RIP Wendy's Japan

[GuyJean]

Nobody seem to go to squeek-butt Kent Gilbert's Taco Time. That chain of 25 (18?) restaurants went belly-up in less than two years back in '87-'88. ..

As Sublight said, Taco Time was a joke here; insanely expensive crap portions. They deserved to flop..

GJ

[Mulboyne]

All the reports seem to suggest that no deal is likely to save the existing 71 Wendy's restaurants in Japan so these will close at the end of the year. In Atlanta, a Wendy's spokesman said "the chain is looking for new franchisees or joint venture partners in Japan. There is no timetable for re-entering the market." The WSJ notes "With 60 regular employees and 1,900 part-time workers, Wendy's Japan racked up sales of 6.2 billion yen in the fiscal year ended March."

In Ebisu, the main impact the closure will have is that it will now become tricky to guide people down the road "by the side of the Wendy's". In Meguro, we won't be able to speak of "the Wendy's side of the station". We all wait with bated breath to discover which new landmarks we'll need to refer to.

[Samurai_Jerk]

I guess we'll have to use the KFC on the opposite corner to guide people to What the Dickens in Ebisu from now on.

[IkemenTommy]

I guess we'll have to use the KFC on the opposite corner to guide people to What the Dickens in Ebisu from now on.

I just will tell people "where Wendy's used to be."

[Captain Japan]

In Ebisu, the main impact the closure will have is that it will now become tricky to guide people down the road "by the side of the Wendy's". In Meguro, we won't be able to speak of "the Wendy's side of the station". We all wait with bated breath to discover which new landmarks we'll need to refer to.

Said to me yesterday, "I would travel five stations out of my way for their chili."

In any case, as to the above, I would say that the front of the Azabu Juban branch is the standard meeting point for that area.

[Captain Japan]

Daaaaamn, DQ was in Japan!? I had no idea. Probably Tokyo only.

There was one in Shinjuku. Just outside the East Exit. Opposite side of the same block (I think) as the old Tower Records.

[SpikeX]

It's been said before, but I'd love me a good Taco Bell here..

GJ

don't mind if I do! NOM NOM NOM:ramen:

(Seriously, Yokosuka Isn't all that far from Tokyo. Especially when there's a Nacho Supreme waiting. )

[canman]

What I would really die for is a Harvey's to open here in Japan. Now I know most of you won't know that name, but I'm sure my fellow Canadians will vouch for their flame broiled burgers and choose your own condiment style. There is something about their burgers the taste and smell. I love it.

[oyajikun]

Carls's Jr get my vote.

[GuyJean]

What I would really die for is a Harvey's to open here in Japan. Now I know most of you won't know that name, but I'm sure my fellow Canadians will vouch for their flame broiled burgers and choose your own condiment style. There is something about their burgers the taste and smell. I love it.

I thought the place was White Castle in Canada.. I've heard of Harvey's..

Stopped by Wendys today for my last chili, but the Wendys with Cheese burger wasn't bad either! The chili is probably the best in Japan; not a lot of competition.. Although Outback makes a decent bowl.

GJ

[Mike Oxlong]

I thought the place was White Castle in Canada..

AFAIK, it's purely an American thing.

Perhaps someone needs to make their own Michelin Guide to fast food restaurants...

[GuyJean]

AFAIK, it's purely an American thing..

You're probably right. I think my friend from Toronto brought it up all the time, so I assumed it was Canadian..

edit:
Founded Wichita, Kansas (September 13, 1921)
Headquarters Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Castle_(restaurant)

GJ

[FG Lurker]

I thought the place was White Castle in Canada.. I've heard of Harvey's..

Never heard of White Castle, but maybe they have restaurants in the Toronto area where your friend was from.

In Western Canada we have White Spot which is frickin awesome! They make incredible burgers with very very tasty sauce. I'll definitely be eating one of those very soon...

[quote="GuyJean"]Stopped by Wendys today for my last chili, but the Wendys with Cheese burger wasn't bad either! The chili is probably the best in Japan]
I went by for some a couple of days ago too. The place was full but there wasn't anyone waiting so I had a chance to talk to the cute cashier for a bit. She said the staff found out about the same time as everyone else, everything seems to have happened very quickly. Apparently they also ran out of food this past weekend as there was a rush of customers coming in for one last feed...

[Mike Oxlong]

Damn! White Spot is the shit!! I might have to plan a spring trip back home just to reindulge...

[FG Lurker]

Damn! White Spot is the shit!! I might have to plan a spring trip back home just to reindulge...

I'll be there in a few days!! Will snap a photo and post it in the thread.. (Yeah, I'm evil... )

[FG Lurker]

Damn! White Spot is the shit!! I might have to plan a spring trip back home just to reindulge...

