Best Chain Businesses That Don't Have A Cult Following

[CoreySamson]

We have all seen the massive hype and hysteria that comes with certain charismatic business chains (In-N-Out, Buc-ee's, Wawa, Chick-Fil-A, etc.). When they open a new store, people flock from hundreds of miles out to try them. Other people follow them fanatically as if they were a cult. While these chains are usually pretty good, oftentimes they don't live up to the massive hype. But in this thread, I'm interested in the best chains that do not seem to succumb to this hyped-up cult following.

I feel the quintessential example in my experience is QuikTrip. They always seem to be clean, modern, hassle-free, and never too busy. They also offer amenities that I don't often see at other gas stations. I have never had a bad experience at one. Yet I've never seen anyone develop any sort of cult following for QuikTrip. It's gotten to the point where if I have the option between QuikTrip and Buc-ee's on a trip, I will take QuikTrip every time simply so I don't have to deal with the hordes of customers at Buc-ee's.

What are your favorite chains that don't really have a cult following?

[Max Rockatansky]

Publix because of the deli food options.  While everyone was going nuts over hoagies at Wawa on Semoran (when I living in Orlando) I just got my sandwiches at Publix.

[hotdogPi]

Market Basket (the MA/NH one)
Chili's
Uno Chicago Grill (edited in after initial post)
AAA
Santander Bank

I can't give any pharmacies or internet/phone providers "best" status, unfortunately.

[Rothman]

Publix because of the deli food options.  While everyone was going nuts over hoagies at Wawa on Semoran (when I living in Orlando) I just got my sandwiches at Publix.

Publix has a following, thanks to the TikTok Florida guy (omgwicks or whatever his name is).

[Rothman]

Market Basket (the MA/NH one)
Chili's
AAA
Santander Bank

I can't give any pharmacies or internet/phone providers "best" status, unfortunately.

Market Basket has a following.

[hbelkins]

Arby's
Long John Silver's
Lee's Famous Recipe

[CoreySamson]

Long John Silver's

Interesting take. From what I've heard, Long John Silvers has a cult dissing, at least where I've lived. Then again, I have never eaten there, so I can't really say anything about their quality.

[Max Rockatansky]

Publix because of the deli food options.  While everyone was going nuts over hoagies at Wawa on Semoran (when I living in Orlando) I just got my sandwiches at Publix.

Publix has a following, thanks to the TikTok Florida guy (omgwicks or whatever his name is).

For real?  That's a shame because it was nice while it was just a normal day to day thing circa 2013-2016 before things like TikTok existed.

[freebrickproductions]

It's a tiny chain but Cheeseburger Bobby's seems to be one of those. Easily my favorite burger.

[Scott5114]

I feel the quintessential example in my experience is QuikTrip. They always seem to be clean, modern, hassle-free, and never too busy. They also offer amenities that I don't often see at other gas stations. I have never had a bad experience at one. Yet I've never seen anyone develop any sort of cult following for QuikTrip. It's gotten to the point where if I have the option between QuikTrip and Buc-ee's on a trip, I will take QuikTrip every time simply so I don't have to deal with the hordes of customers at Buc-ee's.

There's a pretty big cult following for QuikTrip, actually. They even have a name for themselves, they call themselves "Tulsans".

[formulanone]

Publix because of the deli food options.  While everyone was going nuts over hoagies at Wawa on Semoran (when I living in Orlando) I just got my sandwiches at Publix.

Publix has a following, thanks to the TikTok Florida guy (omgwicks or whatever his name is).

For real?  That's a shame because it was nice while it was just a normal day to day thing circa 2013-2016 before things like TikTok existed.

For a continuously-successful grocery chain that's now 93 years old, I seriously doubt there's a major change because some internet rando posts a few videos about it.

If we start seeing Beaver Store-like lines because people travelled multiple states away only to get to the nearest Publix, I'll be damned.

[Max Rockatansky]

Publix because of the deli food options.  While everyone was going nuts over hoagies at Wawa on Semoran (when I living in Orlando) I just got my sandwiches at Publix.

Publix has a following, thanks to the TikTok Florida guy (omgwicks or whatever his name is).

For real?  That's a shame because it was nice while it was just a normal day to day thing circa 2013-2016 before things like TikTok existed.

For a continuously-successful grocery chain that's now 93 years old, I seriously doubt there's a major change because some internet rando posts a few videos about it.

If we start seeing Beaver Store-like lines because people travelled multiple states away only to get to the nearest Publix, I'll be damned.

The giveaway will be if you start hearing people in line at Publix complaining about gas prices in Needles, California.

[kphoger]

I feel the quintessential example in my experience is QuikTrip. They always seem to be clean, modern, hassle-free, and never too busy. They also offer amenities that I don't often see at other gas stations. I have never had a bad experience at one. Yet I've never seen anyone develop any sort of cult following for QuikTrip. It's gotten to the point where if I have the option between QuikTrip and Buc-ee's on a trip, I will take QuikTrip every time simply so I don't have to deal with the hordes of customers at Buc-ee's.

There's a pretty big cult following for QuikTrip, actually. They even have a name for themselves, they call themselves "Tulsans".

I consider QuikTrip to be not just a cult here, but the Wichita city religion.  Folks would sooner switch churches than switch away from QuikTrip.  If two people want to meet up in a parking lot for whatever reason, and there are four gas stations near the convenient intersection, then it's guaranteed they'll choose the QuikTrip:  they won't even consider the Kwik Shop or the Phillips 66 or whatever, because that's just not where people meet up.

[kphoger]

Qdoba

[TheHighwayMan3561]

I feel like the answers will be places that aren't worth spending your money at anyway. Some things are too big to be culty, like McDonald's other than the occasional weirdos who eat Big Macs 3 meals a day.

[bing101]

WinCo foods is another one it's a regional supermarket chain on the west coast.

[-- US 175 --]

WinCo foods is another one it's a regional supermarket chain on the west coast.

They also have a few stores in the DFW-north TX area.  They very quickly carved out a percent or 2's worth of market share when they first located in the area.  It has been a while, though, since they've added any new WinCo stores in the area.  Now with H-E-B making a bigger push into north TX, IDK whether chains like WinCo will want to make further outlays of new stores there.

[Pink Jazz]

I would say Buca di Beppo. I love their chicken parmigiana.

[Takumi]

I want to say Target.

[hbelkins]

Does Wegman's have a cult following or not? Seems to me that they did once upon a time, but I haven't seen a mention of them here or on Facebook in years.

I've never set foot in a Wegman's.

[1995hoo]

Does Wegman's have a cult following or not? Seems to me that they did once upon a time, but I haven't seen a mention of them here or on Facebook in years.

I've never set foot in a Wegman's.

The lines and traffic jams that occur when a new Wegmans* opens suggests some level of cult following. I remember when the one just west of Fairfax City opened it was even mentioned on the WTOP traffic reports (though they avoided using the store's name, I guess because they don't advertise on that station—the traffic reports said "a new business opening along Monument Drive"). Insofar as I know, they don't offer any insane giveaways like Chick-Fil-A does, so I don't quite understand why people are so eager to hit the new store.

*They do indeed omit the apostrophe.

[thspfc]

Qdoba

Seconded.

Panera Bread, Noodles

[Rothman]

Does Wegman's have a cult following or not? Seems to me that they did once upon a time, but I haven't seen a mention of them here or on Facebook in years.

I've never set foot in a Wegman's.

Yes.

[kphoger]

Qdoba

Seconded.

Panera Bread, Noodles

And I second yours.   

[JayhawkCO]

Panera is the fast food version of hospital food.