Braum's

[ctchandler]

OK BBQ Eater Anonymous,
Thank you sir! I will try to get over there. Brisket is not traditional but I love good brisket so it should be good.
C. T.

CT, it's not a traditional cheesesteak but there is a new BBQ trailer (Kosmo's BBQ) setting up near SW 44th and Council and he is making an Okie Cheesesteak that is chopped brisket with Cheeze Whiz on it and it is a mighty tasty variation of the Philly.

[OKVision4U]

I was not making an excuse. I was making a point.

Despite all of monkeesfan...errr... I mean OKvision's insistence that Braum's is about to go belly up. I am not seeing that their customer base has gotten any smaller despite the additional competition of DQ in the metro. And they are definitely not going away to Sonic/Freddie's/DQ in the masses that OKVision has repeatedly spouted in this thread.

Let me throw this out... Why would DQ / Steak & Shake / Freddy's be spending $10's of Millions, for just a few ( available ) customers? ...do you think they built here just for the chance to have a few more stores, and if alll the Braums customers are so satisfied? Do you really think Bill & Drew Braum are OK with them moving here?

If you (the customers ) are so happy w/ Braum's, then why would they ( Steak N Shake / DQ / Freddy's) waste millions of dollars chasing so few of you? They crunched the numbers, they did the surveys, and they are here today. You may not agree with me, but the other corporations do. ( and Bill & Drew know this too). Braum's left the barn door open, by having so "unclean stores / slow staff & drive thrus / low customer satisfaction".

It will take a "NEW LOOK" to turn things around now.

[Dennis Heaton]

Are there any other locations around town where Braum's and McDonald's are right next to each other like they are on Rockwell just off of Hefner?

[bchris02]

DQ is currently a novelty in the OKC metro area. After its been open for a while and/or more locations arrive, it won't be as busy. Anybody remember when Krispy Kreme opened on I-240 in 2002?

[kevinpate]

It's in Norman and not OKC, but B and McD do a right fair Walgreen/CVS imitation at the E Robinson / N Porter intersection here.

[Prunepicker]

Are there any other locations around town where Braum's and McDonald's are
right next to each other like they are on Rockwell just off of Hefner?

W. Reno and N. Council Rd. and on W. Main St. and N. Cromwell in Yukon.

[SoonerDave]

DQ is currently a novelty in the OKC metro area. After its been open for a while and/or more locations arrive, it won't be as busy. Anybody remember when Krispy Kreme opened on I-240 in 2002?

Yeah, there's certainly that concern, but KK was primarily a one-trick pony and fell in to financial problems not long after they opened here in OKC. I think there's enough "pent up" demand for DQ and their particular brand of goodies for them to be successful. Sure hope so

[metro]

Let me throw this out... Why would DQ / Steak & Shake / Freddy's be spending $10's of Millions, for just a few ( available ) customers? ...do you think they built here just for the chance to have a few more stores, and if alll the Braums customers are so satisfied? Do you really think Bill & Drew Braum are OK with them moving here?

If you (the customers ) are so happy w/ Braum's, then why would they ( Steak N Shake / DQ / Freddy's) waste millions of dollars chasing so few of you? They crunched the numbers, they did the surveys, and they are here today. You may not agree with me, but the other corporations do. ( and Bill & Drew know this too). Braum's left the barn door open, by having so "unclean stores / slow staff & drive thrus / low customer satisfaction".

It will take a "NEW LOOK" to turn things around now.

Yep, totally agree. I love Braum's food and their dairy, but they've neglected the core workings of the business for decades. It's sad how their restaurants are run and marketed. The best thing they could do would be to hire some current/former higher ups from Chick-Fil-A and turn their operation around to be friendly, clean and more profitable.

[bchris02]

Yeah, there's certainly that concern, but KK was primarily a one-trick pony and fell in to financial problems not long after they opened here in OKC. I think there's enough "pent up" demand for DQ and their particular brand of goodies for them to be successful. Sure hope so

I am not saying they won't be successful. I am just mentioning how that when Krispy Kreme opened it was so busy there were 2-3 hour waits because it was new. After a few months, you could walk right in and get donuts. The store lasted a decade before it closed.

