The threatened strike of low-paid workers at Chicago’s O’Hare airport didn’t happen at Thanksgiving time as originally proposed, but did occur today as part of a nationwide series of strikes. In some cities, protesters blocking public streets were arrested, but the predicted disruption of air travel at the country’s busiest airports didn’t happen. [More]
fast food
McDonald’s Expanding Test Of Fresh Beef Patties
By 11.29.16
In yet another attempt to better align its menu with customer tastes, McDonald’s is expanding its year-old test of fresh ground beef — to Oklahoma. [More]
Burning Down The Mall Because You Can’t Find A Shopping Cart Joins Long List Of Customer Overreactions
By 11.18.16
When you’ve been wronged by a business — or believe you have been — there are two ways you can try to resolve the situation: one, you can take a deep breath and calmly address the issue at hand by using your words; or, you can go the opposite route and overreact completely, and woe betide the poor mortals caught in your way. [More]
Man With Guide Dog Kicked Out Of Popeyes, Told ‘No Pets Allowed’
By 11.18.16 — Updated: 2.10.17
Guide dogs and other service dogs are not pets, and federal law protects their right to go anywhere that their owners are allowed to be. Yet the owner of a Popeyes restaurant in Brooklyn wasn’t clear on that concept, and used the “no pets” policy to kick a blind man and aspiring chicken-orderer out of the establishment. [More]
Why Do Fast Food Restaurants Test New Menu Items In Ohio?
By 11.16.16
From McDonald’s mac & cheese cups and Shakin’ Flavor Seasoned Fries to Taco Bell’s Quesalupa, Ohio tends to be the place where fast food restaurants go to find human guinea pigs to test revamped menu items — and apparently not without good reason. [More]
McDonald’s Launches iOS App To Find McRib, Immediately Invite Your Friends
By 11.14.16
Have you ever wanted to invite a friend out for a McRib, but aren’t sure where they’re available? This is probably an extremely rare problem, but McDonald’s has solved it nevertheless with a new app. The bad news: it’s only available for iPhone so far, and it’s not especially useful. [More]
Here’s Where Voters Can Score Election Day Freebies & Deals
By 11.7.16
You might have heard that tomorrow is Election Day, a day when Americans will vote not only on who will lead our country for the next four years, but also on numerous ballot initiatives that could affect consumers in many states. To mark the occasion, several businesses are offering up special freebies and discounts. [More]
McDonald’s Preparing To Launch Mobile Order-And-Pay Tech Next Year
By 11.7.16
While many fast food chains already offer mobile ways to order and/or pay for your food before you ever step foot in the restaurant, McDonald’s has yet to launch its own version of that kind of technology. But the company says it’s now finally getting ready to roll out a new mobile order-and-pay service, slated to arrive next year. [More]
McDonald’s Suing Florence For $20M After City Says No To Location Near Famed Cathedral
By 11.4.16
When you think of historic landmarks and centuries-old architecture, do you picture the Golden Arches gleaming nearby? If not, then you agree with the city of Florence, Italy, which recently put the kibosh on McDonald’s plans for a new location near its famed Duomo cathedral. The fast food giant has filed a $20 million lawsuit in response. [More]
Popeyes Customer Dropping Lawsuit Over Lack Of Knife With Fried Chicken Order
By 11.4.16
Well, that was quick: only a few days after filing a lawsuit against Popeyes claiming that the lack of a knife in his order caused him to choke on his fried chicken, a Mississippi lawyers is dropping his complaint. [More]
McDonald’s Ends “Create Your Taste” Customized Burger Program
By 11.3.16
For the better part of two years, McDonald’s has tested the “Create Your Taste” menu that allowed diners to customize their burger by choosing from more than 30 premium ingredients without ever talking to an employee. While the fast food giant says those tests went well, the Golden Arches now plans to end the experiment in favor of a more simplified version. [More]
Taco Bell Employee Accused Of Using Martial Arts Against Unruly Customer
By 11.3.16
While there’s no doubt that fast food workers often have to deal with upset, unruly, or otherwise difficult customers, law enforcement tends to frown on situations where employees take matters into their own hands — or, as illustrated recently at a Taco Bell, into their own feet(?). [More]
Popeyes Customer Sues Over Lack Of Knife In His Order After Choking On Chicken
By 11.3.16
A man who claims he choked on a piece of Popeyes fried chicken has sued the fast food chain, claiming that his pain and suffering from the incident could’ve been avoided if a plastic knife had come with his order. [More]
Sonic Bringing “Pancake On A Stick” Back Next Spring
By 10.31.16
Is it too much for you to handle utensils in the morning? Sonic Drive-In thinks it has the answer in the form of a blast from the past: the chain is bringing back its previously popular “Pancake on a Stick” to restaurant menus this fall. [More]
Chipotle Cutting Off All Investments Into Asian-Inspired ShopHouse Brand
By 10.26.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
In the midst of trying to convince customers to come back and eat at Chipotle a year after its national food safety crisis first started, it seems the chain doesn’t have the resources to cultivate other efforts, like its Asian-inspired ShopHouse chain. [More]
Arby’s Will Offer Venison Sandwiches This Fall In 6 Deer-Hunting States
By 10.26.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
In its continuing quest to convince hungry consumers that it is the meat destination, Arby’s is adding a new protein to the menu in certain locations this fall: customers will be able to order venison meat sandwiches at participating restaurants in six states where deer hunting is popular. [More]
Everyone Gets A Free Taco From Taco Bell On Nov. 2
By 10.26.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
Whether you were weeping with joy or sadness after the Cleveland Indians beat the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of the World Series last night, know this: there is a free taco waiting for you a week from now, if you choose to accept it. [More]
Philly Fast-Food Workers Fired After Gross Confessions On Facebook Live
By 10.25.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
After a Facebook Live video posted over the weekend showed workers at a Philadelphia Checkers restaurant smoking cigarettes in the kitchen and talking about having sex with customers went viral, the company says those employees will lose their jobs. [More]
