Best resturants to have in service plazas?

[skluth]

I've noticed Monday has become a large plurality of restaurants taking a day off, because they started to realize Sunday is often a big money day with church families and general activity of people not working.

Never look for a pizza or a haircut on a Monday.  It's a tradition that most Italian restaurants and barber shops are closed on Mondays.

Barber shops and especially beauty salons being traditionally closed on Monday is why large cities all have big drag shows on Sunday night. Those drag queens need all the beauty sleep they can get and a surprising number of them style hair for their day jobs. To keep this on topic, I would expect any barber or beauty shop in a service plaza to buck tradition and be open on Mondays.

[kphoger]

As it so happens, my mom is the director of housekeeping for a 24-hour casino, so I've learned all of the little tricks to keeping a 24-hour facility clean. While it's more effort than would be required if the facility closed, it's really not all that much more, and actually is kind of similar to how road work is done. Basically, what you do is wait until customer volumes are at their lowest, then cone off about half of the customer-facing area, making sure to leave things there are only one of open as long as possible (last area to be closed and first area to be re-opened). You want to make sure that the area remaining open is big enough to hold all of the customers that come in while you have the area closed. While the area is closed, you give it a really good deep clean, deeper than you could get with customers around. Once that's done, reopen that area and cone off the part you didn't get before, and repeat.

I was thinking more of the possibility that the contracted cleaning service might have to have an overnight shift they otherwise wouldn't.

I think in most places where the restaurants are closed overnight, the building is still open with access to bathrooms and either a small convenience store or vending machines.

That was my assumption as well.  Even though I used to deliver cleaning supplies to a rest area in Illinois, I don't how they run their overnight cleaning operations–whether they simply don't work overnight, or if they leave one person there, or what.

[abefroman329]

On the latter, I stood in line for more than 1½ hours as it extended out the front door and doubled back on itself multiple times in the parking lot, while people came by to hand out bottles of water while we waited;  I had to park across the street, and there were police officers directing pedestrian traffic at the intersection.  "Appreciation Day" saw record-setting sales for CFA, and it would never have happened without the "Kiss In" having been called for to begin with.

Which is exactly why I'm not interested in any #NotAllChristians arguments now. 

Well, that and the fact that a vast majority of Christians are currently blindly worshiping what is basically a human golden calf.

[GCrites]

Came here for service plaza discussion, not the tired 10+ year old CFA debate that everyone's already made their decision about.

It hasn't really been that long since turnpikes had fast food as the primary choice. Even into the '90s sit-down ruled. If sit-down still ruled, who would you think out of today's chains would be most well-suited? Most sit-down chains are now dependent on alcohol sales for profitability. A few that come to mind are Big Boy, Denny's and Waffle House.

[Takumi]

I've noticed Monday has become a large plurality of restaurants taking a day off, because they started to realize Sunday is often a big money day with church families and general activity of people not working.

Never look for a pizza or a haircut on a Monday.  It's a tradition that most Italian restaurants and barber shops are closed on Mondays.

Barber shops and especially beauty salons being traditionally closed on Monday is why large cities all have big drag shows on Sunday night. Those drag queens need all the beauty sleep they can get and a surprising number of them style hair for their day jobs. To keep this on topic, I would expect any barber or beauty shop in a service plaza to buck tradition and be open on Mondays.

Barbecue restaurants also used to traditionally be closed on Mondays, though some newer ones are open 7 days a week.

[interstatefan990]

Definitely Auntie Anne's if you're looking for sweets. I always make sure to stop by whenever I take road trips using the Massachusetts Turnpike.

[DenverBrian]

Came here for service plaza discussion, not the tired 10+ year old CFA debate that everyone's already made their decision about.

It hasn't really been that long since turnpikes had fast food as the primary choice. Even into the '90s sit-down ruled. If sit-down still ruled, who would you think out of today's chains would be most well-suited? Most sit-down chains are now dependent on alcohol sales for profitability. A few that come to mind are Big Boy, Denny's and Waffle House.

