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Message

Is Walk-Ons Starting To Struggle?
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:17 pm
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:17 pm
I know back in 2019 before the pandemic and even 2021 as the majority of the Country reopened Walk-Ons had big expansion plans.
I live in the Orlando area and we had a Walk-Ons open on I-Drive in fall of 2020 (delayed as it was supposed to open April 2020 before the pandemic started) and then another I-Drive opened not far from Disney in 2021.
The location from Disney never seemed that crazy popular but the I-Drive location always seemed relatively busy. The service at the Disney location was always subpar as well but the service at the I-Drive location was always very good. They seemed like different franchises the way they were run but they could've had the same owner. The I-Drive location closed earlier this year and the Disney location just closed last Sunday (8 days ago). I bring this up as there was no warning about either location closing. They both closed overnight.
I would cough it up to the local franchise maybe not being run well, but I know a Walk-Ons in Pensacola also closed earlier this year.
I'll admit they took off a menu item that was my favorite and their prices had gotten really high but that's almost every where. While no one is confusing Walk-Ons for legitimate Louisiana food I think we would all agree it was still a step up from your regular sports bar Hooters/Wing House places where it's going to be burgers and wings. No other sports bar around here in going to have a decent gumbo and definitely will not have boudin balls or po'boys.
I know it was probably hard here in Orlando as Miller's Ale House is pretty well established here. Honestly I've never gotten the appeal. Yes Walk-Ons was overpriced but Ale House is overpriced as well and I think the food there is far more mediocre compared to Walk-Ons.
I also know there was a Chattanooga location that closed. Are these closures isolated or is Walk-Ons starting to struggle as a brand? Is it a case of expanding too quickly?
I live in the Orlando area and we had a Walk-Ons open on I-Drive in fall of 2020 (delayed as it was supposed to open April 2020 before the pandemic started) and then another I-Drive opened not far from Disney in 2021.
The location from Disney never seemed that crazy popular but the I-Drive location always seemed relatively busy. The service at the Disney location was always subpar as well but the service at the I-Drive location was always very good. They seemed like different franchises the way they were run but they could've had the same owner. The I-Drive location closed earlier this year and the Disney location just closed last Sunday (8 days ago). I bring this up as there was no warning about either location closing. They both closed overnight.
I would cough it up to the local franchise maybe not being run well, but I know a Walk-Ons in Pensacola also closed earlier this year.
I'll admit they took off a menu item that was my favorite and their prices had gotten really high but that's almost every where. While no one is confusing Walk-Ons for legitimate Louisiana food I think we would all agree it was still a step up from your regular sports bar Hooters/Wing House places where it's going to be burgers and wings. No other sports bar around here in going to have a decent gumbo and definitely will not have boudin balls or po'boys.
I know it was probably hard here in Orlando as Miller's Ale House is pretty well established here. Honestly I've never gotten the appeal. Yes Walk-Ons was overpriced but Ale House is overpriced as well and I think the food there is far more mediocre compared to Walk-Ons.
I also know there was a Chattanooga location that closed. Are these closures isolated or is Walk-Ons starting to struggle as a brand? Is it a case of expanding too quickly?
This post was edited on 11/20/23 at 8:21 pm
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:19 pm to TheMT83
The one in Roger's, AR has really gone downhill in terms of menu, food quality, talent of waitresses, and business
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:19 pm to TheMT83
quote:
I would cough it up to

Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:19 pm to TheMT83
The ones in Arkansas are packed but not surprising given the obesity rates here
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:19 pm to TheMT83
I think they overextended. Even at the original location, the service is not as great as it used to be. Food never was anything special but now it's sometimes cold, takes forever, etc. It seems to be on the slide to me.
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:20 pm to TheMT83
Do we have any data on the size of their chicken finger? Apparently that’s directly proportional to the billions the owners is worth.
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:21 pm to SirWinston
quote:
The one in Roger's, AR has really gone downhill in terms of menu, food quality, talent of waitresses, and business
I can vouch for this take I was there this weekend. It’s so meh and overpriced.
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:23 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
quote:
overextended
That’s what led to Planet Hollywood’s demise
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:25 pm to TheMT83
It’s really sad to see these great chains get greedy and start expanding rapidly. It’s usually always a death sentence
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:25 pm to SirWinston
quote:
The one in Roger's, AR has really gone downhill in terms of menu, food quality, talent of waitresses, and business
I agree that the quality had gone down. Here in Orlando I like going there even if it was just to drink because they had Abita Amber and Abita Turbodog. They even had Faubourg for a very short time but I don't drink that beer. Later on they stopped even carrying Abita.
They also had a Crawfish three way menu item I enjoyed that they took off the menu so I would agree the menu has gone downhill. I also noticed they switched their duck andouille gumbo to a more traditional chicken andouille gumbo. Both though were very good, especially here in Orlando. Only place I would find a better gumbo would be at Harry's in St. Augustine/Lakeland or making it from scratch myself.
Sad they seem to be going downhill in general. Again no comparison to true local Louisiana restaurants but it was still a nice place to have in Orlando and I still found it to be a step up from the typical sports bar.
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:26 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
quote:.
I think they overextended.
Most are now franchises. It is likely more of a problem with the franchisee than the parent company.
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:26 pm to TheMT83
I've been hearing Walk-ons commercials here in California on Local sports radio.
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:26 pm to TheMT83
Mobile isn’t going to make it
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:27 pm to TheMT83
Part of the business cycle imo. The honeymoon period is ending and now they have to buckle down and run the business. I do think the expansion caused management experience to be spread a bit thin. Bottom line though is they are still doing fine
This post was edited on 11/20/23 at 9:48 pm
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:27 pm to TheMT83
They got rid of the gator wrap several months ago. Haven't been back.
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:28 pm to TheMT83
No one wants to pay $20+tip for some Sysco burger and fries
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:33 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
quote:
I think they overextended. Even at the original location, the service is not as great as it used to be. Food never was anything special but now it's sometimes cold, takes forever, etc. It seems to be on the slide to me.
I think this is the case as well. Especially in 2019 it seemed like they were determined to possibly go national which of course always ends up leading to bland mediocre food.
I think we should've seen it coming when they started expanding significantly north into Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas and North Carolina.
I think it they just kept it regional to Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Alabama and Florida they might not be in this position.
Posted on 11/20/23 at 8:33 pm to billjamin
quote:
Do we have any data on the size of their chicken finger? Apparently that’s directly proportional to the billions the owners is worth.
Inversely proportional.
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