Restaurant Rewind

`Those who don’t know their history are destined to relive it', to riff on the words of a famed philosopher. For anyone in the restaurant business, that oft-quoted saying may be more of a heartening promise than a dire admonition. The industry’s past is packed with tales of scoundrels and heroes, big thinkers and pinheads, colossal successes and dismal failures, breakthrough moves and self-inflicted destruction. Few soap operas pack as much color and drama. Yet those yellowed snapshots provide insights relevant to the challenges of today. Join Peter Romeo, a 41-year veteran of the business with a penchant for restaurant history, as he explores those pivotal moments from the past. 

Operations

Deciding how much of a price hike customers will tolerate is nothing new

Restaurant Rewind: Determining when patrons will balk at an increase is older than forks. Here are some of those past telling instances.

Leadership

How company planes have brought down restaurant CEOs

Restaurant Rewind: Allegations of personal use have grounded more than a few high flyers.

The dining counters of the budget-priced retailer were a stage for history and the introduction of dining out for many.

Restaurant Rewind: Hardee's well-timed tweet last week echoes two of the restaurant industry's greatest marketing moments.

Restaurant Rewind: Here's the little-remembered saga of the casual-dining pioneer that gave us fried ice cream.

How Pizza Hut landed an unlikely pitchman, the late Mikhail Gorbachev.

Restaurant Rewind: Ernie Royal was a quiet pioneer in changing racial attitudes. Here's why he should never be forgotten.

Restaurant Rewind: The onetime marketing superstars have lost the spotlight to food, guests and less-controversial employees. The spokesfigures' past may explain why.

Restaurant Rewind: Draws like pumpkin spice latte and the McRib weren't always the surefire hits they've become.

Restaurant Rewind: Here's how a mothballed Burger King was hidden for 13 years.

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