Add IHOP to that list. Regionally, I'd add Village Inn, Shari's, Carrows (if any are left).

[HighwayStar]

Are CFA locations all corporately owned, or are they franchised?

Someone upthread made a comment about McDonald's not being clean. McDonald's is heavily franchised, and a lot of it is based on how much emphasis the franchisee places on certain things. One of the regional franchise holders in my area puts a high premium on keeping their restaurants neat and tidy. Another, not so much. It's easy to know when you're not in that particular owner's stores, as some of them aren't kept nearly as clean.

I don't belong to Amazon Prime for the same reason I haven't joined Walmart+ -- it costs money. You have to pay extra for the privilege of being able to spend money. The only benefits I've seen to memberships like that is free expedited shipping. I'm not sure if Prime Day offers significant price reductions or not, but I don't feel like ponying up $129 or whatever it costs a year, and I may or may not save that much in shipping costs in any year to make it cost-effective.

I also haven't been a member of Sam's Club in ages. I no longer travel to or through Lexington frequently enough to make it worth my while to buy bulk quantities at discounts.

Back to the "open on Sundays" thing -- CFA got its start as a mall food court place, and they were closed on Sundays in malls as well while other restaurants were open. If there are other food choices, I don't know why they wouldn't be appropriate for service plazas or airports.

Most of the "blue sign" programs require participating restaurants to operate during certain hours. I wonder if some sort of exception has been carved out for CFA? Often, you'll see their logo on the signs with a "closed Sundays' notation.

Agreed on McDonald's, like any franchise there is a wide gap from one to the next. Location matters a lot too, the ones in the inner city are frequently filthy, while the better suburban and rural locations can be not only clean, but very well kept and serviced to the point of being a popular spot to meet.

Re Prime & Walmart +. These are two part tariff systems, a classic form of price discrimination. It does not matter if you subscribe or not, either way you have sorted yourself into the price discrimination tiers they were aiming for. The only way out is to not shop there.

As for hours, especially in a food court setting being open 24/7 is not necessary or practical. I think for rest areas having one location open 24/7 should suffice. And I am fine with anyone closing on Sunday that sees fit to do so.

Blue signs seem like a good expansion/revenue opportunity. I usually only see 1 or 2 with food on them, but why not make it 4 or 5 and auction them to generate road revenue?

[HighwayStar]

Came here for service plaza discussion, not the tired 10+ year old CFA debate that everyone's already made their decision about.

It hasn't really been that long since turnpikes had fast food as the primary choice. Even into the '90s sit-down ruled. If sit-down still ruled, who would you think out of today's chains would be most well-suited? Most sit-down chains are now dependent on alcohol sales for profitability. A few that come to mind are Big Boy, Denny's and Waffle House.

That is a perfect example of the race to the bottom and decline of the US. Sit down replaced with fast food due to falling real wages and the disappearing middle class.
Actually the chains best suited to this are long gone or in decline. Howard Johnson, Friendly's, Eat'n Park, Kings Family Restaurants, etc. And as you correctly point out most remaining chains are not really family restaurants so much as stealth bars (would be very interested to see what a tax based on the Texas 51% concept would due to balance that industry).

I think Bob Evans might be a reasonable candidate.

[webny99]

Definitely Auntie Anne's if you're looking for sweets.

Auntie Anne's is more of a mall thing in my family. Delicious, but messy, so make sure to stock up on napkins if you're going to enjoy on the road!

[MATraveler128]

Definitely Auntie Anne's if you're looking for sweets.

Auntie Anne's is more of a mall thing in my family. Delicious, but messy, so make sure to stock up on napkins if you're going to enjoy on the road!

Auntie Anne's is the best. But for whatever reason, they're always closed at least the ones near me.

[skluth]

Came here for service plaza discussion, not the tired 10+ year old CFA debate that everyone's already made their decision about.

