What should restaurants do to stay afloat?

[JohnDB]

No excuses please. No one cared what the reasons were for high prices when Biden was president so I don't care now.

Trump is doing many, many things to cause prices to go up. And I'm starting to get the feeling that all his money saving moves is only going to benefit the rich.

It dawned on me last night. As I was cheering all the federal government employees being fired. Those are middle class Americans. So the middle class is being hurt.

Middle class tax payers think they're being served but they'll find out the savings won't be passed on to them. Elon and Space X will gobble up all the savings

Chickens grow up very fast. Quit jacking up the price of chickens. Just make more

And I'm with you about the firings. It's just people who just want jobs and to make a living.
My house is not immune to the cutbacks as my wife's job is tied to research dollars for cancer research. No layoffs yet...but they are likely coming anyway. However....they are going to have to go 15 years deep for layoffs to reach my wife when they are short staffed to begin with. But increased workloads are going to be a probability. So she won't get the needed staffing right away....if she gets any at all.

The whole thing is that since Covid...people work from home. A LOT more than what some people would like. (Those who rent business offices)
It's here to stay.

But along with that...no corporate lunches. Meaning catering is not coming back as strong. Also business lunches are down. Office cafeterias and office lunch counters are down too.

Couple that with the severe economic hardships of the past 3-5 years....it's not pretty.
But having the Government be 25% of GDP? That's unsustainable unless selling a LOT of used weapons. (We aren't)

Farmers have been forced to cull healthy flocks of 500k chickens. (Because someone 12 miles away had 2 birds test positive) Also the UK has done the same thing with a 1 year pause before the farmer can even buy chickens.

Beef herds are testing positive for bird flu too....they have not decided what to do about it yet except ban raw milk.

We are rapidly facing a global famine if things do not turnaround quickly.

Dunno what France, Italy, Greece, Austria or Germany is doing.

 

[sealybobo]

And I'm with you about the firings. It's just people who just want jobs and to make a living.
My house is not immune to the cutbacks as my wife's job is tied to research dollars for cancer research. No layoffs yet...but they are likely coming anyway. However....they are going to have to go 15 years deep for layoffs to reach my wife when they are short staffed to begin with. But increased workloads are going to be a probability. So she won't get the needed staffing right away....if she gets any at all.

The whole thing is that since Covid...people work from home. A LOT more than what some people would like. (Those who rent business offices)
It's here to stay.

But along with that...no corporate lunches. Meaning catering is not coming back as strong. Also business lunches are down. Office cafeterias and office lunch counters are down too.

Couple that with the severe economic hardships of the past 3-5 years....it's not pretty.
But having the Government be 25% of GDP? That's unsustainable unless selling a LOT of used weapons. (We aren't)

Farmers have been forced to cull healthy flocks of 500k chickens. (Because someone 12 miles away had 2 birds test positive) Also the UK has done the same thing with a 1 year pause before the farmer can even buy chickens.

Beef herds are testing positive for bird flu too....they have not decided what to do about it yet except ban raw milk.

We are rapidly facing a global famine if things do not turnaround quickly.

Dunno what France, Italy, Greece, Austria or Germany is doing.

My brother and I were wise to shoot 4 deer this year. Our freezers are full.

I'm torn on everything you are saying. For one, because I know a lot of people sat at home and got paid for doing NOTHING the last few years. I work with one guy like this. Now he's pissed he has to come back to the office.

And I'm pissed because I was getting my job done from home. I'll admit I took naps, watched tv when times were slow but pretty much I got my job done.

The young kids today don't want to drive in to work 9 hours and then drive home. That's 11 hours a day. It's too much. Perhaps in the future they'll work 3 days in and 2 days from home.

As for taking on additional work load. Welcome to corporate America. That's what they do at for profit companies. They fired my boss and divided his job up so I now do a 1/3rd of his job and 2 other people do the other 2/3rds. And no raises came with the added work. So Government workers, please don't cry to me about this. All you are doing is telling us you live in a fantasy world that no longer exists.

Do you government workers also get pensions? I wonder if Trump's going to put an end to that.

 

[sealybobo]

Stuart Varney was discussing this with an owner of numerous restaurant on Fox Business News this morning. (The linked article was a separate news story from this morning's program.)

Expect more restaurant bankruptcies in 2025, expert says

A growing number of restaurant chains have fallen on hard times. A bankruptcy attorney expects this trend to continue, saying companies are saddled with debt.

www.foxbusiness.com

A increasing number of bankruptcies and shuttered restaurants occurred all during the Biden administration and will like continue for some time.

