This may sound silly, but you know what was, and may still be, a good barometer for your restaurant? Toledo, Ohio.
Toledo was the per capita leader of the world when it came to restaurants versus population. I've heard it said many times that Toledo was looked upon by the restaurant industry as a "if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere" market.
Of the 10 chains listed in the article, all either are not located in Toledo or have all gone out of business in Toledo.
"Happy slaves are the worst enemies of freedom." - Marie Von Ebner
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
Country Kitchen will be around as long as there are old people who can't drive.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."