UPDATE Wednesday, Aug. 17
Through an online source, The BayNet has confirmed what many readers have been telling us since this story originally ran–The Ruby Tuesday in St. Charles Towne Center in Waldorf has closed. Reliable sources stated the closure is permanent. The Waldorf eatery was the region’s first Ruby Tuesday location, opening in the early 1990s. The region’s other two locations remain open at this time.
Hollywood, MD – A significant decline in the quarterly revenue of a familiar restaurant chain is prompting action by corporation heads. The news might be tough to digest.
According to company press release dated Aug. 11, the Tennessee-based eatery Ruby Tuesday plans to close almost 100 restaurants nationwide. The list of locations targeted for closure won’t be released until sometime next week.
There are three Ruby Tuesday locations in Southern Maryland—in St. Charlestowne Center, Waldorf; on First Colony Boulevard, California and Prince Frederick Boulevard, Prince Frederick. There are also locations in two nearby Prince George’s County cities—Clinton and Bowie.
The company reported its final quarterly revenue for fiscal year 2016 was down almost 6 percent. “It was in the company’s best interest to close approximately 95 underperforming restaurants,” the press release stated. “These locations will cease operations by September 2016. As of May 31, 2016, Ruby Tuesday’s system included 724 restaurants, of which 646 were company-operated. This conclusion followed a rigorous unit-level analysis of sales, cash flows and other key performance metrics, as well as site location, market positioning and lease status.”
Ruby Tuesday executives have dubbed the strategy the “Fresh Start” initiative.
Lately, some customers have had uncomplimentary things to say about the eatery. One ex-customer from Missouri posted on Ruby Tuesday’s Facebook page, “In the past two to three years the food quality, along with the freshness of the salad bar and even down to the sweet tea being awful, caused us to look for other restaurant choices. We still do talk about the good times we used to have at Ruby Tuesday, but can’t bring ourselves to eat there any longer. When a restaurant refuses to listen to their customers, and pushes them aside, they will find other alternatives that will listen. I wish Ruby Tuesday the best and hope you can learn a lesson from your current situation and address issues causing your decline in sales.”
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com