The primary causes:
--Debt accumulated because of COVID and inability to produce sufficient profits to pay down that debt. Thank an administration and state governors who forced restaurants to stay closed or to severely curtail operations for far long than reasonable or that constitued common sense.

--Inflation that severely cuts into profits of restaurants and has affected quality and quantity of the menus they serve just to make ends meet. Price their menus too high and people wont buy it. This is a double edge sword as the declining quality disappoints customers and customers have only so much they can afford.

--Inability to hire sufficient competent staff. Again COVID restrictions changed the culture and habits for far too many employees who were allowed to stay home and receive unemployment far longer than was advisable and they don't want to work anymore. Their work ethic was seriously compromised.

--Many people are on various diets--Keto, Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Atkins etc.--and they come in for maybe an appetizer but not a meal.

--Many restaurants have not kept up with the changing preferences of their customers.

I would add to that restaurant designs with open ceilings and no noise abatements that make it so noisy it is impossible to have a conversation with others. Especially miserable for those with hearing aids.

QUESTION: What would persuade you to start eating out more and save these failing restaurant? Is having the option to go out to eat important to you?

I just went to a big diner. They used to pack them in. I show up 11:55 and there are maybe 7 tables occupied.

They need to downsize.

My company was thinking about downsizing too. Move to a smaller building.

Why isn't rent lowering? Supply and demand. You would think the landlords would rather lower the rent than have these business' go out of business

 

[Foxfyre]

I just went to a big diner. They used to pack them in. I show up 11:55 and there are maybe 7 tables occupied.

View attachment 1085470

They need to downsize.

My company was thinking about downsizing too. Move to a smaller building.

Why isn't rent lowering? Supply and demand. You would think the landlords would rather lower the rent than have these business' go out of business

Inflation is an ugly ugly web though. The landlords have to charge enough rent to cover the costs of maintenance, repairs, upkeep, insurance, taxes etc. A new roof on our residence that was $1,800 20 years ago is $18,000+++ now. Far more expensive for a larger building.

And if they have to lower the rent so much they don't make a reasonable profit, it just isn't worth it.

 

[sealybobo]

Inflation is an ugly ugly web though. The landlords have to charge enough rent to cover the costs of maintenance, repairs, upkeep, insurance, taxes etc. A new roof on our residence that was $1,800 20 years ago is $18,000+++ now. Far more expensive for a larger building.

And if they have to lower the rent so much they don't make a reasonable profit, it just isn't worth it.

I don't want to hear it. Trump said he'd fix it. So fix it. We changed President's based on his promises.

We told you everything you are telling us now, last year. You didn't listen. Instead you voted for Trump because of this issue. So fix it. No one wants to hear your excuses.

 

[westwall]

I don't want to hear it. Trump said he'd fix it. So fix it. We changed President's based on his promises.

We told you everything you are telling us now, last year. You didn't listen. Instead you voted for Trump because of this issue. So fix it. No one wants to hear your excuses.

It takes time to fix four years of concerted inflation creation.

 

[Rawley]

We stopped going to our favorite Friday fish fry because the owner remodeled the place, and we didn't like it.

Agree 100%. A major reason for the restaurants we frequent is the ambience.

 

[Foxfyre]

I don't want to hear it. Trump said he'd fix it. So fix it. We changed President's based on his promises.

We told you everything you are telling us now, last year. You didn't listen. Instead you voted for Trump because of this issue. So fix it. No one wants to hear your excuses.

Trump has been in office for exactly 42 days. He can be forgiven for not fixing a situation created by Biden and company over the last four years. So in all due respect, if you want to accuse somebody accuse Biden or whoever was making those decisions for him.

 

[initforme]

It takes time to fix four years of concerted inflation creation.

Make it more competitive for employers to find employees. That's a start.

 

[Rawley]

I don't want to hear it. Trump said he'd fix it. So fix it. We changed President's based on his promises.

We told you everything you are telling us now, last year. You didn't listen. Instead you voted for Trump because of this issue. So fix it. No one wants to hear your excuses.

It was one of many reasons. And he is fixing it.

 

[sealybobo]

It takes time to fix four years of concerted inflation creation.

That's what we told you but you still voted for Trump. Trump said Day one. Now you say it takes time?

 

[westwall]

That's what we told you but you still voted for Trump. Trump said Day one. Now you say it takes time?

Biden was the instigator of the inflation you boob. Kameltoe was going to make it worse.

YOU might be incredibly stupid, but WE aren't.

 

[sealybobo]

Biden was the instigator of the inflation you boob. Kameltoe was going to make it worse.

YOU might be incredibly stupid, but WE aren't.

