Closed: Baja Sports Grill

[Cajunbander]

_ I disagree with this. Example: Chilis





igeaux.mobi _

I see Chilis on its way out. I went there with some friends after a concert we were in at UL, it took us probably 15 - 20 minutes to order because there's no variety! There also not much to choose from! The only reason we went was for the margaritas, they still have that goin' for them. They used to have a lot of things on their menu, but over the years they've slowly chipped away from their menu to the point that there's not much to choose from!

I think it was funny that Krispy Kreme thought that it could open a store in Lafayette. It's not smart to compete with Meche's. Prime example of a national chain getting kicked out!

[duggie85]

_ And another thing while Im talking about places to eat. How in the hell can Southside Bakery win best burger? Its not even a burger its a loaf of bread with a patty in the middle. Judice Inn is the best burger in town. It aint the biggest but its the best. Times get it right next year. Im ranting up a storm tonight. _

Ummmm, the Times is a survey. How do you suppose they get it right???

[cajunhawk]

_ Ummmm, the Times is a survey. How do you suppose they get it right??? _

That doesnt make much sense but I was on a roll. Kinda.

[zephyr]

_ I see Chilis on its way out. I went there with some friends after a concert we were in at UL, it took us probably 15 - 20 minutes to order because there's no variety! There also not much to choose from! The only reason we went was for the margaritas, they still have that goin' for them. They used to have a lot of things on their menu, but over the years they've slowly chipped away from their menu to the point that there's not much to choose from!

I think it was funny that Krispy Kreme thought that it could open a store in Lafayette. It's not smart to compete with Meche's. Prime example of a national chain getting kicked out! _

Dude, Chili's has done little with their menu in years but continues to be one of the most profitable restaurant chains around. They are going nowhere.

[CajunNation]

That's one CZ1, but even Chillis has saturated their own market with additional stores. The Pinhook locations was the top store in the south in sales for many years, but now its nowhere close to it. I now avoid the one on Ambassador because service has been terrible my last two visits and the Pinhook store always seems to be dirty, even during slow periods.

There have been a many of restaurants that have come and gone in that area known as Restaurant row, but most that have survived sale's don't come close to they were in the first few years of operations.

Chains can survive and thrive in Lafayette. They just have to have great food, great service, and a little luck.

Coyote Blue, Olive Garden, Outback, Carino's, Carrabba's, Texas Roadhouse, etc. etc.

All of these have full houses and waiting lines EVERY DAY.

Chain restaurants have Lafayette in the crosshairs. They all take a shot here, and always will. We love to eat, and we love to drink. That will never change.

I would love to see Hop's come back. That was a pretty cool place. They were very successful, and would be again.

On the fast-food side, I would love to see Jack in the Box give us a couple of stores.

[CajunT]

_ Chains can survive and thrive in Lafayette. They just have to have great food, great service, and a little luck.

Coyote Blue, Olive Garden, Outback, Carino's, Carrabba's, Texas Roadhouse, etc. etc.

All of these have full houses and waiting lines EVERY DAY.

Chain restaurants have Lafayette in the crosshairs. They all take a shot here, and always will. We love to eat, and we love to drink. That will never change.

I would love to see Hop's come back. That was a pretty cool place. They were very successful, and would be again.

On the fast-food side, I would love to see Jack in the Box give us a couple of stores. _

If Hops was successful, they wouldn't have left Lafayette. Olive Garden is successful because it has an affordable menu for the working class. They are the bottom of the barrell when it comes to Itialian food chains, large portion of their menu is out of the can. Carrabba's and Bone Fish are located at River Ranch, they cater to certain income. If both those restaurants were located on Johnson St, they would be closed today. Carino's and Texas Road House sales are nowhere close to what they were the first two years in Lafayette. They went down before the economy started tanking. And OutBack is the only Steakhouse on that side of town, other then Ruth Chris. Most working families are not eating at Ruth Chris. Both OutBack and Chillis have made a killing off the Hotels in that area for years. And for those that hate driving on Ambassador or don't want to pay the price for an entree at Blue Dog, Ruth Chris or Vermilionville, those two chains are the prime restaurants on Pinhook.

In Lafayette, a good product and Location, Location, Location is the name of the game. Fast food chains will always be around, they offer an affordable menu for students, working class and the poor.

[CajunNation]

If Hops was successful, they wouldn't have left Lafayette.

Hop's closed weeks after Chili's opened across the street, and it made money right up until they shut down. I know because I went there almost every day, and it was always packed.

[ManAboutTown]

_ Hop's closed weeks after Chili's opened across the street, and it made money right up until they shut down. I know because I went there almost every day, and it was always packed. _

I liked that place. Was Hops a chain place?

[LOVAQUE]

Chilis has become too big for their britches. 8 years ago the Pinhook location was the number 2 net profit store Chilis in the country. They were able to get the best managers and there was a waiting list to get on there as a server or bartender. Now they expanded to 6 restaurants in a 30 mile radius of each other, and have cut the talent pool was down.

Chilis does real well in La, Ms, and Florida because those are the only states that allow them to do 2 for 1 all day everyday.

Chilis menu was at the point where there were way too many items on the menu, thus making it hard to ecxecute in the kitchen, causing long wait times and high food cost and labor. Their menu now id realtively easy to execute.

Chili's had a great impact on Hops closing. They wanted to put a Macaroni Grill across the street and made them an offer they couldn't refuse. At that point in time Mac Grill was owned by Brinker International who owns Chili's.

[CajunT]

_ Hop's closed weeks after Chili's opened across the street, and it made money right up until they shut down. I know because I went there almost every day, and it was always packed. _

I knew the owner and the management, the books told a different story. You had two businesses in Hops, a restaurant and a micro-brewery. BTW, the former owner is selling real state here in Lafayette.