Some young people are returning to their favorite childhood chain restaurants. YPulse has said before that Gen Z is drawn to nostalgia—shown in their love of 90s and Y2K fashion, vintage tech, and kid-ified experiences. Now, those craving a walk down memory lane are returning to their favorite chain restaurants from childhood, like the Rainforest Café, Red Lobster, Chili’s, and more. However, not all chains are ready to fully engage with the young gen as core customers since Gen X and Boomers still make up the majority of patrons at sit-down, mid-price casual dining establishments, according to market research firm Datassential. It’s an understandable concern, as Gen Z (who make up 17% of patrons) is known for showing up for viral moments and flashy events, which these chains don’t always participate in. But with some young customers saying they miss the community that these chains provide, and restaurants like Chili’s reporting more than 31% sales growth after leaning into the gen’s nostalgia, connecting with them could be an interesting gamble to bring their brands back into the culture. (NYT)
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