[gjl]

Let me throw this out... Why would DQ / Steak & Shake / Freddy's be spending $10's of Millions, for just a few ( available ) customers? ...do you think they built here just for the chance to have a few more stores, and if alll the Braums customers are so satisfied? Do you really think Bill & Drew Braum are OK with them moving here?

If you (the customers ) are so happy w/ Braum's, then why would they ( Steak N Shake / DQ / Freddy's) waste millions of dollars chasing so few of you? They crunched the numbers, they did the surveys, and they are here today. You may not agree with me, but the other corporations do. ( and Bill & Drew know this too). Braum's left the barn door open, by having so "unclean stores / slow staff & drive thrus / low customer satisfaction".

It will take a "NEW LOOK" to turn things around now.

Hasn't the Steak N Shake in Edmond already closed? I've eaten at S N S twice and don't plan on ever going back.

[SoonerDave]

Can't say I have had any authentic philly's but the one with Cheese Whiz at Texadelphia is pretty darn tasty

Texadelphia had a pretty odd history. The first one I visited, which was probably a decade or more ago, was the location in Norman and their cheesesteaks were absolutely outstanding. We made special trips to Norman just for Texadelphia and their steaks...then...somewhere along the way...they just weren't as good. The portions of meat got smaller, the prices went up, the flavor went down, and it wasn't worth the special trip anymore.

We were semi-excited to hear that Texadelphia was going to open in Bricktown, but again, we visited a couple of times....and it just wasn't the same. Small servings, only marginally good flavor, too many "hipster" variations that really weren't cheesesteaks any more, and the prices were just outa sight. My son and I visited a couple of time, but the ol' simple cheesesteak goodness was lost, and we've both agreed there's no reason to make a special effort to return.

And the original Norman location is gone. So I suspect we weren't the only ones who felt the same way.

[ctchandler]

Gjl,
Yes, the Edmond store is closed.
C. T.

Hasn't the Steak N Shake in Edmond already closed? I've eaten at S N S twice and don't plan on ever going back.

[okclee]

Yep, totally agree. I love Braum's food and their dairy, but they've neglected the core workings of the business for decades. It's sad how their restaurants are run and marketed. The best thing they could do would be to hire some current/former higher ups from Chick-Fil-A and turn their operation around to be friendly, clean and more profitable.

Allright, I'll bite.
I too am a big fan of Braum's food and dairy, I probably go there once a week. I rarely have any problems with their service or the quality of various products. I will say that there has been a few times that I have emailed them about either a problem that I saw or a suggestion I had. Never once did I get a reply or even a generic type email response. They are a good company but they do seem to be stuck in the 80's with some of their operating techniques and marketing ideas. Just like any business their is always room to improve.

On a side note: I have family members that live out of state, they live in major cities that have all the options mentioned above, and whenever they visit Okc one of their first stops is always Braum's.

[jn1780]

Let me throw this out... Why would DQ / Steak & Shake / Freddy's be spending $10's of Millions, for just a few ( available ) customers? ...do you think they built here just for the chance to have a few more stores, and if alll the Braums customers are so satisfied? Do you really think Bill & Drew Braum are OK with them moving here?

If you (the customers ) are so happy w/ Braum's, then why would they ( Steak N Shake / DQ / Freddy's) waste millions of dollars chasing so few of you? They crunched the numbers, they did the surveys, and they are here today. You may not agree with me, but the other corporations do. ( and Bill & Drew know this too). Braum's left the barn door open, by having so "unclean stores / slow staff & drive thrus / low customer satisfaction".

It will take a "NEW LOOK" to turn things around now.

Under your logic either Taco Bell, Taco Buneo, Taco Mayo, Taco Bell, and now Del Taco should have gone out of business by now. They compete with each other, but they have their certain niches that they target. In the case of Braums and Freddy's they have completely different styles of ice cream and one actually has a small market in their store. Can't buy a gallon of ice cream or milk at Freddy's. Braums is also vertically integrated meaning they actually own the farm where their products come from. DQ is closer direct competitor to Braums than Freddy's is when it comes to the similarities in their products.

