S03.E04: Standard Burger

[Curious5]

I'm tuning in again his year but agree  less soap operas and more business.   There are so many businesses that are missing the mark and a tweek or two could make the difference.

[sarthaz]

I think this show has become too obviously scripted. It always was a bit, but this season just seems worse. Take, for instance, the flooding. It couldn't possibly be a bad pipe; no, it was because of milk crates and a storage shed full of junk. Right. It was a sheet of ice that was melting and had no where to go, like through the pipes. It was a dumb statement about junk to set up the scene inside where it was sooooo dirty that it had to be closed for remodeling. Which was always the plan!

 

I came in here to post essentially the same thing.  This episode has sat on my DVR for three weeks, because I've grown so tired of this show's antics.  I don't mind that Marcus's business model is to take some struggling business, gut the crap out of it, and use it as a springboard for a national chain he wants to create.  That's fine.  What bothers me is how transparently full of shit he is about it.

 

There wasn't a single second of this investment that was not 100% geared towards creating a national add-your-own-toppings burger chain, and the way they edit the show to make it seem like some crazy turn of events made him rethink his approach is so insulting to the audience.  How stupid do they think we are?

 

I'm OK with what Marcus is trying to do, but I'm not OK with him lying about it and treating us like idiots.

[rainbowlady]

To clarify: In the episode, Marcus stated that the outdoor space would be used 6-8 mos. out of the year & statistics were based on those figures.

He also stated in a recap, that he was looking for a burger place that he might take nationally, if he found a good possibility & could prove the concept as well as helping the original business. Standard proved that out. (& the brother bothered him for 2 years w/emails).  He did go there unannounced prior to deciding, to check out the place.

There have been several offers on Twitter & Facebook from people who want to franchise in other states.t

Another bit: He has mentioned in some interview, that the food franchises might be best in small to mid size cities where the competition has not yet established itself, but has a good, dining population.

 

[Bungalow]

Didn't Fuddruckers have the same concept of creating your own burger? What about the Red Robin chain?

[nobodyyoucare]

Didn't Fuddruckers have the same concept of creating your own burger? What about the Red Robin chain?

About as much as other chains. What standard burger offers that is different is the baked potato bar and fries options. Plus the shakes. Red velvet cakes are all the rage right now among the national chains. 

[selhars]

I sooo don't get the appeal of the burger place. I'm not saying a burger joint can't be a success.....But this place had NOTHING going for it. So what one of the owners brothers had ideas about burger options...that was nothing special. And Lord knows the owners were as a group an obstacle to success. I suppose it could be Staten Islands version of Five Guys......maybe a Five Guys with more "gourmet" type burgers....chiplotle, jalpeno, cheddar, gourmet cheese options (blue, brie, gouda, swiss, etc), vidalia or red onion, or slaw...maybe something like that ...a gourmet burger fast.

 

But even when the show ended....the concept was....bleh....I was like "OK, and.....?"

[nobodyyoucare]

It wasn't burger options at all. Marcus wasn't interested in that owner's burger ideas because they came from the drunk college frat mindsat. The former/now new partner chef brother did have ideas about new burgers but that wasn't what drew Marcus. It was the potato bar and red velvet cake shakes that drew people and caused Marcus to invest and consider it a chain opportunity.

[sarthaz]

I sooo don't get the appeal of the burger place. I'm not saying a burger joint can't be a success.....But this place had NOTHING going for it.

 

It did have something going for it -- a building in a location with employees.  This is Marcus's MO in a lot of these episodes.  He has a regional/national chain he wants to create, so he picks the best option from the show's applicants, pretends that he's going to "fix" their business, but really just guts the entire thing and uses the infrastructure to save time and launch his concept more quickly.  If there is a good idea or good employee in the mix, he'll keep it (like the red velvet shake), but it's really just about the fact there's a building somewhere already that is operating a business.

Edited June 30, 2015 by sarthaz

[Lola16]

I sooo don't get the appeal of the burger place. I'm not saying a burger joint can't be a success.....But this place had NOTHING going for it. So what one of the owners brothers had ideas about burger options...that was nothing special. And Lord knows the owners were as a group an obstacle to success. I suppose it could be Staten Islands version of Five Guys......maybe a Five Guys with more "gourmet" type burgers....chiplotle, jalpeno, cheddar, gourmet cheese options (blue, brie, gouda, swiss, etc), vidalia or red onion, or slaw...maybe something like that ...a gourmet burger fast.

 

But even when the show ended....the concept was....bleh....I was like "OK, and.....?"

Definitely more fancy than 5 Guys and a lot more expensive.  I forget where I was the other day but I waked past a big bin of loose potatoes in the customer area and I was like no....this doesn't make me feel like your fries are fresher.  Makes me hope that you aren't serving these to anyone!

 

I don't know if you've ever been to a BGR but it really is a copy.  I'm in a burb of NYC and we've got so many burger chains to choose from, without something new, I don't see how these will make it nationally.

[selhars]

I forgot about the shakes...and a potato bar....really?

 

Whatever.... it's Marcus' choice....I personally don't see it, and there's nothing that would draw me. But it it's THE. ONLY. SHAKE. PLACE. around...I guess it could do some business. Enough to stay in business? like I said...whatever.