the homogenization of the US by these chain companies is disgusting. they show up like parasites to any town once they reach some arbitrary population density and suck up business that should be going to locally owned operations. completely destroys the culture. 90% of american towns are just a strip of gas stations and the same fast food chains
hyper local chains are still kinda cool though. shit that only exists around cities and their burbs. still has local flavor and culture, so they get a pass thus the 100 mile radius limit.
That's one thing that's always stuck out to me about the USA. It's like, everywhere else in the world you ask someone who's from there about what's good to eat and they'll be like 'Oh you have to try chilaquiles' or 'Shengjianbao are a must' but you ask a USAian and they're like 'Yeah Chick-fil-A is dope'.
Idk if this is the case. Maybe in the more and suburban areas, but regional cuisines still exist, especially where there is a healthy population of non-Anglo descended people. Louisiana comes to mind, not to mention native American cuisines as examples.
I don't really have this problem in my town. Sure there's way too many shit fast-food joints, but there's also alot of decent restraunts and I have some favorites
The small cities ~50k populous can have nice stuff. The towns are completely overrun by the chain stores
It should be state based. I want to see South McDonalds and New Burger King. The only restaurants are those, and everything is themed accordingly from road signs to cars. Everyone who lives there has to adopt a name of a mascot or reference to the product. Many Americans will become a roaming people as they must leave the state to eat different food. Places where multiple states intersect is where the new fast food metropolises will rise.
But, yeah, I agree. It is very sad to see so many places look the exact same. So many resources to make the most bland things possible
One million Americans walking in a circle around the Holy Pizza Hut/Taco Bell like it's the Kaaba
This is why In-N-Out maintains a level of quality, they have certain beef sources they like to use and if they cant transport it there within a certain amount of hours they wont have an In-N-Out there.
I perpose an exemption, the 100 mile limit doesn't apply to chains that have less than 50ish locations.
and suck up business that should be going to locally owned operations.
Most of the time when it comes to local restaurants (at least in rural southern ohio), a lot of them either sucks, more expensive on average compared to chains (always a given regardless of quality), or have other issues (they do wage theft). Infact there was a local place that closed down recently, and I was told that they supposedly had the issue of not paying their employees at times.
Also more often than not the local places out here are either pizza places, bar and grills, "diners", or mexican (tex-mex) restaurants.
I'm not romanticizing small business owners, I'm lamenting how boring this country is
Feel like they would just all concentrate on NYC or LA once they could at that point.
It's the Mall of America but every shop is a McDonald's with a slightly different menu.
Every other floor has a special self serve kiosk where you can order the food with E Coli
I aspire to see the 12 story New York restaurant tower
https://images.huffingtonpost.com/2011-11-09-mcsparenesness0909.jpg