Mel,
First,I deeply appreciate your sentiments as I'm sure the rest of the gang does.And I hope to see your posts more often!
As regards your visits to the two Cafes,(besides the obvious service question at D.C,and there have been more stories at MF RAIN of very slow service at times.Reportedly they are still hiring staff there and last Saturday they reduced the number of active tables at peak hours)I think it would be valuable to keep a close eye on the retail sales.Things like amount of retail traffic at each store to actually lines at the registers.Also if the prices are the same in each store and are they giving the retail discount coupons at both for diners.This summer I felt that while both Woodfield and Gurnee Cafes had tremendous traffic in retail,Gurnee's registers were cranking up more sales.Gurnee being the outlet power-shopping mall and Woodfield being more upscale,similar to Tyson's,I'd imagine.Also,there has to come a point where the masses start buying Rainforest product because it's 'in' as opposed to the current reason-they have great products.I'd suspect that would happen at DW first.So long lines at the register in DW would be much better in my mind than long lines at the restaurant.(Do you have the get-in-quick coupon?)
Looking forward to reading your insights from your field research.(And if you get to Rockville,MD,drop in on the Shelly's Woodroast and let me know what you think of it,particularly the Shelly's Backroom cigar parlor.That one has possibilities)
Regards and vaya con dios,
Dennis |