Actually Braums probably is more worried about Walmart Neighborhood Markets than they are Freddy's.

[Bellaboo]

Are there any other locations around town where Braum's and McDonald's are right next to each other like they are on Rockwell just off of Hefner?

On Mustang Road just south of I-40 and on Garth Brooks just north of I-40.

[traxx]

I was not making an excuse. I was making a point.

Despite all of monkeesfan...errr... I mean OKvision's insistence that Braum's is about to go belly up. I am not seeing that their customer base has gotten any smaller despite the additional competition of DQ in the metro. And they are definitely not going away to Sonic/Freddie's/DQ in the masses that OKVision has repeatedly spouted in this thread.

No, I didn't think you were making an excuse. It was more of just let Drew know a frequent Braum's customer pont of view. I like Braum's and don't want to see it go away. And I hate to see Braum's be the way it is because the fix isn't all that difficult; clean stores, efficient and friendly staff. And I know that I'm not the only customer that feels this way because whenever I talk to other people about Braum's they have the same gripes I do. Also, I don't believe that they're about to go belly up.

[catch22]

Went this evening and got a delicious shake. Just pointing that out.

[rte66man]

Let me throw this out... Why would DQ / Steak & Shake / Freddy's be spending $10's of Millions, for just a few ( available ) customers? ...do you think they built here just for the chance to have a few more stores, and if alll the Braums customers are so satisfied? Do you really think Bill & Drew Braum are OK with them moving here?

If you (the customers ) are so happy w/ Braum's, then why would they ( Steak N Shake / DQ / Freddy's) waste millions of dollars chasing so few of you? They crunched the numbers, they did the surveys, and they are here today. You may not agree with me, but the other corporations do. ( and Bill & Drew know this too). Braum's left the barn door open, by having so "unclean stores / slow staff & drive thrus / low customer satisfaction".

It will take a "NEW LOOK" to turn things around now.

Braum's is the ONLY major fast food operation who would dare run a 30 year old commercial and expect it to boost sales or even brand recognition. Much as I like their product, I rarely eat there. Just do shopping at the Fresh Market.

[Prunepicker]

Went this evening and got a delicious shake. Just pointing that out.

I like their shakes! Also, I like their malts. Normally I don't care for a burger
with mustard. However, there's something magical that happens when a
chocolate shake or malt reacts to such a burger. The rearrangement of the
molecular structure is interchanged and the reciprocal is totally fab!

[Prunepicker]

Braum's is the ONLY major fast food operation who would dare run a 30 year
old commercial...

Thank goodness I quit watching and listening commercials some 30 years ago.
I prefer to allow a business to win me and not an advert.

[Easy180]

Went this evening and got a delicious shake. Just pointing that out.

With all of those other cooler concepts with deep pockets, great advertising, new menu items, playgrounds, fast service, clean dining areas and staff that actually care out there for you to choose? Not sure I believe you.

[jn1780]

Braum's is the ONLY major fast food operation who would dare run a 30 year old commercial and expect it to boost sales or even brand recognition. Much as I like their product, I rarely eat there. Just do shopping at the Fresh Market.

Braums without the Fresh Market is like Freddy's without their steak burgers.

[catch22]

With all of those other cooler concepts with deep pockets, great advertising, new menu items, playgrounds, fast service, clean dining areas and staff that actually care out there for you to choose? Not sure I believe you.

Those other concepts don't have a shake that compares to a Braums.

[Easy180]

Those other concepts don't have a shake that compares to a Braums.

But their commercials are old...

[catch22]

I would say long term 10-15 years, they certainly have some strategic decisions that will need to be made.

In the present day looking into the near future, they are positioned well enough.

They have excellent brand awareness and loyalty in the markets they serve. They also have a population of consumers who appreciate the style of service. Older, enjoy a more laid back, traditional burger and shake. They like the small town feel of the included market. And they are local. So while they still appeal to younger people on their ice cream and shakes, they have a large demographic of people who also enjoy their grocery section.

Near term they are okay. That older population will be dying off within 10-15 years. That is when they will need to make some slight adjustments to their model to cater to the demographic that will be replacing them. I don't see a big issue for them. They will remain stable.