I have always loved Fazoli’s. That’s probably why I chose to work there through college. They promoted me to night manager which I thought was cool at the time. I even had keys to the building, which was cool to a 20-year-old geek like me. Fazoli’s has always been known for their free breadsticks in the dining room. Not any old breadsticks, but hot, buttery, garlic breadsticks. All you can eat - free. That’s purple.
Today, the purple cow left the building. Tonight Beth and I took a kid to Fazoli’s. When we placed our order, we were informed that unlimited breadsticks in the dining room now cost $.25 per person. I agreed to pay the $.75 for the three of us but with disappointment.
Unlimited free breadsticks in a fast food restaurant is a remarkable concept. It has had people talking for years. Today, Fazoli’s lost their remarkable trademark - the free breadstick.
The solution? They need to introduce a new purple cow and fast. Tonight I didn’t see a replacement. If they don’t they will die.
The application to ministry? Sometimes purple cows have to leave the building. When they are forced to leave (for financial reasons, personnel reasons, or whatever) you better work hard at introducing something else remarkable. Remarkable things get talked about, the others are soon forgotten.
Loved this blog, because I too love fazoli’s. My wife and I would agree with you about the purple cow and the .25 bread sticks.
One thing I think would be interesting is to examine (and I have been looking at this over the past couple years with Fazoli’s) is, what and when did things begin to change at fazoli’s so that their “purple cow” was not making as big of a difference? It did not have the field to support the purple cow.
Great blog again.
This is too bad. It’s really disappointing, as I really enjoyed the free breadsticks.
Although, I do have one question: for a few months now, Fazoli’s has had a “Breadsticks every 5 minutes” guarantee. Not a single Fazoli’s I’ve been in since the guarantee was instituted has lived up to this promise. Now that people are paying for them, will service be up to par with the guarantee? When the breadsticks were free (sort of, kind of included in the price of your meal), I wasn’t going to raise a stink about it. But now, I am paying, albeit however small an amount. If I am paying for a service which is not being delivered, I will complain. Do understand, I HATE complaining in restaurants. I hate even more the “chronic complainers” (you know a few, I’m sure). But if they don’t do what they’ve promised, I will make a comment.
I also think Fazoli’s made a mistake a few months ago with changing their menu. They had done a really good job of having great new products, but then they reverted to a 4 or 5 year old menu and added a couple new items. Blech. I want my Fazoli’s back!
I used to love Fazoli’s. My wife and I even came up with something we called the “Fazoli’s Exemption” (http://forums.tannerworld.com/showthread.php?t=5620) when we’d travel on roadtrips.
Their decline started a few years ago with their trouble financial state and eventual purchase by an investment group. They moved away from the Italian themeing and really dumbed down the unique look they used to have. The quality of food also dropped considerably.
I wonder what kind of systems we could put in place for our children’s ministries so that we would not kill our purple cows.
Everyone, even Fazolis, thinks they are doing what is right. Everything that is was at one time someones great idea, regardless of how dumb it may look today.
NO FREE BREADSTICKS?! HAVE THEY GONE MAD? that has always been a major selling point to me. you are absolutely right, ryan, when you say the purple cow has left the building.
unlike evan, i don’t have huge issues with the new/ old menu. however, i must agree that the 5 minute garuntee is a crock and if it is a service paid for they need to step it up!
i want my BREADSTICKS BACK!