My family runs a small, independent, full service restaurant and we've
sure been feeling the competition from chain restaurants lately.

Thus, I'm curious to know about the growth of chain restaurants in
America.  I'd like to learn the increase in sales among restaurant
chains as a whole since 1953 (or around that time--1953 would be
interesting for me because that's when my family's restaurant was
founded), as well as any increase in their percentage of the market as
compared with independent restaurants.  This information might help my
grandfather understand why we are struggling now.

Thanks so very much!
-Ariel

You might try Google-ing something like "Restaurant Chain Growth" or
something along that line.

I do a restaurant directory in Myrtle Beach, SC where we have about
2000 restaurants, and I can tell you that in the last 2 years, the
chains have really taken over.  We used to be (and still are to some
extent) known for the hundreds of local seafood restaurants where you
could get pretty unique "low-country" fried seafood.  The local
restaurants are almost being shut down from the advent of "Bonefishes"
and even "Olive Garden" and "Carrabbas".  Red Lobster is full all the
time too.  It's bound to be hurting the independents terribly.

Jan
www.myrtlebeachrestaurants.net