Why are franchisees so reluctant to open chains in the Houston market? (Dallas: hotel, luxury)

[Spartacus713]

There is apparently a taco embargo ongoing in Houston.

[FJB327]

Lack of franchises are a good thing. It gives a place culture. More mom and pops should sell tacos then

[TheMoreYouKnow]

I was just complaining to my wife that we needed more fast food chain taco options around Houston... I mean come on, it's nearly impossible to find Tex Mex in this town. Don't even get me started on finding a mattress store. 😀

[jkdblaze]

Originally Posted by TheMoreYouKnow

I was just complaining to my wife that we needed more fast food chain taco options around Houston... I mean come on, it's nearly impossible to find Tex Mex in this town. Don't even get me started on finding a mattress store. 😀

So many snide comments in this thread. My main point was that, off the top of my head, there seemed to be 3 times the amount of fast Mexican food chains in a similar nearby city and that seemed a bit odd to me. Oh well.

[Lowexpectations]

Originally Posted by jkdblaze

So many snide comments in this thread. My main point was that, off the top of my head, there seemed to be 3 times the amount of fast Mexican food chains in a similar nearby city and that seemed a bit odd to me. Oh well.

Could it be that there are vastly more Hispanics in houston metro and those chains don't appeal to them? And if that's true, those who serve that population probably attract nonhispanics too with their authentic tacos

[Chris V]

I ll jump on this band wagon, but I am not asking for more taco franchise...
For the longest time, I had the same question of why Houston has such a small amount of big franchise companies, but they have it in Dallas.

Del taco came and went. I didn't like their food but it's nice to have other choice. What a stupid location for a 1st store.
El pollo loco finally came here.
Carl's JR. Finally made it.
In n out is in San Antonio, Austin and Dallas. But not here.
I like to see more dunkin donut.
Quick trip needs to come here, it's all over the Midwest and some in Dallas.
This gas station would kill all gas stations here.

[madrone2k]

Another reason might be that Houston is the Rodney Dangerfield of cities. (He was the guy who often said "I don't get no respect, no respect at all!" Check him out on Wikepedia.)

I feel like there is some truth to this comparison. With cities (as it sometimes happens with individual people), sometimes the masses yearn for a place to scorn, whether it really deserves that or not.

[jkdblaze]

Originally Posted by Lowexpectations

Could it be that there are vastly more Hispanics in houston metro and those chains don't appeal to them? And if that's true, those who serve that population probably attract nonhispanics too with their authentic tacos

I suppose it could play some role. A quick look at the demographics shows Dallas and Houston to have almost identical Hispanic percentages. But Dallas does have a much larger suburban area to the north which could skew the numbers somewhat if it was added to the Dallas demographics.

[cBach]

One of the unique things about Houston has always been the proliferation of mom and pop restaurants of almost every cuisine. Dallas has never had that, they sold their souls to chain restaurants. Even the so called good Mexican restaurants in the Dallas area are chains (even if local), whereas here they are individual mom and pop.

Also, Houston has some branches of chains that aren't in Dallas or Austin, like Brennans. There are also tons of Cajun places that don't exist in Dallas as well.

Overall, I've never been disappointed by Houston's food choices.

[Spartacus713]

There are taquerias and similar places about every half mile throughout Houston in heavily retailed areas. Instead of fast food chains though, Houston is virtually jam packed with Hispanic mom and pop restaurants. Not that Mexican fast food chains are hard to come by in Houston, because they aren't, but I would rather eat at one of those mom and pop restaurants any day.