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The Masked Blogger has been very interested in watching the online conversation about the need for more restaurants in town.   It’s pretty apparent that many hold up Applebee’s as the Holy Grail in terms of the “perfect addition” to Hastings’ dining scene.

So why don’t we have more national chain restaurants here?  Some have said it’s all about the money.  And they’re right.  But not in the way they may have imagined.

A few weeks ago, a franchise fair was held in Omaha.  And The Masked Blogger has been able to obtain a copy of the Franchise Opportunities Guide that was distributed at that event.  This interesting book outlines the price of admission for an entrepreneur who wants to play in the arena of national franchise restaurants.  According to the guide, here are the start-up cash requirements to obtain a franchise for these name brand restaurants:

TGI Friday’s:  $2.5 to $6 million

Applebee’s: $1.7 to $3.1 million

Perkins: $1.2 to $2.6 million

Buffalo Wild Wings: $300,000 to $500,000

Denny’s: $80,000 to $150,000

Outback: $500,000

Keep in mind: These numbers are just for start-up cash.  They don’t include the expected total investment (for land, a building, equipment, etc.), or the cash flow financing required to keep the restaurant running.  Then you need to find someone to manage the place.  And employees to cook and serve the food.

And there’s more: These national franchisors aren’t going to be interested in establishing a location in an area that doesn’t have the population base or retail traffic needed to ensure a high probability of success.   If the restaurant fails, it’s bad for their brand.

There are many instances in which a franchisee will purchase the right for an entire state or region, which means they may actually own the right to open a restaurant in Hastings.  They just choose not to—or haven’t gotten around to it.

Here’s an idea:  Wouldn’t we be better off to find ways to nurture homegrown businesses—and position Hastings as a community where you can find places to eat that you can find nowhere else?

Be honest with yourself: How long has it been since you ate at Sgetti’s, Taylor’s, The Courtyard, Bernardo’s, Bullseye, The Barrel Bar, The Garden Café, The Back Rib, The Goldenrod Café, Hunan, The OK Café, Imperial Garden, Murphy’s or the other home-owned restaurants here in town?   (If you have ideas on menu items you’d like to see them add, let them know.  They’ll listen…they want you coming back!)

In TMB’s opinion, Applebee’s is not much more than a high-priced McDonald’s with a liquor license.   No matter which city you visit, the menu and the décor are predictable.  Oh, they try to look “local” by hanging letter jackets from area high schools on the wall—but after a while, you get tired of paying $30 for dinner for two.  Especially for food that, by design, does not dare to be different.

This is not like Spanky and Alfalfa trying to solve a problem by putting on a show for the neighborhood along with the other Young Rascals.   Bringing a national franchise restaurant to Hastings takes money.  Real money.  And until someone steps up with the cash, it just ain’t gonna happen.

So maybe we should be looking at strategies that help enthusiastic local entrepreneurs get started with restaurants that offer the “Applebee’s experience” (or better, one would hope!)—without the huge investment required just to have a familiar sign on the door.  That seems to make more sense than waiting for Applebee’s to ride in on their white horse and “rescue” all of us with their version of cookie-cutter cuisine.

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About the author: The Masked Blogger

The Masked Blogger is a renegade writer who will occasionally weigh in with provocative comment, off-the-wall editorials and obtuse opinion.