How Did Long John Silver's Fail...What Happened?
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- čas přidán 11. 01. 2024
- The first restaurant opened on August 18, 1969, in Lexington, Kentucky. The original location, on 301 Southland Drive, was previously the Cape Codder seafood carry-out restaurant. The original Cape Codder concrete block building was redesigned by architect Druce Henn, who created the New England style of Long John Silver's early chain restaurants. That original location is now a styling salon. After a trip to a less-landlocked state with his family, businessman and restaurateur Jim Patterson had a flash of inspiration: To Bring the sunny seaside fish and chips eating experience to families nationwide, for everyone to enjoy.
Its parent company, Jerrico was taken private in 1989 through a highly leveraged management buyout, and one year later, any other restaurant concepts under their umbrella was cancelled and the company focused solely on Long John Silver's.
Fast forward to the late 1990s and beyond, the chain was in trouble with profits that failed to impress. Most outposts of the restaurant occupied dingy highway rest areas and partially abandoned strip malls in the least desirable neighborhoods, with lawsuits, the threat of bankruptcy, a questionable rebranding effort, and rapidly closing franchise locations, all spelled big problems for the company.
After struggling for the next several years under its heavy debt load, Jerrico Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June 1998. In September 1999, A&W announced to acquire the chain out of bankruptcy. As a result, Yorkshire Global Restaurants was formed. In 2000, Yorkshire Global Restaurants agreed to test multi-branded locations with Louisville, Kentucky-based Tricon Global, owner of the KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell chains. The parent company of Long John Silver's and A&W, Yorkshire was acquired by Tricon Global and Tricon was renamed Yum! Brands, Inc in May 2002. By January 2011, Yum! announced it was seeking a buyer for its Long John Silver's and A&W All-American Restaurants divisions, citing poor sales and a desire to shift its focus to international expansion. In September 2011, Yum! announced the impending sale of Long John Silver's to LJS Partners - a group consisting of franchisees and other private investors.
In March 2015, James O'Reilly, who had previously worked for KFC (another Yum! Brands holding), was appointed as the CEO. On May 22, 2018, Long John Silver's announced the acquisition of 76 franchised restaurants, primarily owned and renovated by ServUS, located primarily in Indiana. As of 2023 the restaurant chain currently operates 568 locations, but it's still rough sailing for this battered ship. The company continues to close restaurants, and reviews of its existing locations have been less than stellar. In 2017, Business Insider visited a location in Staunton, Virginia to get a firsthand look at the company's turnaround. It's kind of difficult to get excited about checking out a restaurant when the review includes phrases like "grubby and claustrophobic" and "borderline palatable."
So what’s next for Long John Silvers? Long John Silver’s is also trying to make waves in the states with big plans for its future. New markets, new builds, and complete overhauls of existing locations are all on deck for the brand. Additionally, Long John Silver’s is expanding its food truck footprint by adding nautical-themed food trucks to its fleet. Their desire is to bring their brand of seafood from the sea to the streets. I don’t know how viable their business is for this generation. For one food trucks typically offer unique or in demand foods. No one is demanding Long John Silvers. . Nowadays I just don’t see the younger generation craving their food as they do chick-fil-a and McDonald’s. In Most cases when I see a Long John Silvers, its maybe 3 to 4 people there. Also, they’ve lost a lot of their growth. To go from a peak of 1500 stores to only 568 to me says people are not really interested in their food. I don’t know about you all, but anytime my friends suggest dinner no one mentions Long John Silver’s ever. It seems like the only customers they have, are those from the 80s that want a bit of nostalgia. They never go viral for any new food products like Popeyes or chick fil a. Their lack of innovation to keep up with the times has really affected their brand relevancy. - Zábava
As far as I'm aware, there's still one LJS left in Cedar Rapids, IA. Apparently, there was a fire there just last month. Online, it's listed as temp closed seemingly for the dining area only. We used to have a 2nd one. That one closed in 2014.
Def a nostalgia thing for me. It was one of those once in a while treats having LJS as a kid. I think the last I was there was in 2018. Still seemed the same. And I view it the same. It's nice every once in a while. Especially, the hushpuppies.
I prefer Captain D's if I still wanted that type of food. I appreciate the support :-) Please subscribe.
long john silvers would be great if they added more trendy fish options, like lobster rolls, shrimp and rice , and less fried food options.
I think its to late for them at this point. Unless they can go viral for an item like the Popeyes chicken sandwich did they will keep declining. I appreciate the support :-) Please subscribe.
Underrated channel! Subbed
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We still have a LJS here in Gassaway West Virginia.
Do you eat there? & Please subscribe if you have not.
They ruined themselves with the major rebrand/remodel of the mid 1990s stripping down all unique personality design.
The only long John silvers I know is attatched to a Taco Bell, no one eats there and I'd be surprised if anyone did
That's a weird combination restaurant Taco Bell & LJS? 🤔 I appreciate the support :-) Please subscribe.
Bro you are trippin! LJS is delicious.
Lol if I had to eat stuff like that I would choose Captain D's. LJS is a no go for me. When I was younger I my mother took me there for lunch. I remember biting into the so called "fish" and there was no meat inside all that bater it was nothing but fried bater in the shape of a fish I almost threw up. 😒