I read in today’s Dayton Business Journal that Max & Erma’s, a regional restaurant chain, was being acquired by a firm out of Pittsburgh. Borrowing a question that my friend John Moore poses regularly on his blog Brand Autopsy, “Would you miss them if they were gone?” Details of the buyout of the chain of 100+ restaurants mention nothing of shutting any of them down, but if it did would there be an outcry?
As a kid, I can remember my friends coming back from one of the original locations in Columbus and telling me stories of how the tables had phones where you could call people at other tables in the restaurant. They also went on and on about “garbage burgers” loaded up with artery clogging goodness.
I can remember 15 (ish) years ago, when Max & Erma’s opened in Beavercreek, it was a big deal. There were lines out the door of the place. In college, I had room mates who loved working there because it was always packed — which equaled great tips for servers and bussers (which usually equaled ample amounts of beer money). It seems that over time, the magic has gone away.
Now, I question just how relevant the chain is anymore. I will own up to still eating there, usually for carry out, more than once a month. Generally my choice is based on the geographic proximity to my home as opposed to actually loving the restaurant. Convenience does matter. Still, would I miss Max & Erma’s if it were gone? Probably not — at least as it exists now.
Perhaps the new ownership group will figure out some ways to bring the magic back to Max & Erma’s. I hope they do. It is a long drive to anywhere else and gas is not cheap. My first suggestion would be to go back to making the burgers from scratch. No more frozen patties. Make me a garbage burger that is sloppy, messy, and perfectly imperfect in form and you will at least get my attention. Just my thoughts.
What do you think? Will a change in ownership be good for Max & Erma’s? Would you miss the restaurant if it were gone tomorrow? If you bought the chain, what would you do to turn things around?
Max & Erma’s to be acquired for $10.2M — Dayton Business Journal:
I dont know who you are or what you know … but our burgers are not frozen patties. we do not server any burgers or chicken that was ever frozen … our lettuce is cut fresh every day and we have an extensive prep list of made from scatch food … more than most other chain restaurants. learn your fact before you trash our restaurant ok!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I apologize if I misstated the fact about the hamburger being frozen. Certainly I do not work in the kitchen of Max and Erma’s, and thus I am not privy to the process that takes place.
Having spent a number of years in the restaurant business, I will say that it speaks highly of Max and Erma’s to have you defend them — as the employees in most restaurants where I worked would not have cared enough to do so.
The point of my post was not to “Trash” Max and Erma’s. As stated, I eat there a few times a month. Rather the point was to say that they need to find a way to be more than just good. At one point in time, it was a remarkable place to eat. By that, I mean people would make a point to tell you how wonderful it was to eat there. They had phones on the tables, garbage burgers, etc… when nobody else did. If I ate there, I would be very likely to tell others to do so. I do not believe that to be the case anymore — again, that is my opinion.
When I polled people as to whether they would miss the restaurant, the overwhelming answer was no, followed by never heard of them, with yes I would miss them a very distant third.
I hope the new ownership group will think about engaging passionate employess like you in driving innovation within the restaurant. I would love to see Max and Erma’s become remarkable once again.
Again my apologies about the misstatement of fact on the burgers. Thanks for visiting the site, and caring enough to comment.
Max and Erma’s is my favorite place to go, not just because I love the food, but also because their employees and managers are the very best. I know I’m with friends there. I feel like one of the family, and that’s very important.
And while the “Garbage Burger” is laden with calories, Max and Erma’s does serve many healthful, low-calorie salads and other foods. Whether high– or low-calorie, I find all of Max and Erma’s food very fresh and very well prepared. Perhaps I’m just lucky and live near an extraordinary restaurant with extraordinary employees. I don’t know because I wouldn’t eat at another Max and Erma’s as long as I can patronize my regular one.
Would I miss Max and Erma’s? YES!!!!!! I’d be devastated if it weren’t around.
I just today found this (1−7−09).
I worked at max and ermas for 6 yrs in columbus at the corporate level until my position was eliminated shortly before the chain was bought out.
now while the burgers are not frozen, they also are not made from scratch.
they are pre formed patties in a box.
the companies downfall was due to arrogance at the upper management level, trying to abandon the original concept and transition into a high end concept.
glad to see they got bought out and some of the people at the top are out.
They are now back up for sale again as G&R owner Gary Reinhart SR. is going back to the construction business. I was a Manager for Max and Erma’s and not alot was made from scratch anymore. Kids hamburgers are frozen for the simple fact that poor sales not enough were selling. You know it is bad when your accounts with company’s like FMP are frozen and you cannot order anything casue the bill has not been paid. I worked at a corporate store and we changed our silverware and china pattern 3 times in one(1) year. I see them going down very fast.
I hope they figure out how to regain the glory days of old. With some time having passed since I initially authored the post, I can say that I would miss Max & Erma’s if they were gone.