How about you split that money with me?

Them:

Posted by: Archimedes at November 24, 2025 11:36 AM (Riz8t)

200 My fellow left-wing friends don't want to talk about how prevalent sexism and the patriarchy are in Islam. I don't understand why we criticize Christianity for their patriarchal views but give Islam a pass.
Posted by: Intercepted Reddit Transmissions brought by the Intrepid AoS Liaison

That's a good start for a list of features of Islam that conflict with Western beliefs and practices. Do think some more to see if you can add to it.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at November 24, 2025 11:36 AM (xG4kz)

201 If Vegas wants people to come back, here are a few suggestions from a former visitor (dozens and dozens of visits over the years):

Get rid of Resort Fees--it's a total gouge
Get rid of Parking Fees
Lower your table minimums so that people don't need a thousand dollars to stand there and play craps for an hour.
Go back to 3:2 blackjack and single zero roulette
Don't charge me $700 for a concert ticket (plus associated 'fees')
Quit gouging on drink prices
Give the floormen/pit staff more discretion and empowerment in awarding comps
Bring back the mob. They knew how to run resorts.

Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at November 24, 2025 11:36 AM (g8Ew8)

202 194 Most restaurants break even on the food and the profits are from the bar.
Posted by: no one at November 24, 2025 11:35 AM (W7XSX)

Chik-Fil-A goes hmmmm.

Posted by: tubal at November 24, 2025 11:36 AM (PCK5/)

203 Panera saved money but loyal customers were lost. Who could have ever predicted that?
++++
Which *can* - theoretically - be a viable model. If you cut costs by 10% and raise profits to 30% at the cost of a secular customer decline of 5%, you'll end up better off than if you had stayed the course. This is true *IF* you acknowledge that your growth era is over and you want to switch to revenue and profit maintenance and manage decline until the business winds down.

If you have notions of continued growth, it's suicide.
If your customer loss as a result of the changes is too large, it's suicide.
If your average ticket collapses because customers buy a quarter of what they used to at 50% more money, it's suicide.

Moving into "managed decline" mode is a tough pivot.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at November 24, 2025 11:36 AM (0lawO)

204 "It's crowded. Nobody goes there anymore." Yogi Berra

Posted by: no one at November 24, 2025 11:36 AM (W7XSX)

205 Do you know who still provides good food at decent prices? Family run restaurants, not chains. Chains add an entire layer of ignorant management that must be paid for.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at November 24, 2025 11:36 AM (0U5gm)

206 133 MGM claimed that it was eliminating valet and bell staff ...

---------------

Jobs that young people, especially men, would work for free as one who hustles can make six figures in tips alone -- and even more in finders' fees "running the hookers."
Posted by: ShainS -- Bury My Heart At a Texas MoMe at November 24, 2025 11:23 AM (kPeeO)
________
That's what Vegas needs. Bring back the Running of the Hookers.

Posted by: Eeyore at November 24, 2025 11:36 AM (s0JqF)

207 They banned a freaking GAME??
Posted by: tubal

And what of our right to pursue happiness?

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Why Do the Heathen Rage? at November 24, 2025 11:37 AM (L/fGl)

208 @188

>>Maybe millions of illegal aliens being paid under the table had something to do with the cheap restaurants.

Illegal aliens didn't always make up the bulk of diner and restaurant staff, used to be lots of young kids and black people mixed in with the grizzled veteran's like Nick, Tony, Sal and Nick.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at November 24, 2025 11:37 AM (XV/Pl)

209 Lol, sometimes a roving gang of pickleballers is just a little too raw & real for the Stepford Wives in Carmel, I see. It figures.

*narrows eyes, contemptuously chews toothpick*

Posted by: Leather Jacketed Pickleball Miscreant at November 24, 2025 11:37 AM (BI5O2)

210 My mother is still playing pickleball with the youngsters at her retirement community, even though she did fall once and lightly fracture her wrist.
The "youngsters" are in their 70's.
My mother is 88. And I'm not joking.
she had one uncle who lived to 105, and another who lived to 106. She named me executor of her will, and I said "why bother? I should make you executor of mine."

Posted by: Tom Servo at November 24, 2025 11:38 AM (uWKK8)

211 And that’s why Las Vegas has shifted away from gambling. Restaurants, shows, nightclubs, spas, golf is what the draw is now. Gambling is almost an afterthought.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at November 24, 2025 11:20 AM (HW6XE)

Prostitution is, technically, illegal in Vegas and that's about the only thing they've got to differentiate themselves.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at November 24, 2025 11:38 AM (ExV1e)

212 That's what Vegas needs. Bring back the Running of the Hookers.
Posted by: Eeyore at November 24, 2025 11:36 AM (s0JqF)

Bystanders might get gored.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at November 24, 2025 11:38 AM (npFr7)

213 Add in tipping madness and we're seeing the early stages of the collapse of eating out. You'll get high end joints and taco trucks and everything else will be gone.
Posted by: Brother Tim (102mm/W59), Keeper of the Tim Continuum at November 24, 2025 11:19 AM (OUMaO)

Taco trucks are starting to overcharge.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at November 24, 2025 11:35 AM (ExV1e)
_____

Eating out is booming and shows no signs of slowing down. Prices are up, but so is diner traffic. People are willing to pay high prices. Try to get reservations at even a mid-level restaurant at a prime hour. The really high-end places are sold out months in advance.