No Biden wasn't the instigator you dope. Trump was. He sent out the first stimulus checks. And he would have spent his way out of that recession too or he wouldn't have gotten out of it. Biden did everything right.

Did he go too far? I think that second stimulus check was going too far.

But the infrastructure spending was needed.

The Green jobs were needed. And most of them are in red states so I hope Trump fires all of them.

Ron and Chris Christie and Bill Maher all say you are wrong

Ron DeSantis and Chris Christie Call Out Trump for Adding to Federal Debt​

"He owes it to you to defend his record where they added $7.8 trillion to the debt that set the stage for the inflation that we have."​

The country’s current “inflationary spiral” can also be traced back to COVID-19, Maher said, describing the trillions of dollars the government issued throughout the pandemic. This, he noted, should not be pinned on President Joe Biden, but his predecessor, former President Donald Trump.

“We’re going to bring back Trump?” he asked. “The guy who ignored COVID like it was the dinner check? Talk about not learning anything.”

 

[westwall]

No Biden wasn't the instigator you dope. Trump was. He sent out the first stimulus checks. And he would have spent his way out of that recession too or he wouldn't have gotten out of it. Biden did everything right.

Did he go too far? I think that second stimulus check was going too far.

But the infrastructure spending was needed.

The Green jobs were needed. And most of them are in red states so I hope Trump fires all of them.

Ron and Chris Christie and Bill Maher all say you are wrong

Ron DeSantis and Chris Christie Call Out Trump for Adding to Federal Debt​

"He owes it to you to defend his record where they added $7.8 trillion to the debt that set the stage for the inflation that we have."​

The country’s current “inflationary spiral” can also be traced back to COVID-19, Maher said, describing the trillions of dollars the government issued throughout the pandemic. This, he noted, should not be pinned on President Joe Biden, but his predecessor, former President Donald Trump.

“We’re going to bring back Trump?” he asked. “The guy who ignored COVID like it was the dinner check? Talk about not learning anything.”

You're so full of shit. Every policy that Biden did increased inflation. When Trump left it was 1.7%. After a few months Biden was able to ramp it up to 9%.

Your lies are fucking pathetic. No wonder your brother is so much richer than you. He isn't stupid.

 

[S.S.]

Their trade group could have a new campaign. Something like More Root Beer Floats to Stay Afloat.

 

[JohnDB]

My brother and I were wise to shoot 4 deer this year. Our freezers are full.

I'm torn on everything you are saying. For one, because I know a lot of people sat at home and got paid for doing NOTHING the last few years. I work with one guy like this. Now he's pissed he has to come back to the office.

And I'm pissed because I was getting my job done from home. I'll admit I took naps, watched tv when times were slow but pretty much I got my job done.

The young kids today don't want to drive in to work 9 hours and then drive home. That's 11 hours a day. It's too much. Perhaps in the future they'll work 3 days in and 2 days from home.

As for taking on additional work load. Welcome to corporate America. That's what they do at for profit companies. They fired my boss and divided his job up so I now do a 1/3rd of his job and 2 other people do the other 2/3rds. And no raises came with the added work. So Government workers, please don't cry to me about this. All you are doing is telling us you live in a fantasy world that no longer exists.

Do you government workers also get pensions? I wonder if Trump's going to put an end to that.

When my mother was alive she worked for the forestry service....completely different pension program from SS. She didn't have to pay SS either. But when she retired she got SS. (She had cashed out her govt pension)

Biden & company tried to cook books and stimulate the economy by just adding federal workforce....it really doesn't work....but they tried. Now we got to clean up the mess by chainsawing the budget and getting painfully efficient quickly.

I get that Trump wants to stimulate the economy with AI investments and micro chips....lithium batteries too. That's some nasty stuff right there. Silicon purification is NOT a clean process and uses some very very caustic chemicals. It might work....dunno. there's a reason why chips are made in Taiwan....they have the workforce and seasoned talent.

We need cheap groceries and energy....those two right there are killing us. Neither is cheap.
And farm raised venison...https://www.firstlight.farm/us/product-category/venison/

Pricy stuff. $140 for the back strap alone.

 

[sealybobo]

When my mother was alive she worked for the forestry service....completely different pension program from SS. She didn't have to pay SS either. But when she retired she got SS. (She had cashed out her govt pension)

Biden & company tried to cook books and stimulate the economy by just adding federal workforce....it really doesn't work....but they tried. Now we got to clean up the mess by chainsawing the budget and getting painfully efficient quickly.

