The One-Item Niche
When we talked about the one-hit wonders phenomenon last week, I was thinking it was a bad thing. Or at least not a good thing for a restaurant to do just one thing well.
Now I find out it's a trend. It turns out more and more eating places are specializing in the one-item niche -- and making a success out of it. And I'm not just talking crepes here.
National Restaurant Association senior vice president of research and information services, Hudson Riehle, says we're going to see even more of it in the future. "Because the restaurant industry has exhibited such progressive growth and will continue to, it's inevitable more establishments will focus on specialized items," he says. (Not sure of his reasoning there, but whatever...)
(Photo courtesy of Chedd's Gourmet Grilled Cheese)
Anyway, you've got places like Chedd's Gourmet Grilled Cheese in Colorado and S'Mac in New York City. The simple comfort foods that people crave and you can do variations on seem to be the best bet. Here's a link to a story about one-hit wonders on Entrepreneur.com.
While the article doesn't mention a specific cereal restaurant, I remembered someone had opened one, and came up with Cereality. I'm sure there are other examples of this depressing trend.
I knew I should have opened Butter in Baltimore, even if there is one in NYC. But mine would just serve butter. Is there a better comfort food than that?
Comments
There is also a grilled cheese specialty place in Cleveland called "Melts". Very good.
Posted by: ryan97ou | October 23, 2007 3:46 PM
I've bypassed Cereality but am kind of ashamed to say I've spent money at the peanut-butter sandwich place in Greenwich Village (it wasn't my idea to go there). Is it a coincidence that Cereality is right across the street from UPenn and pb&co is near NYU? Probably not.
In addition to the classics like the fluffernutter, the menu boasts an Elvis special, grilled with bananas and bacon. And they'll cut off the crusts at your request, just like my mom never did.
Posted by: dancing monkey | October 23, 2007 5:02 PM
Can't beat Five Guys.
Posted by: Andy | October 24, 2007 8:59 AM
Rice to Riches in NYC is AWESOME!!! It is like a Baskin Robins but with rice pudding. So many flavors and toppings. YUM!
Posted by: Selina | October 24, 2007 6:09 PM
can anyone say Bacon???? That would be the one-hit I could eat every day, 3x a day!!
yum - BACON, BACON, BACON!!!!
Posted by: Patty B | October 26, 2007 12:36 PM