Posted by: Elric The Blade at November 24, 2025 11:38 AM (iFTx/)

214 How do you ban pickleball for “noise” but tennis and basketball all are legal?

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at November 24, 2025 11:38 AM (HW6XE)

215 Back Alley Pickleball under investigation in Carmel!!

Posted by: tubal at November 24, 2025 11:38 AM (PCK5/)

216 Every Job Should Pay a Living Wage!!! and the living wage demands gets higher & higher depending upon interpretation, trade or lack thereof, and area.

See Starbucks strike.

Posted by: L - No nic, another fine day at November 24, 2025 11:39 AM (NFX2v)

217 "Add in tipping madness and we're seeing the early stages of the collapse of eating out. You'll get high end joints and taco trucks and everything else will be gone.
Posted by: Brother Tim"

Unless food is brought to my table or my house there will be no tip (unless the service was somehow exceptional.) The old ways are best.

Posted by: Ripley at November 24, 2025 11:39 AM (GUOwU)

218 Hey, I hit my bonus metrics for reduced labor costs *and* reduced cost of supplies. I also hit the numbers for increased margins.
Win WIn WIn!

Now give me a bonus for undoing all the damage I did and I can create some real generational wealth.

Posted by: CEO at November 24, 2025 11:39 AM (8VwBr)

219 My comment was about high-end sit-down restaurants, not fast-food.

LOL. At the nearest Buc-EEs, we asked a clerk "Why aren't there any tables to sit at and eat our food?"

"The customers would never leave."

Posted by: no one at November 24, 2025 11:39 AM (W7XSX)

220 Moving into "managed decline" mode is a tough pivot.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at November 24, 2025 11:36 AM (0lawO)

Ask the Presbyterian, Methodists, and Episcopal's how that's working out for them.

Posted by: Tom Servo at November 24, 2025 11:39 AM (uWKK8)

221 For me, one of the worst things a business can do is, when I walk in, ready to spend money, there is no employee to greet me

anybody
just acknowledge my presence!
"You call yourself a salesman, you sonofabitch?"

Posted by: Don Black at November 24, 2025 11:39 AM (AOsQT)

222 .
.
In 1990, a fellow student and I each won a couple of tickets to a University of Texas football game of our choice by winning an introduction to the UT MBA program simulation exercise. It was something like:

https://sdgamesonline.com/game-info/People-Express

EXACTLY what you wrote about MGM Resorts & Panera Bread was used as an introduction to a name brand business school THIRTY-FIVE years ago. What the fuck. Everything is forgotten. A little bit before that time flash floods took several lives in central TexAss. Not building in flood prone areas became "the thing" like trăkneePhaggz were big under Biden. By this summer, the lesson learned had been forgotten and a group of girls at (Christian) Camp Mystic drowned in cabins which should never have been built based on the GIS map for Kerr County.
.
C'est la vie, c'est la mort.

Posted by: Marooned at November 24, 2025 11:39 AM (kt8QE)

223 Manage the decline or hide the decline?

Posted by: Anna Puma at November 24, 2025 11:39 AM (+k/kq)

224 Comments at Youtube tell me that the increased price are entirely because Trump hasn't raised the federal minimum wage to $25/hour.

The decreased quality is just a bonus.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at November 24, 2025 11:33 AM (ExV1e)

I would have thought it was the tariffs, leading to bread and milk shortages.

Posted by: BurtTC at November 24, 2025 11:40 AM (G8jwy)

225 this is just current political thinking applied to business: the core philosophy is the same: customers / constituents are just stupid marks, not really human.

betcha those ceos are all demonrats .

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at November 24, 2025 11:40 AM (Cjt/F)

226 Haven't been to a Panera since before the decline Buck documents here. Food was OK, but only memorable thing was how mediocre/bad the coffee was. Which was stunning to me, in that sort of operation. I typically only went in one to get coffee and use the WiFi.

I made sure to try all the different coffees offered, each time. Only more astonishing coffee thing was how bad the coffee was at an overseas military operation/HQ situation, a 24-hour/more or less place with lots of Navy presence too, which you'd think would impose some normal standards on the coffee. Most people went to ordering their own beans and doing the French press at their workspace. Eventually it got fixed, but wow.

Posted by: rhomboid at November 24, 2025 11:40 AM (U/Byj)

227
By what manner can one contact Doof off line? I would like to email something to him.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at November 24, 2025 11:40 AM (xG4kz)

228 > How do you ban pickleball for “noise” but tennis and basketball all are legal?
----

tennis & basketball are sports

pickleball is the devil's handiwork

Posted by: Don Black at November 24, 2025 11:40 AM (AOsQT)

229 BurtTC lives in the past where you first pumped gas then paid for it.
-------
I assume California or New York was the first area to go to the "pay first" model? I remember visiting Sacramento circa 1995 and getting hit with that. In Oklahoma we held out until around 2000 when all at once the stations flipped to the "pay first" model.

Posted by: Crusader at November 24, 2025 11:40 AM (TN0g+)

230 52 Family Fun in Vegas. That doesn’t immediately spring to mind.
Posted by: tubal at November 24, 2025 11:13 AM (PCK5/)

It does to me!

Posted by: Joe biden at November 24, 2025 11:41 AM (i0Hi3)

231 * Flips silver dollar.

You know what I miss most about gambling?
The slot in the machine. Nothing compares to 2000 silver dollars clinking off a stainless steel coin bin when you hit a Royal.

Posted by: Reforger at November 24, 2025 11:41 AM (+Rs+1)

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