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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

McDonald's franchise strife deserves barely a Grimace compared with Quiznos' past

 By Peter Romeo on Apr. 25, 2023

Restaurant Rewind: A fight over supply prices set what's still the low point in franchisor-franchisee relations. It could be a Harvard Business study of what a brand owner should never do.

Emerging Brands

Remembering the restaurant boom that fooled investors 20 years ago

By Peter Romeo on Apr. 11, 2023

Restaurant Rewind: Meal assembly concepts were going to be big. But their implosion was what made the loudest noise.

Operations

How the restaurant napkin came to be

By Peter Romeo on Apr. 04, 2023

Restaurant Rewind: There's more to the origin of that standard amenity than guest and operator may have ever imagined.

Food

Remembering the great product bombs of the past

By Peter Romeo on Mar. 28, 2023

Restaurant Rewind: With Starbucks promising yet another breakthrough menu introduction, the time is right to see how past promised game-changers actually fared.

Operations

What's so special about In-N-Out?

By Peter Romeo on Mar. 21, 2023

Restaurant Rewind: The uninitiated will be asking themselves that very question when the brand hits the East Coast. Here’s a look at the quirks that have helped make the chain a cult favorite.

Leadership

Remembering Jerry Richardson, the football star who built Hardee's

By Peter Romeo on Mar. 14, 2023

Restaurant Rewind: The man knew biscuits and burgers as well as he knew the route to the Super Bowl.

Operations

Which restaurant brand really invented the drive-thru? Here are some clues.

By Peter Romeo on Mar. 07, 2023

Restaurant Rewind: It's a mystery with no fewer than five claimants to the title of innovator.

Operations

Think to-go-only restaurants are a new thing? You're off by 70 years

By Restaurant Business Staff on Feb. 28, 2023

Restaurant Rewind: The notion of forgoing dining areas to rely on delivery and takeout has been around since at least the Eisenhower administration. Here are two cases in point.

Marketing

Restaurant marketing is time-warping back to the future

By Restaurant Business Staff on Feb. 21, 2023

Restaurant Rewind: Old is new again as chains ranging from Outback to Wendy’s resurrect classic ad themes for another go. So where’s the beef in these new efforts?

Operations

Will Chipotle's new concept be the one that gets traction?

By Restaurant Business Staff on Feb. 14, 2023

Restaurant Rewind: Earlier diversification attempts have been short-lived. Here’s what went wrong in those efforts.

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