Palace Cafe by infrogmation
In this case, we are not writing about Mayor Nagin's homicidal maniac brand but the traditional brand of great food and great restaurants.
We all know how great New Orleans restaurants are. We know the success of at least one company that took the New Orleans brand national, Ruth's Chris Steak House. Emeril has leveraged his New Orleans success into a national personal brand and Emeril restaurants across the country.
Now comes a report that the Camellia Grill has translated well into the Destin, FL market. Not only is the Camellia Grill there but it is joined by the Acme Oyster House, Commanders Palace, and Pat O'Brien's. As a favorite vacation stop for Orleanians and other from south Louisiana, Destin was a natural place for these restaurants to expand.
Why have these restaurants not leveraged their reputations into more markets across the country? Why have they not duplicated Ruth's Chris' success in franchising their brands into more markets? I am sure there are a number of reasons but there are always barriers to business expansion. There may be food freshness issues. Could Acme get fresh oysters if they opened in Chicago? I suspect they could but there would be a price. Could Commanders translate its brand into the Houston market. I am sure it could with all of the expatriate Orleanians there. Likewise Commanders could probably work in the Dallas and Austin markets.
Maybe there are limitations of talent or taxes or some other issue that keeps New Orleans brands from spreading out across the country while maintaining a headquarters in the area. Instead of trying to create a biomedical corridor or film industry, why not capitalize on the area's current strengths to create more domestic export businesses.
Find out why these restaurants expanded to Destin and whether they could be joined by others and whether other destinations like Destin could be added. Find out why Ruth's Chris moved its headquarters to Florida. Why did Oreck leave? They are not a typical New Orleans brand company but maybe their move will tell the decision makers something about creating and keeping jobs in the area. Why is the Sazerac company locating much of their expansion elsewhere? Why is Raising Canes moving much of its administration to Dallas? Again, they are not a New Orleans brand but why do they feel the need to leave the state to expand?
What businesses could be created or expanded that are connected to New Orleans food and restaurants? There are spice companies in the area. How can they be expanded nationally? Why is Zatarains now owned by out of state owners and how can more businesses like Zatarains be created?
Could a food science company be created in the area? How about a cookware company? Anyone could sit down with a food industry directory and find a large number of business ideas built around food services. The area must have a larger than average number of people who are trained in food service and management.
It simply seems logical to build on the area's strengths in creating business opportunities rather than trying to create unfamiliar industries where the area would compete with every other city in America.
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