Five Guys
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Honny, two of the three locations in my immediate area closed within the last couple of years. The only one left is the original one that opened here. One of the closed locations was the best Five Guys I've ever been to. Always great customer service, near 100% compliance on most visits, etc. But it wasn't usually very busy. It was in a commercial area with a ton of other FF and fast-casual places, and I guess never made headway. 
So now I have just two locations I can shop on a regular basis. And one's quite a ways away, but I'm usually in the area a couple times a month, so try to get one when the timing is right.
So now I have just two locations I can shop on a regular basis. And one's quite a ways away, but I'm usually in the area a couple times a month, so try to get one when the timing is right.
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I have not noticed them closing, but they also are not busy. I'm guessing the prices have something to do with it, around $14 for a small hamburger, fries, and drinks. For that much, I don't expect fast food.
Birdy, wow, two locations? The one that closed near me was by a huge town center, so they had a lot of competition. They held their own, so maybe they closed due to a lease issue.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
Niner, I recently saw a poster in one of the restaurants: " We're not fast food; we're good food fast."
I guess they are trying to get away from the fast food label to justify the prices.
I guess they are trying to get away from the fast food label to justify the prices.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
Chain stores and restaurants close and open locations somewhat regularly. They have their own metrics and reasons that don't always make sense to us as customers. I saw a 2-store grocery store biz that bled the profitable location until the ol' man retired at the original location. Once he retired, the whole biz went under. Basically, it was a shell game to save face. I've also seen great customer serviced biz close without so much as a day's notice, even to the employees. Live and die capitalism 101.
I shop all the local Five Guys in my area. My favorite one, and the one with the best customer service, closed suddenly. I was scheduled to do the shop and got there and it was gone. There were 6, now there are only 5. For some reason, I must be on rotation on one location, as I never see it on the boards, but I know they are still in business. Who knows, nowadays?
I went to 5 Guys last week and paid over $14 for a little cheeseburger, small fries, and a small drink. The fries were the worst I have ever had from the restaurant and it was not busy. When I did a lot of mystery shops there my total was a little over $10 and the place was always packed. I think prices are too high now and the quality has suffered. I stopped mystery shopping for them about 4 years ago but still, that is a big increase in prices.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/19/2019 09:56PM by teriraia.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/19/2019 09:56PM by teriraia.
@HonnyBrown wrote:
Niner, I recently saw a poster in one of the restaurants: " We're not fast food; we're good food fast."
I guess they are trying to get away from the fast food label to justify the prices.
Interesting. I was there recently. They are a lot closer to fast food than Outback, where it's not even $14.
Once, after finishing my burger, I went back to the front to get more peanuts. The staff told me that it's for customers. How rude. I was a customer. I guess what she meant was, no seconds. For peanuts? Ridiculous.
And their burgers are fresh but tasteless. It had plenty of mushrooms and onions, but those were tasteless too. Wonder why. When I cook mushrooms and onions, they are always delicious.
And their burgers are fresh but tasteless. It had plenty of mushrooms and onions, but those were tasteless too. Wonder why. When I cook mushrooms and onions, they are always delicious.
A location closed here in Austin not far from the UT campus, which surprised me at first, but not when I considered the high cost for a burger/fries. I will say it was also near independently owned, high dollar dorms that operate like a hotel. I actually shopped one last year for my "niece" that does live in LA. Wow.
In the years that I have been shopping at three different FG locations, I rarely see anyone take advantage of the peanuts. Now, if I brought my pet therapy squirrel or chimp on my way to the airport, that might be considered rude on my part. (Remember the peacock?)
In the years that I have been shopping at three different FG locations, I rarely see anyone take advantage of the peanuts. Now, if I brought my pet therapy squirrel or chimp on my way to the airport, that might be considered rude on my part. (Remember the peacock?)
@ShopperFun99 I hate their mushrooms and they taste like nothing because they are canned. Gross.
