China Coast

China Coast was a casual dining American restaurant chain owned by Darden Restaurants Inc., specializing in American Chinese cuisine.

China Coast
TypeWholly owned subsidiary
IndustryRestaurants
GenreCasual dining
Founded1990 (1990)
Defunct1995 (1995)
Headquarters,
Number of locations
52 (1994)
Area served
United States
ProductsAmerican Chinese cuisine
ParentDarden Restaurants Inc.

Founded in 1990 in Orlando, Florida,[1] China Coast was intended to join Olive Garden and Red Lobster as Darden's signature properties.[2] It had been expected by executives to become the top Chinese-style restaurant chain in the U.S. by the latter half of the 1990s, but abruptly closed in 1995 due to poor reception and mounting financial losses.[2]

Restaurants

The menu featured Americanized dishes at low prices, with Western cutlery, Chinese chopsticks, and introductory chopsticks for children available.[3] The signature menu item was "China Coast Bread," which was fried and served with an almond spread.[4] Entrees were inspired by Sichuan, Cantonese, and Beijing cuisine, and also included Taiwanese dishes like Mongolian beef.[5] In addition to traditional Chinese dishes like hot and sour soup, zhajiangmian, and wonton soup, the menu included American items that were given Chinese-inspired names, like a dish of barbecue ribs and French fries that was listed on the menu as "dragon bones."[6][5] The dessert menu exclusively featured American items, including "Double Happiness Cheesecake" and chocolate brownies.[7][5]

Built at an average cost of $2 million USD each, China Coast restaurants were designed to resemble pagodas and included open-air kitchens, bamboo and silk design elements, and decorations imported from China.[2][8][9] By using open-air kitchens and table-side cooking, kitchen staff could cater the intensity of spices to each diner's preferences.[10] Waitstaff were dressed in Americanized Chinese clothing, including satin tunics.[7]

Decline

After operating several successful locations in the Orlando area, China Coast began a rapid and ill-fated national expansion in 1993, ultimately resulting in its demise.[11][12][2] Initial industry analyses projected success due to Americans liking Chinese food but not knowing how to cook it themselves at home.[13] However, problems quickly mounted, including negative reviews, poor service, inadequate staff training, expensive physical design, and a complicated concept and process that were cited by the company as factors contributing to the chain's downfall.[2] Industry analysts noted the chain's inconsistency with service and food quality, as well as expensive construction and land costs in high-profile commercial districts.[8][14] Although the company sought to become customers' preferred option over local, independent Chinese restaurants, China Coast struggled to attract diners who preferred more authentic food and were committed to locally-owned Chinese restaurants.[13][7][15]

In 1994, expansion plans were halted after reaching a peak of 52 China Coast restaurants, up from nine at the beginning of the year.[16][17] At the time of the chain's closing in August 1995, it operated 51 locations with about 3,000 employees in the United States.[12][18][19] Darden spent more than $100 million USD on the chain, which never turned a profit and was losing about $7 million USD per quarter at the time of its closure.[2] The chain also struggled to sell its empty locations, due to high land costs and expensive conversions needed to change the buildings' unusual design.[14]

See also

References

  1. Suris, Oscar (February 3, 1990). "General Mills Gives Chinese Food A Go With Model Orlando Eatery". Orlando Sentinel.
  2. Kennedy, Tony (23 August 1995). "China Coast's fortune: You will go out of business". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Minneaspolis, Minnesota. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  3. Bancroft, Colette M. (22 July 1994). "China Coast's fare is plentiful but bland; attractive decor and low prices are pluses". Arizona Daily Star. Tucson, Arizona. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  4. Culbertson (7 July 1994). "Region's first China Coast opens this fall in Anderson". Cincinnati Post. Cincinnati, Ohio. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  5. Diaz, Paula Monarez (12 August 1994). "China Coast exotic treat from start to finish". El Paso Times. El Paso, Texas. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  6. Reakes, Kathy (8 April 1994). "Take the high road to China Coast". Florida Today. Cocoa, Florida. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  7. Martin, Chuck (31 March 1995). "Wrecked on China Coast". Cincinnati Enquirer. Cincinnati, Ohio. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  8. McLinden, Steve (30 September 1997). "Vacant China Coasts in sealed-bid auction". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Fort Worth, Texas. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  9. Sikes, Cindy (15 May 1995). "General Mills adding Chinese to its food lineup near Busch". Tampa Tribune. Tampa, Florida. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  10. Phelps, Grady (23 August 1995). "Chain drops China Coast concept, shuts restaurants". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Corpus Christi, Texas. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  11. Kennedy, Tony (26 June 1992). "General Mills says it's planning to open 2 more China Coast dinner houses in the Orlando area". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  12. DeSimone, Jim (1995-08-23). "Darden Shuts Door On China Coast". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2015-09-17.
  13. Burney, Teresa (13 June 1994). "Big taste of China coming up". Tampa Bay Times. Tampa, Florida. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  14. McLinden, Steve (21 May 1997). "Ghost of the Coast: Two years after closure, China Coasts still sit vacant". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Fort Worth, Texas. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  15. Parmet, Sherry (1 September 1995). "Eatery closes before it opens". Tampa Tribune. Tampa, Florida. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  16. Kennedy, Tony (8 July 1995). "Darden Restaurants exec leaves company over a Cracker Barrel". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  17. Shenot, Christine (19 December 1994). "New Company Carries Familiar Names". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  18. "Darden to Close its China Coast Restaurants". The New York Times. August 23, 1995. Retrieved 2015-09-17.
  19. "Darden Restaurants, Inc". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2015-04-15. Retrieved 2015-09-17.
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