What defines a chain?
 

A coworker and I went out for a drink after work tonight. We went to a restaurant that I've always thought of as a link in a chain. The restaurant is promoting a message that is anti-chain. The mention of my confusion to the bartender lead to a slightly heated conversation. I know I can trust this forum to help clarify what defines a chain when it comes to restaurants. Thank you.

To me a chain anything means consistancy of products and/or services in similar looking facilities across multiple locations.

A common ownership of locations with different menus, specialties, decor themes constitutes a restaurant "group".

Don't ask me what a "pod" is. ;)

Were you arguing with Roger Berkowitz of Legal Seafoods or a TBones employee?
Berkowitz says you can call him stupid, an ego maniac, or even an a-hole, just don't call me a chain!

http://youtu.be/CTZ1zRDxIEk

Legal Seafoods goes out of their way to say their nearly 3 dozen restaurants do not equate to a 'chain'.
From the link below, New York City considers any restaurant with more than 15 locations nationwide a chain, and requires qualifying businesses to list calorie counts on their menus. For New York, then, it’s all about a number.
One restaurant group has suggested that a chain is any eatery with 10 locations, or one that crosses state borders. Others argue that it’s a matter of whether or not the company is franchising.
I think, in the end, it all comes down to what the customer thinks.


http://www.boston.com/business/news/...f4J/story.html

Great answer! This is why I love the forum:-)

I find it interesting how Legal Seafood does not want to be referred to as a chain. Personally if I were successful enough to build three dozen locations I'd proudly claim responsibility for a chain.

I couldn't agree with you more in regards to the customer's interpretation and in the end the customer's always right.

Would you consider the common man a chain. Certainly more than 15 locations but all different . I would not call them a chain but legal I would

I would call Common Man or Scott O's Magic Foods a group.

I agree with the above, if you go in one and you've seen them all, they are a chain. The 99, Chili's, Friday's, Mortons, are chains.

I didn't realize Legal had that many locations!

This is where I distinguish the two. Franchising makes it a chain.

As others have mentioned, restaurants such as the Common Man are groups. The Common Man for example has many locations, some the same and some different concepts. A "chain" like Red Lobster has the same look, feel and menu.

To me a "chain" would be 4 or more locations that all have the same look/feel, and most importantly the same menu.

Most restaurants that I think of as "chains" also have sub-par food, and the focus is more on the business than the food. The isn't necessarily a bad thing, there is a value in being able to go to a Macaroni Grill in Phoenix and know that while it won't be the best meal of your life, it will at least be to your expectations.

Some chains in the lakes region:
Friendly's
99
Applebees

IMO, TJ's is a multi-store operation. Not a chain, and not a group.

O's and Common Man are group or "family" stores.

A chain would be 2 or more physical locations that are offering the same products/services under one brand name. While commonly applied toward mega nationwide brands, it can easily be applied toward any small local business.

I once owned 4 sporting good stores in MA & NH. In theory it was a chain. They all offered the same products and services and were in strategic locations based on our customers needs.