I've managed two trips into local White Spot's so far, and the burgers are just as good as ever! Going to have to keep a lid on my White Spot runs though or I'm not going to fit into the seat for the return flight...

[Mike Oxlong]

Actually, if you stick to the burgers and skip the fries, you'll be alright.

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[BigInJapan]

I've managed two trips into local White Spot's so far, and the burgers are just as good as ever! Going to have to keep a lid on my White Spot runs though or I'm not going to fit into the seat for the return flight...

Urayamashii... I had to pop into to the one across from Paul's last time too.

[TennoChinko]

Seemingly taking advantage of Wendy's exit, it sounds like McDonald's Japan is launching four new 'Big America' Quarter Pounders 2010:

http://www.mcdonalds.co.jp/beef/bigamerica/index.html

[Cyka UchuuJin]

Seemingly taking advantage of Wendy's exit, it sounds like McDonald's Japan is launching four new 'Big America' Quarter Pounders 2010:

http://www.mcdonalds.co.jp/beef/bigamerica/index.html

looks like daimaru and sogo will have to expand their 'precious size' department soon to accommodate all the fat asses that result from this campaign!

[Samurai_Jerk]

:puke:

looks like daimaru and sogo will have to expand their 'precious size' department soon to accommodate all the fat asses that result from this campaign!

Then I need to thank McDonald's for making it easier for me to buy clothes in Japan.

[FG Lurker]

Urayamashii... I had to pop into to the one across from Paul's last time too.

Yeah, that's the first one I went to this trip. Picked up a Rogers SIM for the iPhone and then stopped by White Spot for some lunch... Back in Japan now though, no more White Spot for a while...

[FG Lurker]

Wendy's Burger Chain Exits Japan as Customers Queue on Sidewalk
Bloomberg, December 31, 2009

[floatr][/floatr]Wendy's closes its doors in Japan today after almost 30 years as queues spill onto the sidewalk at some of the hamburger chain's 71 restaurants.

Wendy's/Arby's Group Inc., the third-largest U.S. fast-food restaurant company, was unable to renew a franchise agreement with Tokyo-based Zensho Co. this month. The Atlanta-based company hasn't ruled out re-entering the world's second-largest economy if it finds a suitable new partner.

[...]

Wendy's, Japan's seventh-largest burger chain, has been busy since the closure was announced Dec. 10, Zensho spokesman Naoki Fujita said, without providing sales data.

Final Chance

Miho Miyazawa, who works at a bookstore, was one of dozens of customers queuing this week for a final taste of a Wendy's hamburger at the chain's store in Tokyo's Ginza district.

"It's my last chance," said Miyazawa, 29. "Wendy's is my favorite because it tastes good."

[...]

Hayato Yoshida, a 25-year-old employee at an advertising company in Tokyo, will be ready if Wendy's makes a similar return to Japan.

"If it's going to open again, I will definitely go for chili cheese fries," he said at the Ginza outlet.

(Full Story)

It looks like Wendy's only provided 2% of Zensho's business so I guess it is understandable that they decided not to renew. I hope Wendy's finds another partner here though and that they don't blindly limit themselves to only the Kanto market (like Burger King)!!

[GuyJean]

..

I had the Texas thing last week. Way too salty for my liking. Won't be having another.. And that's a good thing.



GJ

[Number11]

I had one, too. I've avoided McDonald's for the past year, and I remembered why the day after trying the saltbacongrease burger. I spent the entire day either in the bathroom or trying to find a bathroom.

God Damn it is nasty food.

[Jack]

I usually try all the new burgers they come up with and never liked them. It is surprising that for people who like relatively bland food, the american chains sell those loaded burgers. I find them too salty, too oily and the tamago with the soft yolk makes the whole sandwich basically awful.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

I had the Texas thing last week. Way too salty for my liking. Won't be having another.. And that's a good thing.



GJ

Faaaarrk....I had a heart attack just looking at that photo....

[Greji]

Faaaarrk....I had a heart attack just looking at that photo....

I got a stiffy....

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

I got a stiffy....

Well, getting a stiffy is much, much better than almost becoming one....lucky bastard!

[Doctor Stop]

I had the Texas thing last week. Way too salty for my liking. Won't be having another.. And that's a good thing.

I thought it wasn't bad, for McDonalds. I'd even go as far as saying that it didn't even taste McDonaldsy.

Sales, apparently were very good:

Except for the cowboy there isn't much in the commercial that could be considered characteristically Texan, but it did the trick. Reportedly, sales at Japanese McDonald's on Jan. 15, the day the new burger went on sale, totaled \2.8 billion, a new one-day record for the company.