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In reply to the discussion: Americans are choking on surging fast-food prices. "I can't justify the expense," one customer says [View all]Cheezoholic
(2,414 posts)4 have opened within 10 miles of me in the last 3-4 years and seem to be doing very well. Not that I partake in corporate fast food very often but these mom and pop places rock. No premix milk shakes, machines can be heard spinning and the metal mixing cups clanging. Most of them buy the meat and produce locally and they offer real salads, a couple even offer veggie/vegan items on their menus. Of course they all are closed in winter just like they used to be, there's just not the business between Nov. and March.
When I was in high school in the 70's we had to drive 40 miles round trip for a Big Heart Attack or a bag full of Arterial Sliders. Was the perfect distance to skip second half of classes head out roll a couple and be in munchy heaven when we pulled up. Most of us fell asleep on the way home. We were lucky to get one of those once a month.
That little town I was born in (7k) finally go it's own Ron's place in the early 90's. They let school out and had a fucking parade on it's opening day. We were on to something back in the day I guess, as far as skipping school. The closest thing to a corporate fast food joint that town had until then was a DQ that opened in the 60's. It had 3 other mom and pop burger shacks and 2 mom and pop ice cream parlors. Real ones with stainless steel everywhere.
After that parade in the early 90's it was quickly followed buy a Hardees and a Taco Bell. By the turn of the century all of the mom and pop shops were shuttered, except for DQ. I've noticed that a lot when I've traveled around the country, DQ's seem to survive everything. After the Apocalypse their will probably be nothing left standing but DQ's and Waffle Houses.
Last year the last mom and pop burger joint that the McDonald's alien invaders shut down, Mr. Happy Burger, quietly opened back up. No parade, no free day of school. Yet it was truly a happy day in so called white rage America.