http://www.businessinsider.com/millennials-endanger-casual-dining-restaurants-2017-5
The fast-casual industry grew by 550% from 1999 to 2014, The Washington Post reported. By 2020, the fast-casual market in the US is expected to reach $66.9 billion, according to the market-research company Technavio.
It’s true that AppleBees et al. are being killed by the MOD Pizzas of the world, but fast-casual, lack of tipping (yay!), and eat healthy/eat at home misses one fundamental problem: the food/price equation of TGI Fridays, AppleBees and so forth is completely out of whack. You pay a lot of money for crappy food and a lousy atmosphere. Tough sell.