It hasn't really been that long since turnpikes had fast food as the primary choice. Even into the '90s sit-down ruled. If sit-down still ruled, who would you think out of today's chains would be most well-suited? Most sit-down chains are now dependent on alcohol sales for profitability. A few that come to mind are Big Boy, Denny's and Waffle House.

That is a perfect example of the race to the bottom and decline of the US. Sit down replaced with fast food due to falling real wages and the disappearing middle class.
Actually the chains best suited to this are long gone or in decline. Howard Johnson, Friendly's, Eat'n Park, Kings Family Restaurants, etc. And as you correctly point out most remaining chains are not really family restaurants so much as stealth bars (would be very interested to see what a tax based on the Texas 51% concept would due to balance that industry).

I think Bob Evans might be a reasonable candidate.

Bob Evans is excellent as another chain with great breakfasts. I like Friendly's too. Country Kitchen is a small diner chain that I also think would work.

After all the relevant commentary here, I think the best thing for a service area is to have both a full-service restaurant and a fast food option. At least one should be open at all times.

[GCrites]

That is a perfect example of the race to the bottom and decline of the US. Sit down replaced with fast food due to falling real wages and the disappearing middle class.
Actually the chains best suited to this are long gone or in decline. Howard Johnson, Friendly's, Eat'n Park, Kings Family Restaurants, etc.

Glass House was a big one in Kentucky and WV. Did any other states have Glass House in their plazas?

[jeffandnicole]

Not totally related, but interesting nonetheless, is this 1997 article from the NY Times discussing what goes on at many of the NJ Turnpike services plazas, along with the people that work there, what they see, and the issues they encounter...  https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/07/nyregion/at-your-service-on-the-turnpike.html

[kphoger]

I think for rest areas having one location open 24/7 should suffice.

This sounds like a very reasonable compromise.

But how would it work IRL?  Let's say a service plaza has a place for four restaurants, all four places are currently filled, but only Emporium of Albanian Tacos (EAT®) is open 24/7.  Then one day, corporate ownership changes and all EAT® locations have to be closed between 1 AM and 5 AM.  What then?  What would be the fair thing to do?

[kphoger]

I'd add Village Inn

Only if there's also a motel attached, so you can grab a few hours' sleep while waiting for your order.

[webny99]

I think for rest areas having one location open 24/7 should suffice.

This sounds like a very reasonable compromise.

But how would it work IRL?  Let's say a service plaza has a place for four restaurants, all four places are currently filled, but only Emporium of Albanian Tacos (EAT®) is open 24/7.  Then one day, corporate ownership changes and all EAT® locations have to be closed between 1 AM and 5 AM.  What then?  What would be the fair thing to do?

Different locations of the same restaurant can and do have different hours. There would have to be an agreement requiring whatever restaurant to be open 24/7, and then if they didn't want to remain open 24/7 when the agreement came up for renewal, the service plaza would have to find another restaurant (preferably one of the other existing ones) that did.

[Flint1979]

I'd add Village Inn

Only if there's also a motel attached, so you can grab a few hours' sleep while waiting for your order.

LMAO

[DenverBrian]

I'd add Village Inn

Only if there's also a motel attached, so you can grab a few hours' sleep while waiting for your order.

LMAO

Never had such a problem in the Denver area. <shrugs>

[kphoger]

I think for rest areas having one location open 24/7 should suffice.

This sounds like a very reasonable compromise.

But how would it work IRL?  Let's say a service plaza has a place for four restaurants, all four places are currently filled, but only Emporium of Albanian Tacos (EAT®) is open 24/7.  Then one day, corporate ownership changes and all EAT® locations have to be closed between 1 AM and 5 AM.  What then?  What would be the fair thing to do?

Different locations of the same restaurant can and do have different hours. There would have to be an agreement requiring whatever restaurant to be open 24/7, and then if they didn't want to remain open 24/7 when the agreement came up for renewal, the service plaza would have to find another restaurant (preferably one of the other existing ones) that did.