Shopping the South Jersey Shore
Expanded too fast? In the last five years, at least 7 stores opened in my area. They are not too busy.
Really?! I had no idea the mushrooms were canned! I thought they were fresh and grilled every morning!
We have sit down chain restaurants, Red Robin, here, and they have been doing a promo for a burger, fries and drink for $10. I don't know how our Five Guys will compete with that for long. The location I usually shop is across the street from a Red Robin, and if I wasn't shopping the Five Guys, I would definitely pick the Red Robin to eat at instead...my little burger, little fries and regular fountain drink costs $13.xx...$15 when you add in the change that I always leave in the tip jar...
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/20/2019 11:53PM by xenshopper.
We have sit down chain restaurants, Red Robin, here, and they have been doing a promo for a burger, fries and drink for $10. I don't know how our Five Guys will compete with that for long. The location I usually shop is across the street from a Red Robin, and if I wasn't shopping the Five Guys, I would definitely pick the Red Robin to eat at instead...my little burger, little fries and regular fountain drink costs $13.xx...$15 when you add in the change that I always leave in the tip jar...
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/20/2019 11:53PM by xenshopper.
A new Five Guys opened around here recently.
That's a great promotion for Red Robin! An added bonus is that their fries and fountain drinks are bottomless.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
In my area, one closed and another downsized across the street. The only remaining location of the original three that opened a decade ago is in a college neighborhood. The competition for dining dollars is quite fierce in my city.
We have one Five Guys in our mall, great location, but it's never full...I think prices are just too high, and Red Robin is definitely competition, plus the Hook and Inn@Out...so many burgers, so little time.
Live consciously....
I always say that Five Guys is the only fast food restaurant I know that doesn’t know what a combo meal is. I feel like I can get the same meal for less at Smashburger, too bad those shops hardly pay.
Jenny Casada, No wonder, they taste awful. Whenever I cook mushrooms and onion, I Iust add a little oil (olive, coconut, or butter), a little salt and pepper, that's all it needs and it always come out delicious. I buy fresh mushrooms at the farmer's market every week.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/22/2019 12:28AM by ShopperFun99.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/22/2019 12:28AM by ShopperFun99.
In my area, a little hamburger, small fries, and a small drink comes in at just under the reimbursement. We have a Red Robin near us, but we usually go to the local Fuddrucker's, which is really close by. Their burgers are bigger, and they have a nice choice of "exotic" burgers, plus other food choices. I can get an equivalent meal for less than at FG (same size burger), including sweet-potato fries, which I prefer, or a salad. I can get a larger burger plus the sides for about the same, not including the grilled onions and mushrooms. I do love Five Guys (when everything is cooked like it's supposed to be), but it sure sounds like they're starting to price themselves out of the market.
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
Which reminds me.... Is Fudd's shopped?
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I got a hot dog and a milkshake yesterday. That was over reimbursement. My veggie and cheese bowls are always under.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
@BirdyC yes, Fudd's is shopped. It seems to be seasonal, and it's on one of the companies that use their own "home-grown" platforms, not Sassie or Prophet or Shopmetrics.
The Fudds near me closed at least two years ago. I was unaware it was shopped!
I think FIG may have OVERBUILT and now have too many franchises.............fast/casual food is VERY competitive and they may have too many locations. Thats my theory. 
Five Guys have increased their menu item prices to over the top limits. All their food items are very high now.
I did one this week ordering a little cheeseburger, little fries, regular fountain drink, and milkshake.
The total with tax came to $20.00 even.
Who in their right mind would actually pay that price?
The total with tax came to $20.00 even.
Who in their right mind would actually pay that price?
That is insane! That eats up the base fee!
When I shopped in a metro, the prices averaged about $15 for the same. In the burbs, it's $12.70.
When I shopped in a metro, the prices averaged about $15 for the same. In the burbs, it's $12.70.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
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