I get that Trump wants to stimulate the economy with AI investments and micro chips....lithium batteries too. That's some nasty stuff right there. Silicon purification is NOT a clean process and uses some very very caustic chemicals. It might work....dunno. there's a reason why chips are made in Taiwan....they have the workforce and seasoned talent.

We need cheap groceries and energy....those two right there are killing us. Neither is cheap.
And farm raised venison...https://www.firstlight.farm/us/product-category/venison/

Pricy stuff. $140 for the back strap alone.

Reagan did the same thing. He grew government and spent his way out of recession.

We are being scammed my friend. We are getting robbed and you think the robbers are saving you money. By the time you wake up it'll be too late.

Trump Preparing Potentially Biggest Giveaway To Superrich Since Robber Baron Days​

His cryptocurrency “reserve” scheme could spend billions of taxpayer dollars to boost the holdings of the "crypto bros” who spent millions getting him elected.

Donald Trump is embarking on what could be the biggest giveaway to some of the country’s richest since the nation’s “robber baron” days by having the federal government acquire and hold cryptocurrencies, which critics, including many economists, describe as a “greater fool” scam.

Holtz-Eakin was among economists from across the political spectrum who said they could not understand why the United States should even want a “reserve” of something like cryptocurrency.
Stephanie Kelton, a professor at Stony Brook University and a proponent of modern monetary theory, quoted Republican writer David Frum: “‘They’re libertarians who want a U.S. Treasury bailout for their fake money.’ It makes no sense otherwise.”

“Bitcoin, it just seems like a scam,” Trump said in June 2021. “I don’t like it because it’s another currency competing against the dollar.”
That view, though, changed after Trump met with crypto investors and started receiving large contributions from them to his super PACs

Trump and his family joined in to profit off it all personally. He and his sons launched the crypto brokerage World Liberty Financial last September, and just days before taking office, Trump issued a digital “coin” from which he and his partners have already earned nearly $100 million in fees.
If the “crypto reserve” ends up with tens or hundreds of billions of dollars, the financial benefit to some of the country’s wealthiest would be unmatched in U.S. history in a century and a half, since the time the government gave land to the robber barons for the purpose of building railways and drilling for oil in the 1800s.

 

[JohnDB]

Reagan did the same thing. He grew government and spent his way out of recession.

We are being scammed my friend. We are getting robbed and you think the robbers are saving you money. By the time you wake up it'll be too late.

Trump Preparing Potentially Biggest Giveaway To Superrich Since Robber Baron Days​

His cryptocurrency “reserve” scheme could spend billions of taxpayer dollars to boost the holdings of the "crypto bros” who spent millions getting him elected.

Donald Trump is embarking on what could be the biggest giveaway to some of the country’s richest since the nation’s “robber baron” days by having the federal government acquire and hold cryptocurrencies, which critics, including many economists, describe as a “greater fool” scam.

Holtz-Eakin was among economists from across the political spectrum who said they could not understand why the United States should even want a “reserve” of something like cryptocurrency.
Stephanie Kelton, a professor at Stony Brook University and a proponent of modern monetary theory, quoted Republican writer David Frum: “‘They’re libertarians who want a U.S. Treasury bailout for their fake money.’ It makes no sense otherwise.”

“Bitcoin, it just seems like a scam,” Trump said in June 2021. “I don’t like it because it’s another currency competing against the dollar.”
That view, though, changed after Trump met with crypto investors and started receiving large contributions from them to his super PACs

Trump and his family joined in to profit off it all personally. He and his sons launched the crypto brokerage World Liberty Financial last September, and just days before taking office, Trump issued a digital “coin” from which he and his partners have already earned nearly $100 million in fees.
If the “crypto reserve” ends up with tens or hundreds of billions of dollars, the financial benefit to some of the country’s wealthiest would be unmatched in U.S. history in a century and a half, since the time the government gave land to the robber barons for the purpose of building railways and drilling for oil in the 1800s.

Well,
If he makes bitcoin a reserve currency and legal tender....
That balloons the money supply instantly....I'm of course not a fan of this idea for several reasons. The biggest being quantum computing can solve blockchain encryption in 5 minutes....possibly creating counterfeit money. The wallets are also vulnerable.
Also....it legitimizes all the criminals money supply they got by sex slaves, drug money, extortion and etc.

 

[sealybobo]

Well,
If he makes bitcoin a reserve currency and legal tender....
That balloons the money supply instantly....I'm of course not a fan of this idea for several reasons. The biggest being quantum computing can solve blockchain encryption in 5 minutes....possibly creating counterfeit money. The wallets are also vulnerable.
Also....it legitimizes all the criminals money supply they got by sex slaves, drug money, extortion and etc.

Millions of reasons this is bad.