But my point is that the requirement suggested is only that one of them has to be open 24/7.  If a 24/7 restaurant decides to reduce its hours, then why should that one be singled out?  All it would be doing is to make its hours be more in line with its neighbors in the food court.

[JayhawkCO]

I'd add Village Inn

Only if there's also a motel attached, so you can grab a few hours' sleep while waiting for your order.

LMAO

Never had such a problem in the Denver area. <shrugs>

Nor KC when I lived there.

[kalvado]

I think for rest areas having one location open 24/7 should suffice.

This sounds like a very reasonable compromise.

But how would it work IRL?  Let's say a service plaza has a place for four restaurants, all four places are currently filled, but only Emporium of Albanian Tacos (EAT®) is open 24/7.  Then one day, corporate ownership changes and all EAT® locations have to be closed between 1 AM and 5 AM.  What then?  What would be the fair thing to do?

Different locations of the same restaurant can and do have different hours. There would have to be an agreement requiring whatever restaurant to be open 24/7, and then if they didn't want to remain open 24/7 when the agreement came up for renewal, the service plaza would have to find another restaurant (preferably one of the other existing ones) that did.

But my point is that the requirement suggested is only that one of them has to be open 24/7.  If a 24/7 restaurant decides to reduce its hours, then why should that one be singled out?  All it would be doing is to make its hours be more in line with its neighbors in the food court.

It really depends on contract provisions. Thruway, I believe, does not have a separate contract with each restaurant. There is a general contractor running service area, and operating multiple franchise outlets. One of those is 24 hr, and it is up to contractor to arrange that.

[hbelkins]

I don't expect any restaurant to be open 24 hours. If I'm planning a trip, I anticipate that food and restroom availability will be limited during the wee hours, and my best bet for a snack and a place to evacuate waste is going to be a convenience store -- or a state-maintained rest area if on an interstate.

[HighwayStar]

I think for rest areas having one location open 24/7 should suffice.

This sounds like a very reasonable compromise.

But how would it work IRL?  Let's say a service plaza has a place for four restaurants, all four places are currently filled, but only Emporium of Albanian Tacos (EAT®) is open 24/7.  Then one day, corporate ownership changes and all EAT® locations have to be closed between 1 AM and 5 AM.  What then?  What would be the fair thing to do?

Different locations of the same restaurant can and do have different hours. There would have to be an agreement requiring whatever restaurant to be open 24/7, and then if they didn't want to remain open 24/7 when the agreement came up for renewal, the service plaza would have to find another restaurant (preferably one of the other existing ones) that did.

But my point is that the requirement suggested is only that one of them has to be open 24/7.  If a 24/7 restaurant decides to reduce its hours, then why should that one be singled out?  All it would be doing is to make its hours be more in line with its neighbors in the food court.

It really depends on contract provisions. Thruway, I believe, does not have a separate contract with each restaurant. There is a general contractor running service area, and operating multiple franchise outlets. One of those is 24 hr, and it is up to contractor to arrange that.

Yep, basically this. You include it as a contractual provision for the duration of the lease. Companies deal with this type of inertia all the time, nothing new.

[kalvado]

I don't expect any restaurant to be open 24 hours. If I'm planning a trip, I anticipate that food and restroom availability will be limited during the wee hours, and my best bet for a snack and a place to evacuate waste is going to be a convenience store -- or a state-maintained rest area if on an interstate.

Once upon a time, I found myself just off the interstate exit with "low gas" light on, 2 AM on the clock - and with a 24 hr Dunkin nearby. A very friendly clerk advised that nearest 24 hr gas is 32 miles going east, 27 miles going west, or the station across the street opens at 6 AM.
Technically speaking, this is 100% my fault for not planning properly, but I sort of didn't quite liked it anyway. Since then, I specifically appreciate 24 hr services...