I find it astonishing that even with this super slow economy that chains (like Buffalo Wild Wings) have such a low Labor cost even with almost no customers and a large staff.
The other day I was at a BWW location, was about 2 in the afternoon. I was one of 4 other people eating there. And as I sat at the bar I was overhearing the conversation the manager was having with 6 waitresses (mind you I saw 2 bus boys and there must have been at least 3 cooks on duty). That because they had no business today that labor is at 15% so ½ of you got to leave.
I asked the bartender what kind of crowd they had that day and she said 3-4 people in the place at 1 time all morning long.
With that many employees, their labor dollars were probably around the $250 mark by the time the clock hits 2. That means they would have had to have around $1600 in sales in order to achieve 15%… Was your bill $200 bucks lol?
The BWW near me shares the same building/floor plan (an old 2-story Don Pablo’s) - am told they hit 100k/week & the local franchise kicks himself 4 not having gotten this location as well…just wish were @ that mark
You don’t know what he meant because they were not at 15% labor based on the way we discuss it here. Many chains/companies make up their own system of percentages and benchmarks based on different criteria.
It still amazes me, however, to visit places around town and see all the idle labor standing around . . .