How newspapers and restaurants are a lot alike

I opened my door this morning automatically to see if the paper was there and it was! It came as a surprise because I'd had a big go-around with The New York Times recently about their newest rate increase which I felt was too much. I've had two 'promotional' rates in more than 25 years of being a subscriber and felt I deserved better. I called to cancel and hung up. They called me back - surprise - they want their subscribers to stay and renew!

So we haggled a bit and I agreed to keep my Sunday paper coming. That being said, I forgot that the subscription is apparently paid through July so yesterday when it was not there, I went online and read it there. What a shock! I actually enjoyed reading it online almost more than as a hard copy. I won't be sorry when the subscription weekdays runs out. The web paper is, in some ways, an even more enjoyable experience.

Like restaurants (and many other businesses), newspapers are having a hard time in this economy. The Times was the only paper I still got. I gave up on the rest - too much too read after a day in front of a computer screen. So now I have my print Times through July and was actually glad to see it back. I kind of missed it after all these years, even for a day, and even though I actually enjoyed the online experience a lot.

How is this like restaurants? Restaurants too, are remaking the customer experience. Here in the Northeast we've seen many prix fixe meals, very reasonable - $30 to $35 for three courses. We're seeing concepts at the high end close down. And we're seeing more creative new concepts in the middle and low end. At the low end, I think of several food carts, very clever - one is vegetarian and serves $5 bean bowls in hefty portions.

And we're seeing newcomers open places that are doing well despite their lack of experience or expertise - three young men on Boston's North Shore quit high paying jobs and opened a restaurant that is now absolutely taking off - in the first 6 weeks they've been busy, drawing in a young crowd with live music and a lively ambiance. They've tapped into a need and they're filling it.

Change is nothing new - it's just that we all get pretty stuck in our ways, and ruts.

Tags: Changing, concepts, new, newspapers, restaurant, restaurants, times

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Comment by susan holaday on June 8, 2009 at 6:43pm: I opened the door today and no paper, so I called and once again said I wanted to cancel because of the erratic delivery and the fact that I was billed full price before it was too late to cancel (for the next three months) - they gave me a huge credit - like 50 percent off! Unreal - we'll see how Long I can deal with this!

Comment by Dan Parsons on June 5, 2009 at 6:41pm: Susan,

Well said! I cancelled my newspaper subscription about a year ago. One for personal cost savings and two time. Now I read the New York Times on my cell phone and love it! As far as restaurants, I have found this economy to be the flint to spark my imagination. We as a people have and will have great innovations because of these challenging/encouraging (to think different) times. Great post!

Comment by susan holaday on June 2, 2009 at 1:29pm: Not all- I still use 35mm film and a 20 year-old Nikon, but I will be looking at digital cameras one of these days! I finally lugged my old Memorywriter to the trash room about a year ago. It was so big and heavy - hard to believe it was once state-of-the-art. Makes you wonder what will replace today's computers.

Comment by Dinersfeedback.com on June 2, 2009 at 1:14pm: Change is inevitable .. Do you remember the Typewriter or 35mm film ? At first everyone is resistant but before long people adapt .

Comment by susan holaday on June 2, 2009 at 1:05pm: I know what you mean - I love my print publication, the feel and look of it, but I love being able to download it from my website too!

Comment by Debra Straka on June 2, 2009 at 12:59pm: Though change is inevitable, I will miss touching the news. It is so easy now to get news almost instantly as it happens online. My homepage is a news feed, but I don't mind saying that I will miss the feel of newsprint when that day finally comes and the last paper has been published.
Wouldn't it be nice if we could enjoy old friends (newspapers, books, favorite dining establishments) while still trying all that new friends have to offer. In this economy, that does seem like a luxury. Bravo to those who keep trying with their new ideas. In time they too will become our old favorites.

Comment by restaurantdotorg on June 2, 2009 at 12:35pm: Hi, Susan -- This post really touches me personally, as I've worked both in newspapers and the restaurant industry. And you know what? Bad or economy, I love them both! Thanks for writing this.